What are humectants, emollients and occlusive agents?
Humectants (urea, glycerin, alpha hydroxy acids, and others) are substances that absorb water from the air and hold the moisture in the skin. Humectants are useful in softening thickened or scaly skin. Humectants need very high humidity levels to be effective. Emollients (lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum and others) are ingredients that fill in the spaces between the cells in the skin, helping replace lipids and thus smoothing and lubricating rough skin. Occlusive agents (petrolatum, beeswax, lanolins, oils and others) work by physically blocking the loss of water from the skin. They may also help to restore the skin’s lipid barrier.
