I always see these two words used on products for skin and hair, yet despite looking for a solid answer I can’t seem to understand what the difference is or really what each does.
In: Chemistry
Dermatologist here. It’s the same as the difference between having 6 of one and half a dozen of another. In common use and in marketing, these are basically used as synonyms.
ELI10 below:
The more specific/technical terms that differentiate types of moisturizers are: humectant vs emollient vs occlusive.
– Humectants bring in water (hygroscopic and/or hydrophilic compounds e.g. hyaluronic acid)
– Emollients soften the skin by coating it (these are often fats, e.g. ceramides, oils)
– Occlusives lock in water to prevent transepidermal water loss (very hydrophobic compounds e.g. petroleum jelly)
Hydrating may imply humectant properties, but people and companies will often use hydrating and moisturizing interchangeably regardless.
Note that this is a bit of a simplification and these properties are not mutually exclusive (most emollients have some occlusive properties, for example). Many products perform multiple actions in order to improve skin moisture.
Latest Answers