Perfect skin. Moisturizer or hyaluronic acid face serum?

A very large percentage of cosmetic products , and in particular those belonging to the skin-care category , including antioxidants and anti-aging products, generally have claims relating to their hydrating properties.

Moisturizing power is one of the key features of a dermocosmetic product to maintain skin health and is one of the most important parameters in dermatology. The right level of skin hydration ensures the structural and functional integrity of the skin, while also providing elasticity, tone, and proper hydrolipidic balance.

This balance can be altered by various factors such as atmospheric agents, aging, the use of aggressive products and others, which can cause excessive evaporation of water resulting in dry skin and compromised barrier function or, conversely, can prevent regular skin transpiration.

Cosmetic products: hydrating mechanism of action

But getting back to us and the technical characteristics of a product, once again we'd like to clarify in a very simple way some aspects useful to consumers to make an increasingly informed choice of dermocosmetic.

For example, if we consider an anti-aging facial serum based on hyaluronic acid and a facial cream rich in oily components, both can claim hydrating properties, but they perform this function through different mechanisms. Imagine that beneath our skin lies a substantial water reserve, and that this water, close to the most superficial layers of the skin, is distributed to reach a series of epidermal structures, thus determining their hydration.

It is therefore easy to assume that our dermocosmetic product acts to promote this skin hydration process thanks to the characteristics of its formula and the presence of some particular components.

So, speaking of cosmetic products and what differentiates them, an anti-aging face serum free of oils and greasy substances but containing hyaluronic acid , carries out its hydrating action by promoting the migration of water from the innermost areas to the most superficial layers of the epidermis thanks to the intrinsic characteristics of hyaluronic acid itself which behaves like a magnet capable of attracting water.

In a very simple way, therefore, a hyaluronic acid facial serum activates a physiological hydration mechanism on the skin that helps create an environment favorable to natural cell renewal, a bit like a greenhouse in which temperature and humidity are constantly monitored to ensure the best conditions for plant growth.

The hydrating effect of a face cream rich in oily substances works differently than that of a face serum and is more pronounced and rapid thanks to the so-called occlusion, or generally sub-occlusion, that the formula applied to the skin's surface creates against physiological perspiration.

During perspiration, in fact, skin occlusion reduces water evaporation, retaining it longer in the intermediate zones, thus maintaining a high level of hydration. The more oily the formula, the greater the skin occlusion and the resulting hydrating effect.

Perfect skin. So how do you choose the best facial products?

Water loss through the skin is a highly controlled physiological mechanism that is part of the body's complex thermoregulation system, perfectly integrated to ensure optimal perspiration, which is neither excessive nor hindered, in balance with the internal and external environment. It is therefore of fundamental importance to choose the right products. facial products more suited to individual needs which certainly depend on the type of skin but above all on the composition itself, therefore on the formula, of our dermocosmetic skin care .

The oily component of a cream, for example, can be characterized by a prevalence of different types of highly unctuous oils and butters or by a prevalence of light, less occlusive oils, but we'll discuss the choice of ingredients and their quality later. Finally, hydrating properties can be expressed differently: with a rapid and occlusive action in the case of creams, or with a more delicate but more physiological action in the case of serums.

The use of a moisturizing cream or of a hyaluronic acid facial serum It is a preference that depends on individual needs and priorities, but undoubtedly a greater awareness of the mechanism of action will be able to help the consumer in his choice.