Humectants pull water into your skin: from the deeper layers, and from the air when it’s humid. Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, urea.
The Pakistan-specific part: humectants love humidity. In Karachi or a Lahore monsoon, they work beautifully on their own. In dry winter air (or an air-conditioned office, or Quetta), a humectant with nothing on top can pull water out of your skin and let it evaporate. The fix is simple: seal humectants with a moisturiser. Damp skin, humectant, cream, done.
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EmollientsEmollients smooth and soften: they fill the microscopic gaps between skin cells so skin fOcclusivesOcclusives form a seal on top of skin so water can't escape. Petrolatum (Vaseline), lanoliActives"Active" is the informal term for ingredients included to change your skin, not just condi
The BYOUT Library is educational content, not personalised medical advice. For persistent or severe skin concerns, a dermatologist beats any article, including ours.