Glossary
Humectant, emollient, occlusive
The three jobs a moisturiser does. Most good ones do all three.
Moisturisers work in three ways, and knowing which is which explains why some products suit you and others do not.
Humectants attract water. Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, urea. They pull water into the surface layers — from the air when it is humid, and from deeper in your skin when it is not, which is why they need something over the top in dry weather.
Emollients fill the gaps between skin cells and make skin feel smooth. Squalane, fatty alcohols, plant oils, esters. This is the part that makes a product feel pleasant.
Occlusives form a layer that slows water escaping. Petrolatum, dimethicone, beeswax, shea butter. The most effective and the heaviest.
A well-made moisturiser includes all three. A 'hydrating serum' that is purely humectant is not a moisturiser and should not be used as one.
For Bangladesh, the practical reading is that you want all three in a light texture for most of the year — a gel-cream rather than a balm — and can move to something more occlusive for the dry weeks from December.
See also
This article is general information, not medical advice. Skincare products are not medicines. Speak to a dermatologist about persistent or worsening skin conditions.