What Is A Humectant And How Is It Used In Skincare?

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Keeping your skin moisturized to protect it from dehydration, irritation, and aging is essential. What you may not know is that all day and night creams you use to hydrate your skin can be divided into three categories: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. “Humectant ingredients absorb water so that it stays [locked] into the skin,” Dr. Michelle Henry, M.D., told The Zoe Report. Another dermatologist, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, added that emollients soften the skin, while occlusives form a protective barrier on the outer layer of the skin.

According to WebMD, moisture loss is often the cause of dry skin and hair. Humectants bind with water to break down dead skin cells clogging your skin surface to hydrate and then soften your skin texture. They need to stay in the skin to work, so it’s better to choose products that combine humectants with occlusives so they don’t evaporate. Humectants draw in moisture, as they function as a sponge to attract water. Therefore, it’s best not to apply them to dry skin. “Always apply humectants to damp skin,” dermatologist Charles Puza told Byrdie. Humectants can carry moisture up to 100–1,000 times their own weight, after all, so damp skin is actually a plus here. Just remember that humectants can dehydrate deeper skin layers and make your skin dry if overused in non-humid…