In the cold winter, the humidity has dropped significantly compared to the previous seasons. The relative humidity in many areas during winter often falls below 35%, and under this level of humidity, people will feel quite dry. This is especially true for places like Beijing and Shenyang in North China and Northeast China, where the feeling of dryness is even more intense. Such weather conditions can cause our skin to become dehydrated, flaky, and even itchy. So, how can we keep our skin hydrated in such a dry winter?
Cold and Dry Winter: Foods That Nourish the Skin
How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated and Beautiful in Winter
In the cold winter, the skin must resist harsh weather conditions as well as deal with the dry indoor environment. How can you maintain healthy skin without too much complicated work? Besides basic skincare routines in the morning and evening, what other methods are there to make your skin shine? In our daily lives, there are some common foods that can nourish the skin. Below is an introduction to these foods for reference.
Yam: Neutral in nature, sweet in taste. It can replenish lung deficiency as well as strengthen the spleen and kidneys.
Lily: Slightly cold in nature, sweet in taste. It has functions of moistening the lungs, stopping coughs, calming the mind, and tonifying the middle energizer and qi.
Oil-based Moisturizers: This is the oldest moisturizing method. Petroleum jelly is the most effective moisturizer in this category. Although petroleum jelly is not absorbed by the skin, it forms a protective barrier on the skin, preventing water from evaporating and being lost, thus protecting the skin from external invasion. In addition to petroleum jelly, oil-based moisturizing ingredients also include high-viscosity white mineral oil, various triglycerides, and various ester oils.
Humectant Moisturizers: This is the most common moisturizing method. The most typical humectant in this category is polyol. Glycerin, sorbitol, propylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol have been used for a long time. These substances have the ability to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment. Under conditions of high relative humidity, they improve the skin's hydration effect. Moisturizing skincare products containing these components are suitable for use in summer, early autumn, and southern regions with high relative humidity.
Hydration Moisturizers: This is the most versatile moisturizing method. These moisturizers are hydrophilic and mix with water. They form a network that binds free water within their structure, converting free water into bound water so that it does not easily evaporate or be lost, thereby achieving a moisturizing effect. These belong to the more advanced moisturizing ingredients and are suitable for all skin types and climates, both day and night. Their main components are collagen and elastin, derived from animal sources.
Repairing Moisturizers: In recent years, various nutrients have been added to skincare products to help repair various functions of skin cells, enhancing their own resistance and protection. These include vitamins A, B6, C, E, fruit acids, plant extracts, and minerals containing natural antioxidants and vitamins. These moisturizing ingredients have the ability to remove the stratum corneum of the skin and promote moisturizing functions, allowing new stratum corneum cells to naturally perform moisturizing functions and increase the skin's hydration level. These moisturizers are suitable for skin over the age of 30 that has been severely damaged by the passage of time.
Secondly, how many truly absorbent water products are there?
Oil-control Toner: Contains oil-absorbing components that can absorb excess facial oil and help tighten facial pores. Some contain mineral essences that can tighten pores and absorb excess oil, suitable for combination and oily skin. Other oil-control toners provide vitamins A, C, and E needed by the skin, making skin cells healthier while absorbing excess facial oil, removing impurities clogging the pores, and tightening pores.
Moisturizing Toner: Contains plant extracts such as roses and witch hazel, providing excellent moisturizing effects and keeping the skin soft. Some moisturizing toners use gentle aloe vera formulas to further cleanse the skin and have soothing and calming effects, improving the skin's lipid defense system.
Firming Anti-aging Toner: Contains natural active yeast essence that helps blood circulation, promoting cell division in the basal layer of the skin, restoring normal metabolism of the skin. Some contain extra rich ingredients, suitable for very dry skin, reducing wrinkles caused by dryness. Others add green tea polyphenols, wheat protein, Japanese honeysuckle, and other antioxidant components, enhancing repair and firming effects, helping the skin resist pollution and slowing down the aging process.
Whitening Toner: Contains angelica and coix seed extract. Angelica inhibits melanin activity in the skin, and coix seeds remove old keratin on the epidermis, improving rough skin and preventing acne formation, providing moisturization in dry environments. Some whitening toners contain kojic acid and crude vitamin C, making the skin subtly whiter and smoother. There are also alcohol-free refreshing toners that remove surface melanin, promoting facial luster, suitable for all skin types.
Keratin Adjustment Toner: Clears the epidermis, removes dry dead cells, allowing moisturizing products to function maximally. It also softens the keratin layer, enhancing the skin's ability to absorb moisturizing skincare products. Some have multiple functions, instantly hydrating and softening the skin, improving roughness and removing dull surface cells while resisting various damages to keep the skin youthful. Others contain comprehensive anti-aging complexes, promoting cell metabolism and strengthening the skin's defensive capabilities.
Thirdly, what are the moisturizing factors in moisturizing cosmetics?
Glycerin Factor: The oldest moisturizing agent. Ten years ago, many people directly used glycerin mixed with water to care for their winter skin. Safe and inexpensive, it is the most common moisturizing agent in cosmetics.
HA Factor (Hyaluronic Acid): A natural moisturizing component found in human skin, its ability to retain water is stronger than any natural or synthetic polymer. Previously, hyaluronic acid could only be extracted from rooster combs, making it rare and expensive. Now, people use fermentation methods to produce hyaluronic acid, making it widely available. It is a safe and highly effective moisturizing agent. Due to its high cost, the amount added is usually small.
PCA Factor: A natural moisturizing component found in human skin, it is a real physiological skin softener. If the PCA content in the stratum corneum decreases, the skin becomes dry and rough. Using this moisturizing agent is very safe, but because it is an amino acid, it easily deteriorates and is mostly used in high-end cosmetics.
NMF Factor: Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) in cosmetics refers to HA (hyaluronic acid), PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid), or their mixtures.
Ceramide/Collagen Factor: The latest generation of moisturizing agents developed in recent years. Because their structures are similar to the substances that constitute the skin's stratum corneum, they can quickly penetrate into the skin and combine with water in the stratum corneum, forming a network structure to lock in moisture. However, due to high costs, they are not the main moisturizing components and the amount added is extremely small.
Urea Factor: A natural product of skin metabolism, it is excellent at softening the skin and is contained in many hand creams.
Lactic Acid Factor: A widely occurring organic acid in nature, it is safe and non-toxic. It makes the skin soft and increases elasticity. Its other important function is to regulate the pH value of the skin and affect bacterial reproduction.
Chitosan Derivative Factor: A natural moisturizing agent extracted from the shells of crustaceans, its effect is close to hyaluronic acid. It is a physiologically very safe moisturizing agent and is also used as a drug in wound healing.
Aloe Vera Factor: Due to the presence of polysaccharides (similar to hyaluronic acid) in aloe vera juice, it has good lubrication and moisturizing effects. Additionally, it has sun protection and anti-inflammatory effects.
Seaweed Factor: Rich in amino acids, vitamins, and polysaccharides, it has moisturizing and anti-wrinkle effects on the skin, as well as certain antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing promoting effects.