Ingredients for dry skin and a stressed barrier
Dry skin usually does best with a mix of ingredient types: humectants such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid and urea that attract water, emollients such as squalane and shea butter that soften, and occlusives such as mineral oil that slow water loss. Ceramides and cholesterol are lipids also found in the skin barrier, and colloidal oat and panthenol are common in barrier-focused moisturizers.
| Ingredient | What it does | Label flag |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramides | Adds barrier lipids to moisturizers intended to support moisture retention and comfortable-feeling skin. | No specific flag recorded |
| Cholesterol | Adds a skin-identical lipid to emollient and barrier-supporting formulas. | No specific flag recorded |
| Ectoin | Added to hydrating serums and moisturizers to help skin retain water and feel comfortable. | No specific flag recorded |
| Hyaluronic Acid | Added to serums and moisturizers to hold water and temporarily plump the look of dehydrated skin. | No specific flag recorded |
| Niacinamide | Usually the headline active, added for the look of tone, texture and oiliness. | No specific flag recorded |
| Panthenol (Vitamin B5) | It binds moisture and helps hydrating formulas leave skin feeling soft and comfortable. | No specific flag recorded |
| Polyglutamic Acid | It helps retain moisture and adds a smooth-feeling film to hydrating serums and moisturizers. | No specific flag recorded |
| Sodium PCA | It attracts and holds water in the product and on the skin's surface to support a hydrated feel. | No specific flag recorded |
| Squalane | Squalane gives facial oils and moisturizers a smooth emollient feel while helping limit moisture loss. | No specific flag recorded |
| Urea | Urea helps moisturizers hold water in the outer skin and soften dry, rough-feeling areas. | No specific flag recorded |
| Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil | It softens skin and helps reduce moisture loss while giving creams and oils a smooth feel. | No specific flag recorded |
| Oat (Colloidal Oatmeal) | Oat ingredients help moisturizers leave dry skin feeling softer and more comfortable. | No specific flag recorded |
| Shea Butter | Shea butter adds richness and emollience to creams and balms while helping limit moisture loss. | No specific flag recorded |
| Glycerin | Added to moisturizers, serums and cleansers to attract water and reduce a dry, tight feel. | No specific flag recorded |
| Mineral Oil and Petrolatum | Mineral oil and petrolatum soften skin and help slow surface moisture loss in richer creams and balms. | No specific flag recorded |
See also: How to repair a damaged skin barrier