An Offbeat Moisturizer For The Summer

I have always struggled with dry skin. No matter how much water I drink (and I drink a ton of water!), or lotion I’d lather onto myself post-bath, I could still scratch a clear smiley face onto my dry skin that would linger on my arms in the defiant faded color. When I vacation to any place with cold weather, my face actually becomes so dry it stings! Sharp, dry wrinkles appear on the corners of my mouth like aged cheese. It’s not a pretty sight, and it feels even worse.

I’ve tried a ton of lotions and moisturizers, only to have the same results, no matter how much the dark packaging claims it will make things better for me. A recent discussion with a dermatologist on dry skin revealed to me that the skin only retains 30% of the moisture applied topically, and one way you can improve your retention of moisture is to increase the hyaluronic acid in your skin.

Hyaluronic acid is one of those beauty buzzwords that I’ve heard is a good thing to find in your skincare but I was not exactly sure what it does, nor as receptive since I usually prefer plant-based skincare. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring component of the skin that manages the skins ability to retain water. As you age, the hyaluronic acid naturally present in the skin slowly loses its ability to retain liquid, which is why aging skin is often characterized as dry. Using products with hyaluronic acid on your skin thus does not directly moisturize your skin, but it increases your skin’s ability to hold onto that moisture.

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Enter Aloe Derma’s Moisturizing Aloe Vera Juice – a moisturizer composed of 90% certified organic Aloe Vera and complemented with Hyaluronic Acid. This scentless moisturizer is very different from commercial thick and slick lotions and creams. It has a watery consistency that is absorbed immediately by the skin and feels so light you have a hard time believing it’s even there. But after a few uses you realize how much more effective it is than lotions, and how much cleaner it feels. Because of the aloe, it also makes your skin feel cool and refreshed – perfect for the intense summer heat.

While the Moisturizing Aloe Vera Juice has a small amount of preservatives to extend the shelf life of the product, it only has 7 ingredients (SEVEN!) including Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid. Talk about keeping it simple.
Aloe Derma creates Aloe Vera-based products that are mild and safe for the skin. Find out more on their website www.aloederma.ph and follow @aloedermaph on Instagram.

 

Bea Osmeña is a creative arts teacher, storyteller and writer. You’ll find her climbing mountains, playing dress up, or holing up in a coffee shop writing and trying not to eat her feelings in pastries.

April 8, 2016

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