Most moisturizers combine three kinds of ingredients: humectants that draw water into the skin, emollients that soften it, and occlusives that slow evaporation. Creams, lotions and gels are different balances of the same idea.
Texture tells you a lot about that balance. A gel leans on water and humectants, a rich cream on oils and butters. The ingredient list shows which, and in what order.
Reading the label
- Preservatives are a feature
- Anything that contains water needs a preservative system to stay free of microbial growth once opened. Preservatives are screened against the CertClean standard like every other ingredient on the list.
- Day and night
- The split is mostly about texture and whether a product is designed to sit under makeup or sunscreen. The seal does not assess either, only the ingredients.
