Every person has their own skin care routine, but there’s always room for improvement. Sometimes you have to welcome in something new to know what you’ve been missing. That’s the case with the DIY moisturizing overnight mask in this article. It may help you wake up with facial skin that shows no signs of dryness. This is especially beneficial for people who have dry or sensitive skin.
Nighttime creams, serums, or facial oils may not lock in moisture for every skin type. If you have very dry skin that produces very little oil, you need assistance retaining moisture, especially overnight. That’s why it’s beneficial for people with dry skin to use skin care products, be they DIY or store bought, that contain emollients.
What Are Emollients?
Emollients are ingredients that work to maintain skin elasticity, softness, and smoothness. Remaining in the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the epidermis, emollients fill in the crevices between proteins that are in the shedding process. Emollients may help to reverse dryness, scaling, fine lines, and wrinkles. According to dermatologists, emollients are especially beneficial for managing symptoms of psoriasis, ichthyosis, and eczema.
In order to enhance the benefits of emollients, it’s highly beneficial to combine them with moisturizing ingredients. In the case of this recipe, for example, you combine beeswax (emollient) with squalene oil (moisturizer). Both moisturizers and emollients contain humectants and occlusives. Humectants work to increase the amount of water that the stratum corneum can hold, while occlusives provide a layer of oil to the skin, helping the stratum corneum retain moisture by reducing water loss.
Causes Of Dry Skin
You can experience dry skin when the stratum corneum lacks water. Losing moistures causes the skin to lose elasticity, making it look scaly or cracked. What causes the stratum corneum to lose water, though? Well, there are many things that contribute to dry skin, but the environment is typically the primary culprit, which is why d skin is common during dryer, colder temperatures. Additionally, transitioning between cold outdoor weather and dry indoor heat negatively affects the skin.
As you age, the skin loses its ability to produce natural oil and maintain moisture. This tends to start around age 50, but certain medications like diuretics, thyroid disorders, or skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can accelerate this process. If you know that you have dry skin, proper hygiene is paramount. Please understand that the combination of hot water and soap naturally strips the skin of natural oils. Unless you apply an emollient directly after washing, the skin will dry out faster than it should.
In order to avoid dry facial skin, use the following overnight moisturizing mask. It contains beeswax, vitamin E oil, and squalene oil, all of which help to seal moisture into the skin.
DIY Moisturizing Overnight Mask
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons white beeswax pellets
- 1/2 cup squalene oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil
Instructions:
- Using a double boiler method, melt the beeswax pellets. In order to do this, add one inch of water to a heavy-bottomed pot. Bring the water to a simmer over medium heat and then add a heat-safe glass measuring cup with the beeswax pellets to the pot.
- Once the beeswax is fully melted, reduce the heat to a low simmer and pour in the squalene oil. Continue stirring to break up any bumps that may form.
- After the mixture is completely melted and combined, remove from heat and allow it to cool for a couple minutes.
- Stir in the vitamin E oil and then transfer the mixture to a cosmetic jar or glass container. Leave the mixture at room temperature for one to two hours; refrigeration is not necessary. Use nightly after washing and drying your face.
