Moisturizers help make our skin smooth and soft, science video explains what they contain and how they work

Jan 28, 2015 12:33 GMT  ·  By

Pretty much everybody knows that, during the harsh winter months, our skin is not quite as smooth or as soft as it is during summer. This happens because, what with the heat being turned on, the air inside our homes becomes drier.

The good news is that there is one very simple solution to this problem. In a nutshell, the key to having soft skin in winter is applying plenty of moisturizer whenever possible.

As explained in the video below, moisturizers work by making the skin more, well, moist. Hence their name. More precisely, they deliver moisture to the upper layer of our skin. In doing so, they help it regain its elasticity and softness.

Interestingly enough, some moisturizers don't exactly deliver water to tissues but, in fact, form a barrier over the skin and thus keep water from leaving cells to begin with.

Other moisturizers, known as emollients, are especially designed to penetrate and repair the tissues that are hit the hardest whenever the air we are exposed to becomes drier. Lastly, there are moisturizers that attract and trap water in the skin.

It's important to keep in mind that using moisturizers to keep your skin smooth and elastic is not just about vanity. On the contrary, it's about reducing the risk of all sorts of microorganisms entering your body through cracks and tears.