Why Moisturizing Your Skin is Important

Moisturisers, the most basic tool of skin care, are not what they used to be. At one time, a moisturiser did just what its name implies; now they are packed with vitamins and sunscreen to ward off environmental damage, alph-hydroxy acids to battle the signs of ageing and other ingredients which are designed to address a host of skin care concerns.

Many new items are also more specifically targeted than the generic brands of yesteryear. There are creams aimed at eradicating fine lines, others that claim to reduce the size of skin pores or to speed up cell renewal.

One thing is for sure, today's moisturisers go way beyond what was available ten or 20 years ago. There's La Prairie's Celluar Time Release Moisturiser, Estee Lauder's Nutritious and Re-Nutriv Lifting Creme, and Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream. Clinique's Exceptionally Soothing Cream and Lotion for Upset Skin contain hydrocortisone, found in some antiseptic creams, and Biotherm's Hydra-Detox Daily Moisturising Lotion contains the vegetable extract detoxilase, which reportedly neutralises bacteria on the skin's surface to "purify" it. While skincare companies such as Lancaster and Jil Sander make products which claim to transport oxygen directly to the skin...