It may sound strange, but the wrong moisturizer can actually make your skin feel tight and even drier after you apply it. If that’s ever happened to you, you’re not using the right moisturizer for your skin type. You may need a more occlusive formulation. Occlusives help lock in hydration. Emollients help soften. We’ll explain.
What’s Occlusive?
We classify moisturizing ingredients into these groups: Humectants, which draw in moisture, emollients, which help soften the skin, and occlusives - a class of ingredients designed to provide a protective seal over the epidermis to help lock in hydration.
How do they work? Occlusive ingredients not only help seal moisture to the surface of the skin (to prevent loss of hydration into the environment) but they also help keep irritants, allergens, and other toxins from being able to enter your skin. They energize the skin barrier to do its job of protecting you more effectively. Some examples of occlusive ingredients include waxes, petrolatum, dimethicone, silicone and mineral oil, all commonly found in moisturizers. If you think you need a more occlusive moisturizer, check the ingredients on what you’re currently using. Euro Botanicals Sensitive Care Balm definitely fits the bill. It helps heal dry, chapped, or blistered skin and is perfect to use after an aggressive facial treatment like a peel or microdermabrasion. Look for ingredients like shea butter and glycerin - found in Euro’s Super Emollient Crème and Advanced Hydration Crème.