Occlusive Ingredients
Incorporating occlusive ingredients can help you achieve plump, hydrated, and radiant skin. An occlusive ingredient, such as a balm, can also help to make your products more effective. Occlusives form a barrier that increases moisture retention and helps to hold active ingredients on the skin.
Occlusives can make a huge difference in achieving and maintaining healthy, hydrated, and glowing skin. By forming a protective barrier, these ingredients help to retain moisture, promote healing, and improve overall skin health.
What is an occlusive ingredient?
When something is occluded, it’s stopped or “plugged”. An occlusive ingredient acts as a barrier over the skin, preventing moisture loss. Occlusives are substances that create a barrier on the skin's surface, preventing water loss through evaporation. This protective barrier seals the skin and helps to keep moisture locked in and the skin hydrated.
They work by forming a physical barrier on the skin's surface. This barrier prevents water loss, ultimately increasing the skin’s ability to retain moisture. By sealing in hydration, occlusives create an optimal environment for the skin's natural healing processes, resulting in improved texture, elasticity, and overall skin health.
Types of occlusive ingredients
There are various occlusive ingredients available, each with its unique set of properties and benefits. Some common occlusives include:
Petroleum jelly
Beeswax
Mineral oil
Shea butter
Avocado butter
Silicones
Petroleum jelly is an age-old skincare hack; It deeply moisturizes the skin and forms a protective barrier to lock in hydration. Mineral oil seems light, but it sits on the skin, creating a barrier. It’s known to prevent water loss and keep the skin moisturized and supple. Silicone, while known to create buildup, is a great non-clogging occlusive ingredient. Silicones create a non-comedogenic barrier that helps to trap moisture without clogging the pore
The more natural, holistic options for occlusives would be beeswax, shea butter, and avocado butter. Beeswax isn’t a vegan option, as it’s derived from bees. But beeswax has excellent occlusive properties, and it is a generally sustainable ingredient. Shea butter is thick and provides an occlusive barrier while holding its natural oil on the skin. All plant butter really can work for a natural approach to using occlusives. I would recommend patch testing for allergies. My favorite natural butter is shea, mango, and avocado.
Benefits of Occlusive Ingredients
The use of occlusive ingredients in skincare has several notable benefits, including:
Hydration
Improved skin barrier
Anti-aging
Occlusive ingredients boost hydration by forming a barrier on the skin's surface and trapping moisture, ensuring long-lasting hydration and preventing water loss. Sealing the skin can strengthen its natural barrier function and protect it from external irritants and pollutants.
When the skin is appropriately hydrated, its natural healing processes function at their best. This can result in faster healing of wounds, reduced redness, and improved overall skin health. By keeping the skin moisturized, occlusive ingredients can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promoting a youthful and radiant complexion.
How to use occlusive ingredients
To reap the benefits of occlusive ingredients, it's essential to use them correctly in your skincare routine. Here are a few tips:
Use occlusives as the final step in your skincare routine.
Apply them over your regular moisturizer will help seal in the hydration and maximize the occlusive effects.
Utilize occlusive ingredients predominantly in your evening skincare routine. This allows the occlusive barrier to work its magic overnight while you sleep, resulting in beautifully hydrated skin by morning.
Pay extra attention to areas that are prone to dryness, such as the elbows, knees, and heels. Applying a thin layer of an occlusive product to these areas can work wonders in preventing and treating dryness.