The fact that skin needs moisture to appear plump and youthful is often emphasized when it comes to skin care, especially . However, a term that is increasingly heard in connection with is "occlusion." But what does that actually mean, and which products are occlusive?
What is occlusion?
The word occlusion has its origins in Latin. Translated, it means something like "to close," and that actually captures the meaning quite well. Occlusive products penetrate the top layer of skin and seal it so that no moisture can escape. Occlusives, as these sealing products are called, form a protective film over your skin and lock in moisture. This makes it appear plump, wrinkles are smoothed out, and the result is youthful-looking skin. Incidentally, occlusive products not only have an enclosing effect, but also an excluding effect. This means they can help protect your skin from environmental influences like dirt that can lead to blemishes. So you see, occlusive products are good for your skin in two ways.
Why is moisture so important for the skin?
Everyone is constantly preaching that your skin needs plenty of moisture to look young and fresh. But you might be wondering why moisture is actually so important for your skin.
Just imagine a grape. It's plump and without any wrinkles or shriveled areas. Now imagine a raisin. It's smaller than a grape and not plump, but rather shriveled. But a raisin is nothing more than a dried grape. The same thing happens with your skin. If it doesn't get enough moisture or loses the moisture it receives, it essentially collapses. This is how wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin develop.
So that your skin doesn't sooner or later remind you of a raisin, but remains a grape for as long as possible, it needs moisture. You can supply it with this from the outside and from the inside. From the inside, it's not that complicated. Simply drink plenty of water or unsweetened tea throughout the day. At least two liters should be enough. Providing your skin with sufficient moisture from the outside is easier said than done, however, because the skin can't easily retain the applied moisture.
Why does skin lose moisture?
The fact that your skin can't retain 100% of the moisture it receives is due to a compromised skin barrier. This may sound bad, but it's not uncommon. The skin barrier can be damaged by overly harsh cleansers or environmental influences. Furthermore, with age, the skin increasingly loses its ability to retain moisture. This is also the reason why babies, children, and adolescents typically have plump, rosy skin.
The loss of water through the skin barrier is called transepidermal moisture loss, or TEWL for short. To enjoy plump skin again and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, you need to prevent or counteract this TEWL. And the best way to do this is with occlusion.
What are occlusive ingredients?
When it comes to occlusive ingredients in cosmetics, a distinction is made between natural and synthetic substances. The latter includes, for example, silicones, which are still found in many skincare products.
However, there are also a variety of natural occlusives that can be used in cosmetics and that are neither harmful to the environment nor to the skin. These include, in particular, plant oils and fats such as the very popular , jojoba oil, macadamia oil, and many more. To seal your skin barrier and keep moisture where it belongs, you should look for ingredients like these.
What should be considered when it comes to occlusion in skin care?
So you see, it's not enough to simply moisturize the skin regularly. Because it's usually not retained sufficiently, additional products that have an occlusive effect on the skin must be used.
It is best to use a combined care regime for your skin. Ideally, you should always start your skincare routine with the . For this, you can use our and then our gentle . This is followed by a moisturizing serum. For example, we recommend our . Thanks to the high dose of short and long chain The skin is provided with plenty of moisture, wrinkles and fine lines are prevented. Our provides your skin with sufficient moisture.
The final step is especially important so your skin can absorb and, above all, retain moisture. To prevent the water from escaping through the skin barrier, you must now seal it. The best way to do this is with a soothing cream with high-quality ingredients. All our have occlusive substances, so they can be the optimal last step in your skincare routine. In our The cream, for example, contains two very high-quality occlusive ingredients: shea butter and macadamia oil, which seal your skin's barrier and thus prevent moisture loss. At the same time, the cream gives your skin an additional moisture boost, which is absolutely essential for youthful and firm skin.
Conclusion: Occlusion is important for dry skin
Occlusion certainly makes sense in skincare. However, as always when it comes to your skincare, pay attention to the ingredients of your products. Ideally, use ones with natural ingredients and without silicones.
Occlusion is especially important for dry skin, of course, but mature skin also needs plenty of moisture. It may also be the case that you don't normally have dry skin, but need to pay more attention to hydration in winter, as cold or dry air from heating can take a toll on your skin.
Occlusion works best when you first apply a hydrating serum and then seal in that moisture by sealing your skin barrier. So, always follow a serum with a cream containing occlusive ingredients like plant-based oils or fats to ensure the moisture can work as intended.
