The skin needs moisturizers, especially as we age. But the skin does not handle them well. In fact, moisturizers can hurt the look of the skin.

Moisturizers weaken the skin. How to get around that conundrum, especially with skin that has become already weak from other products or medical conditions? Review the TRAINING MODEL to find a method that seeks to avoid this problem by systemic moisturizing rather than topical or mechanical moisturizing.

So, let’s understand how skin weakens from topical moisturizers.

Skin under stress has a very low capacity for moisture uptake and so, becomes quickly dependent on topically applied waxes, proteins, fats, oils, and sugars intended to aid and protect it.

These ingredients quickly burden the skin with waste product – you really don’t think all that creamy stuff is absorbed into living cells do you? Even more exasperating is that the skin’s natural moisture gets displaced by your applied moisturizer and addiction sets in. Meaning weakening and more dryness that can lead quickly to rosacea and then on to dermatitis.

Skin that has aged (after 30 years old approximately) has a slower metabolism and tends to get more susceptible to patches of inflammation. The dryness that naturally occurs from reduced cell population would seem to be easily overcome with most any moisturizer.

Except the moisture that is introduced into the upper layers of skin will hang up on the inactive surface and within minutes begin to evaporate leaving only the heavy molecules of emulsifiers, opacifiers, rheology agents, and worst of all, proteins which are in most moisturizers.

These ingredients are not metabolized and will be removed to small holding areas in the upper skin layers of the epidermis, reservoirs, where they will be slowly degraded and sloughed off. The skin will feel dry.

The energy to degrade these ingredients comes from the natural skin enzymes. This energy takes away from metabolic energy that seeks to keep viable cells thriving.

Applied proteins breakdown into constituent amino acids and these cause micro-irritation and tiny white bumps on the skin surface often results.

In other words, the skin spends its time and energy breaking down and hauling away the very ingredients you applied to moisturize. With repeated applications of most moisturizers, the skin will simply weaken, grow dependent and look drab. And be dry.

Pushing these ingredients deeper into the skin using electronic devices like ultrasound or micro-current will temporarily stimulate cell production. Unfortunately, the cell production is very temporary and often fragmented. This is not because of the device but because of the chemistry of ingredients. Often these ingredients are charged particles, or simply in excessive amounts.

In other words, the devices are helpful but the chemistry is not.

There are two easy choices to moisturize topically.

The first is to use a mist. A mist with no added active such as vitamins, proteins, acids. There are many in the marketplace. The Skin dork recommends 302 Skincare’s CALMING MIST as a good ingredient profile example.

The second is to use an outstanding, balanced formula that presents no chores for the skin from vitamins, proteins, acids. Try REVIVE for a combination cleanser and moisturizer. A game changing product for all skin types.

The very old school method of moisturizing was to apply petrolatum. This ingredient or product (many people know it as Vaseline®) has been around skincare for over five hundred years in various forms. It is an occlusive, odorless emollient that will prevent moisture evaporation from the skin. It protects the skin from dry cold and airborne irritants. It used to be the principal ingredient in moisturizers and numerous studies established its effectiveness in absolute and comparative terms against any other method. Still true. Nothing beats petrolatum for protection. Of course it also feels greasy, clogs the skin and causes breakouts and blackheads when overused.

Back in the day, babies in northern latitudes in the winter were slathered with it. It has lost favor over the last sixty years because of its natural petroleum origin and because oily skin types and many others found it had those unpleasant side effects and the world stopped living outside. Unlike most current moisturizers, designed for the indoors, it is meant to be removed with an effective cleanser.

If you want to go very old school apply a light coating of petrolatum and at the end of the day wash your face with diluted Dawn® dish soap. Cheap and works well if you’re outdoors a lot and do heavy work there in rough, cold weather.

If you want to get ahead of the curve on a cold, super dry day, and don’t want to go greasy, try this: the zinc oxide ointment REMEDY + MOISTURIZING DROPS + REVIVE all from 302 Skincare.

Mix these together and spread evenly. No residue, no grease, no proteins, no occlusive feel, no blackheads, or clogged pores. Just outstanding protection from the elements.