Skin moisturizers hydrate and nourish dry skin and help fight the visible signs of aging. They are available in many different product types including lotions, creams, pure oils, and butters. Most people have a preference on the product they use which depends on the condition of their skin, the area of the body where the product is applied, the time of the year (winter versus summer), the humidity and/or dryness level where you reside, and ease of use.
Lotions are made using water as a base liquid and tend to be lighter in weight than oils and butters. Lotions have the highest water content and usually include lesser amounts of moisturizing oils and other additives such as emollients, occlusives, and humectants. The great variety of products available results from designing the product for specific features and benefits or for inclusion of specific ingredients into the formula. Lotions are light weight and are usually considered non-greasy because of the oil content in the product is low. Lotions are readily absorbed into the skin because they are mostly water and their viscosity is low. A challenge for lotions is that they frequently need daily repeated applications to keep skin hydrated since water evaporates easily and will release from the skin.
Creams are also a blend of water, oil, and other skin softening and/or hydrating ingredients but with a higher oil and lower water content than lotions. Creams are also thicker in consistency than lotions and the oils that are added into the product are used to provide a barrier layer keeping the skin hydrated by preventing transdermal water evaporation. One drawback of creams is that they tend to feel greasier because of their higher oil content. Since oil and water do not mix, both lotions and creams are formulated as emulsions to make all the ingredients compatible with one another. One advantage of lotions and creams is that they are easy to apply because of their lower viscosity. However, if one isn’t careful dispensing the product, over-application can be an issue for the same reason.
Pure oils are mixtures of higher carbon number (C16/C18) fatty acids (i.e. not water based) and usually feel heavier and more greasy when applied onto skin. The greasier feel is because oils do not evaporate quickly. They will gradually absorb into the skin over time and often need some applied pressure to penetrate the outer skin layer. Oils are useful as occlusives providing a barrier to prevent loss of moisture from the skin. So, it is usually best to apply oils after washing with water. Because of their slippery feel, oils are often used as skin lubricants for massage. Desert Botanicals makes a very effective competitively priced non-scented massage and body oil designed for professional masseuses and at-home massage practitioners.
Butters are the fourth class of moisturizers and do not contain water. Instead, they use creamy fat extracts from plants, seeds, beans, and nuts as a primary base. Most common butters are made primarily from shea, olive, mango, almond, babassu, and cocoa plants. Butters are long lasting water barriers that leverage the advantages of pure oils but can be carefully formulated to include other natural ingredients to avoid an undesirable greasy feel and mess.
Desert Botanicals Moisturizing Shea Butter is a patent-pending complex blend of shea and mango butter with a variety of special natural oils that provide deep hydration and a soothing and calming therapeutic benefit. In addition, we add Vitamin E to delay the visible signs of aging improving both skin health and appearance and arrowroot starch providing relief to skin irritations including rashes, acne, and other topical skin disorders.
Shea butter is made from nuts growing on shea trees in African countries. It is a solid at room temperature but quickly melts with skin contact. It is a natural product containing high concentrations of fatty acids that moisturize, soften, and soothe skin and attenuates dehydration of the skin in hot and dry climates. It also contains antioxidants Vitamins E and A which slow the aging process by increasing cell turnover and stimulating the production of collagen to avoid skin from sagging and forming wrinkles.
Mango butter is derived from mango seeds and has similar properties. It is an excellent source of triglyceride emollients softening skin and preventing it from becoming dry and itchy. It has been used therapeutically to treat symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, and other dry skin conditions. Mango butter is also thought to reduce skin redness and dark spots.
Desert Botanicals’ db Shea Butter Moisturizer is an easy-to-handle paste that uses a specific ratio of shea and mango butter to control the hardness of the product and quickly melt and absorb when applied to the skin. It has been designed to provide a non-greasy finish, leaving the skin fresh and rejuvenated. Many commercially available shea butters feel greasy or oily when applied. Desert Botanicals db Shea Butter Complex absorbs thoroughly in a few seconds after application. The non-oily finish makes Desert Botanicals Shea Butter complex a unique option to moisturize the skin.
In addition to the butter components, we also add multiple plant oils to the product not just for their moisturization properties but also because of their remarkable restorative healing properties. These include jojoba oil, prickly pear oil, babassu oil, arnica oil, ashwagandha oil, aloe vera oil, sweet almond oil, and lavender essential oil. Each oil was selected for its special health-giving effects to both the mind and body. For example, arnica oil has been used topically for bruises, muscle aches, wound healing, joint pain, inflammation and swelling for many years in therapeutic massage. Ashwagandha reduces nerve and muscle pain, improves circulation, and reduces physical weakness and anxiety. Ashwagandha is also extremely nourishing, restoring skin suppleness and elasticity thereby preventing wrinkles. Babassu oil is a superior moisturizer with antibacterial and anti-inflammation properties and has been used for various medical purposes to treat skin conditions, promote wound healing, and reduce inflammation. Lavender essential oil helps prevent acne and reduce skin wrinkling, and has a smoothing and calming smell promoting a sense of well-being and a peaceful restful mind. Jojoba, prickly pear, and sweet almond oil are all highly moisturizing and packed with Omega 3 and are included to soften and smooth the skin while promoting skin elasticity.
Arrowroot powder is added to prevent an oily feel on the skin while also containing many beneficial minerals and vitamins including zinc, iron, potassium, and vitamin B6. It is known to help provide relief to irritated skin and promote healing. Lastly, each formulation includes cetyl alcohol to soften skin and prevent it from being dry, rough, and itchy. Cetyl alcohol is naturally derived from coconuts and helps reduce the oily feel commonly associated with shea butters while being a very effective occlusive agent protecting the skin barrier and preventing water loss by evaporation and shielding the skin from bacteria and allergens. Cetyl alcohol will not dry the skin and is considered safe for all skin types.
In the coming months, we plan to extend our patent-pending base formulation to products providing especially designed for superior eczema and psoriasis relief, pain reduction and other areas.
db Shea Butter Moisturizing complex is especially effective on feet and hands preventing dry and irritated skin and preventing painful skin cracking in hot and dry climates. Treat yourself to a premium non-greasy, therapeutic moisturization experience by going to www.dbskin.tech.
