When you’re thirsty, you reach for a glass of water. When your skin is thirsty, a moisturizer gives it the hydration it needs. Moisturizers help to nourish and improve your skin in a number of ways.

1. Replaces some of the oils your skin makes naturally

2. Covers and protect tiny fissures in your skin

3. Creates a layer of soothing protection from environments

4. Helps to slow down the evaporation of your skin’s moisture

5. Moisturizing Helps to Protect Against Environmental Damage

Have you ever noticed that your skin becomes extremely dry and chapped when exposed to cold, dry air? Chapped lips, hands, and cheeks are a common issue during the colder months. This is especially true if you spend lots of time outside. When your body is cold, it tries to conserve heat.

Part of this process forces the blood vessels in your skin to constrict, which keeps skin from getting the moisture it needs. As a result, you’re left with dry, red, and irritated skin. Moisturizing regularly helps to replenish your skin’s lost hydration. A thicker moisturizer is best for healthy skin in cooler weather.

Moisturizing Helps to Prevent Aging
Regular moisturizing also helps to nourish your skin in the long term, potentially slowing the signs of aging. At least that’s what an article published in a 2010 issue of the British Journal of Dermatology found. The study compared the number of wrinkles and levels of skin hydration in 122 women over a period of eight years.

The researchers found that on average, a 28 year old woman had a 52% increase in visible wrinkles by the time she was 36 if she had dry skin, compared to a 22% increase in women with well-hydrated skin. This connection between moisturizing and wrinkles comes down to the skin barrier, the outermost layers of skin that help to maintain consistent moisture levels.

As you age, your skin barrier becomes less effective, leading to the types of damage we often associate with aging (including wrinkles). Regular moisturizing (along with adequate sun protection and regular exfoliation) helps to keep skin looking full and radiant.

Moisturizing Helps Control Eczema and Other Skin Conditions: If you are one of the 31.6 million Americans who suffer from some form of eczema, you know that an outbreak of this itchy, irritated skin can quickly ruin your day. Regular moisturizing can be an effective method for preventing eczema outbreaks, as well as soothing them if they do occur.

Dry skin is a common eczema trigger. Applying a moisturizer after a shower or bath helps to lock in moisture, improving your skin’s ability to act as a barrier against the outside environment. Avoid moisturizers that contain dyes, perfumes, alcohol, detergents, and other irritating ingredients: these junky chemicals can actually lead to irritation and an even bigger eczema flare-up. Instead, use an all-natural Shea Butter based moisturizer to nourish, soothe, and protect your skin.

Moisturizing Just Feels Great
Is it silly to point out how good it feels to moisturize? We don’t think so! Enjoying the sensation and aroma of a smooth, rich, all-natural moisturizer can be sublime. Applying a luxurious moisturizer at the end of a long bubble bath is the perfect way to relax and unwind at the end of the day.

A sumptuous cream or body butter helps take care of your mind as well as your body, making moisturizing an effective way to care for your overall well being.