“Humectants are principally ‘water magnets,'” board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founding father of SKINFIVE, informed us concerning the class of components. “They work to assist pull moisture from the air into the higher layer of your pores and skin to maintain the pores and skin cells hydrated, plump with a firmness and bounce.” 

Nonetheless, when left to their very own gadgets, humectants can truly find yourself dehydrating the pores and skin. It is because they’re indiscriminate about the place they pull in water. For instance, when it is humid, they’ll pull it from the air round you. However should you’re in an arid setting or spend a whole lot of time indoors uncovered to AC or heaters, then they will truly pull it from the deeper layers of the pores and skin, making the pores and skin general extra dehydrated. 

This is the reason humectants ought to actually be paired with occlusives and emollients—both in the identical system or layered collectively.

For ease, listed below are some common humectants to look out for on the ingredient checklist: