Liquid Asset
Keep your face plump and hydrated this time around with Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
Highland Park concludes the Viking Legend series with the Valfather aged in refill casks
SCIENTISTS SAY THAT eight glasses of water a day will keep the doctors away. Well, probably not the dermatologist. Most of the time, people do not practice the 8 glass of water regime due to busy schedules, hence reducing the chances for the skin to receive the moisture from the water consumed. Moisturising is an important step in skin care to keep the skin hydrated and protected from harsh aspects like pollution, sunrays and heat.
The Ultra Facial Cream by apothecary beauty brand Kiehl’s has been long celebrated as one of the brand’s best moisturising product. The lightweight cream works well as a protective barrier that lasts up to 24 hours a day, while also healing the skin by locking its moisture and hydration properties.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary since its debut, Kiehl’s wanted to share more insights about the holy grail cream by inviting their Scientific Director, Dr Nancy Ilaya, PhD to explain about the importance of having a moisture barrier on the skin.
What are some of the biggest trends you are seeing with moisturizers?
Just this past year, we’ve seen an explosion of gel crème and watery emulsion textures along with elevated hydrating ingredients. Ultra Facial Cream (UFC) has withstood the test of time thanks to its simple, yet effective formulation and texture balance that is both rich with nourishing moisture as well as fastabsorbing and non-greasy.
What makes UFC so unique?
The formula provides long-lasting moisture in a lightweight texture that works in every season. Ultra Facial Cream’s unique texture results from carefully selecting and balancing ingredients like sugar-based emulsifiers, olive derived squalane and glacial glycoprotein which provides its moisture retention property.
Why does UFC pe orm in both cold and hot weather?
The formula technology is the key to its ability to perform in both hot and cold environments. The cream draws moisture into the skin from the environment and reduces moisture loss at the same time. The lightweight squalane rich base helps supplement the skin’s moisture barrier, while the glacial glycoprotein in the formula helps to deeply hydrate and prevent water loss from the skin. In colder climates, the skin is more susceptible to water loss in the due to low humidity, wind chill and lower temperatures that reduce sebum secretion a the skin surface. UFC supplements the lost moisture helps restore the skin’s moisture balance and reduces water loss thanks to the careful balance of ingredients within the formula.
What is the moisture barrier? How does it work?
A moisture barrier is made up of the stratum corneum (outermost layer of skin), cells, water, lipids, amino acids and fatty acids which work together to maintain the moisture content in skin by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). TEWL occurs when the barrier is compromised. This can be caused by extreme changes in the environment that affect the rate of water evaporation, throwing off the water balance in the skin. When the water balance is thrown off, the skin loses its suppleness and becomes prone to physical damage. Skin can also look dull due to unevenness at the skin surface caused by water/moisture loss, and feel tight and uncomfortable. Moisture balance in skin is important for maintaining suppleness, smooth texture, and upholding the skin’s protective barrier function.
Why is it impo ant to maintain a strong moisture barrier?
Maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier is important because the skin can be susceptible to the environment. Seasonality changes, as well as changes in humidity or moving indoors to outside, can increase the rates of water loss from the skin weakening the moisture barrier. If the moisture barrier is not maintained, the skin appears dull and feels dry, uncomfortable, and rough.
How does UFC work to strengthen the moisture barrier over time?
Holistically, the formula helps infuse moisture while reducing water loss from the skin thanks to the unique and balanced blend of humectants glycerin, emollients squalane and plant oils, glacial glycoprotein and ceramides. Within the formula, these ingredients collectively work together to attract and retain moisture in the skin. Using UFC will reduce the amount of transepidermal water loss strengthening skin’s moisture barrier by 47.9 % after just one use.
Why is daily moisturization essential for a healthy skincare routine?
If there is only one thing you do for your skin, it’s moisturizing. This creates the foundation for delaying early signs of ageing. Beyond supplementing hydration, a healthy moisture barrier helps protect skin from the harmful physical effects of the environment in order to maintain an all-over healthy-looking appearance.
“THE FORMULA TECHNOLOGY IS THE KEY TO ITS ABILITY TO PERFORM IN BOTH HOT AND COLD ENVIRONMENTS. THE CREAM DRAWS MOISTURE INTO THE SKIN FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AND REDUCES MOISTURE LOSS AT THE SAME TIME”