What is the best way to choose for full body care? There are hundreds of opinions on the subject, both from experts and consumers. What is almost impossible to find is a conscious comparison of the properties of all body products and an understanding of the principles of their interaction with our skin, and this is the basis for the right choice. I will answer the questions about the difference between creams and oils and what they can give our skin.
Cream and lotion are essentially the same cosmetic form: emulsion. It is a system consisting of microscopic droplets of liquid suspended in another liquid, such as oil and water. To make them mixed, they add a special component called an emulsifier. Together it is the basis of the emulsion. Emulsions can contain a large number of active ingredients and functional additives of various chemical natures, which will determine the main effect of the product.
Cream
The consistency of the cream is denser than that of the lotion. As a rule, body care creams include a large number of different fats and vitamins. In body care schemes, creams are most often used to nourish the skin. To choose the right cream, you need to know something about cosmetic chemistry.
Emulsions can be straightforward, such as oil/water, when they are made with oil in water. These creams are lighter and usually combine moisturizing and nourishing properties. They are usually placed in cans or pumped bottles.
The second type of emulsion is the reverse one, which is added to the oil during production. They are denser and more saturated, have a similar structure to the skin. As a rule, they have a large number of oils. If you see a large jar of cream that says "Butter for the body", it is a reverse emulsion. Despite the dense texture of the cream, it absorbs well and softens the skin. Sometimes they can even be used as a kind of body mask. Apply a dense enough layer alternately to different parts of the body and give the opportunity to absorb. Your skin will thank you by making you soft and supple.
Nowadays, a new technology of complex emulsions is popular, which allows you to use together previously incompatible ingredients. These emulsions are silky, easy to distribute, not heavy with large amounts of oils, but at the same time well nourish and moisturize. Body products of this type are quite expensive and are mainly available in the luxury segment.
Lotion or milk
Usually, they choose lotion or milk for body care. The basis of the lotion is light, fluid. Its main function is easy application and good distribution on the skin to distribute the active ingredients included in the product as evenly as possible over the entire surface of the molecule. This lotion is available either in a tube or in a bottle with a dispenser.
Most of the time, everyone likes milk or lotion: after application, there is an instant feeling of moisture and grooming. Lotions are also good for oily skin, as they can be made as light as possible in texture and highly effective. For example, an aloe gel or hyaluronic acid or chitosan or algae polysaccharides are added to the finished emulsion, and an excellent moisturizer is ready. This product is suitable for both dry and oily skin.
Anti-cellulite and tonic products are also mainly lotions. And in this case, it is important to be easy to apply, so that the active additives are evenly distributed over the surface of the skin.
When are the lotions not perfect? Often we think of skin that is "undernourished" with nutrients and is quite depleted with lipids as just dry skin. And we begin to use moisturizers, and the skin needs to be nourished first. This happens after too frequent washing, long bathing and subsequent tanning, metabolic disorders, diligent adherence to diets, and a number of diseases. And in this case, I would advise to include in the beauty routine nutritious creams.
Oils
Here, the massage oils used by the specialists for the procedures should be immediately separated. It is usually a mixture of fatty oils, specially selected so that both glide and skin are nourished during the procedure, and there is no excess oil on the skin after the procedure. A few drops of essential oils are added to this mixture, depending on the purpose of the massage.
The use of pure oil is not advisable for constant body care, as it is very difficult to choose the right oil for your skin type and current condition. Grape seed oil and almond oil have the maximum moisturizing effect. They are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, so they are well received by our skin. But these oils are capricious: they quickly become unusable, so you need to pay attention to the smell and shelf life of the product. Wheat germ oil and shea butter will provide good skin nutrition. But again - quality and fresh! All oils should be applied only to well-moisturized skin.