Common Lotion and Moisturizer Ingredients

Which Do You Really Need?

Millions of women apply moisturizers and lotions to their bodies each day. There are hundreds of products to choose from, and it can be confusing as to what really helps. Companies advertise certain ingredients as being helpful to your skin, but how much do you really know about each ingredient?

My daughter has very sensitive skin and I have to keep that in mind as I buy products she may be using. I have found the less expensive products make her break out, so there is something to be said for paying a little more. The question is, what should you pay extra for and what is just a gimmick?

Many of these products will list water as the first ingredient. The first ingredient is always the most prevalent. A common second ingredient is mineral oil. After those two, things get more complicated.

Collagen

One product I have boasts ‘collagen’ as it’s selling point. Collagen is a component within your skin that keeps it firm. Contrary to what a company may claim, you cannot replace collagen by applying it to the surface of your skin. However, collagen is a great at helping your skin retain moisture. It does produce soft and supple skin; just not in the way they’d like you to believe.

Green Tea

A body lotion I own has ‘green tea’ as a selling point. We’ve all heard about the medical benefits of drinking green tea, but what will it do for your skin? Most often green tea extract is used as a preservative, nothing more. This also goes for grape seed extract and other like ingredients. They are considered to be antioxidants, but are rarely high enough in quantity within your product to have much affect on your skin’s health. Sadly, though my product boasts ‘green tea’ as a selling point, I don’t find it anywhere in the actual list of ingredients.

Lanolin

Lanolin is a common ingredient and is otherwise known as an emollient. Emollients leave your skin feeling soft by depositing moisture into your skin. These tend to be a bit greasy but definitely have a great benefit for your skin. Another common emollient is mineral oil.