Those of us who live in the Salt Lake Valley know a thing or two about dry skin. Our arid climate, paired with interior heating during the winter, not to mention difficult air quality, all contribute to the frequent occurrence of dry and scaly skin.

When our skin gets dry, we all turn to one resource: lotion! We’re always looking for just the right kind of lotion that will help restore our natural skin’s oils and retain moisture, not to mention feel silky-smooth and smell wonderful.

But does lotion really work? And how can you tell a good one from a bad one?

Some Skin Basics

Before we go into how lotion works, let’s review a little bit about the skin. Moisture is provided in the dermal layer, and then evaporates outward in the outermost epidermal layer. Dry skin is caused by transepidermal water loss. It’s most evident when the dead skin cells on the outer layer of skin don’t have the usual lipids and moisture which usually bridge the gaps between skin cells. The topmost layer of skin is called the stratum corneum, and often lotion works to retain and summon moisture into this layer in order to create a smoother and better-moisturized appearance and feeling.

Active Ingredients in Moisturizing Lotion

Active ingredients found in lotion have two essential functions: Firstly, to retain moisture, and second, to create a protective barrier for the skin to prevent further evaporation of moisture. Here are four of the most common active ingredients found in moisturizing lotion, and what they do.

  • Humectants. Humectants draw water into desired outer layer of skin. Usually, this moisture is obtained from deeper in the skin, but sometimes it’s even pulled from the air. It’s important to note that humectants are often paired with other ingredients to keep the moisture in the desired area.
  • Occlusives. Occlusives are often paired with humectants in order to form a barrier and prevent evaporation. The most well-known (and effective!) occlusive is Vasoline. However, the substance of occlusives is often uncomfortable to wear on the skin, so occlusives are minimal.
  • Emollients. Emollients work similar to occlusives, but they absorb into the topmost layer of the skin so that you’re not left with a greasy layer. As emollients are absorbed into the skin, they also serve to fill the gaps between skin cells with a fatty layer that will make skin more flexible and moisturized.

Additional Tips for Avoiding Dry Skin

In addition to using moisturizing lotion, there are often things that you can do to prevent your skin from drying out.

Choose warm water instead of hot water during showers in order to preserve your skin’s natural protections.
Exfoliate in order to remove dead skin cells, which will dry out easier and make dry skin look worse.
Use a humidifier in your room in order to restore the balance of moisture to the air, especially during the winter months when heating saps the air of water.