There are several categories of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients found in moisturizers. There is not one best moisturizing ingredient in face and body creams. The best moisturizers have a combination of several types of moisturizing ingredients. 

Different types of moisturizers contain various combinations of ingredients from these categories. The best moisturizing ingredients for you depends upon your Baumann Skin Type, so take the skin type quiz before buying any moisturizers so you know what ingredients to look for on the products moisturizing ingredients list.

Emollient moisturizing ingredients coat the skin's surface. This has several benefits:

• Smooth skin
• Make skin radiant
• Allow skin to reflect light
• Coat and hide fine lines and wrinkles

Think of emollients as a Snap Chat filter for your skin- making it look better temporarily.

Emollients can have a dual function and also be humectants and occlusives.

Humectant moisturizers pull water into themselves. If you are in a humid climate this will have several effects:

• The area will swell
• Fine lines will improve
• Skin will get a dewy appearance
• Shiny glass- like skin may result

In a dry climate, humectants can pull water from skin and dehydrate it.  Combining the moisturizer with occlusive moisturizing ingredients will solve this issue.

Occlusive moisturizing ingredients form a protective layer on the skin's surface.

These are usually made of:

• Oils
• Fats
• Fatty acids
• Fatty alcohols
• Butters
• Wax
• Petrolatum

Silicone pads, plastic wrap and wound dressings can also provide occlusion and skin protection.

Essential oils are not considered occlusives.

Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) is a crucial element that regulates the hydration of our skin by providing moisturizing ingredients inside skin cells.

NMF is made up of a mixture of low molecular weight and water-soluble substances derived from a protein called filaggrin, which is found inside our keratinocyte skin cells.

Filaggrin plays an interesting role in maintaining the skin's barrier function and hydration. In the lower layers of the skin, it serves a structural purpose, but as it moves higher up, it breaks down into amino acids and is known as NMF.

Natural Moisturizing factor is made up of these amino acids:

• histidine
• glutamine

• arginine

  
  

  All of these amino acids have hygroscopic properties, meaning they attract and bind water effectively. (They are humectants)

Through specific chemical transformations, these amino acids give rise to compounds such as trans-urocanic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, and citrulline, which collectively form the NMF.

Despite efforts by researchers, it has been challenging to replicate the exact composition of the NMF found naturally in our skin. The NMF's unique ability to adapt to different environments and its individual variation among people make it difficult to replicate in a skincare product. Nevertheless, the amino acids from which it is derived continue to be used in moisturizers to provide effective hydration for the skin.

While the NMF itself is not found in most moisturizing skin care products, the amino acids derived from filaggrin, such as histidine, glutamine, and arginine, are commonly used ingredients. These amino acids act as humectants, helping the skin retain moisture and remain hydrated.

NMF itself is not found in products but the components it is made of can be.  Look for these moisturizing ingredients on product labels:

• pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA)
•  urea
• lactate
• histidine
•  glutamine
• arginine

Many moisturizers like propylene glycol are chemicals made in the lab.  But there are many good natural hydrating ingredient options. The fastest way to hydrate skin naturally is with glycerin, but oils are a natural way to deliver hydrating fatty acids to the skin.

Which natural moisturizing ingredients are best depends upon your skin type. Some skin types need saturated fatty acids, while others need unsaturated fatty acids. Some skin types will prefer light humectant moisturizers, while very dry skin types will prefer greasy oils.

When looking for the best natural oils in moisturizers, remember that essential oils are not good moisturizing ingredients.