Nourishing and hydrating creams for your body come in all forms, textures, colors, and scents.

Packed with minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, ceramides, healing nutrients, and essential or plant-based oils—there’s a lot to choose from.

From body lotions to nourishing creams, body butter, and moisturizing hydrators, the options are endless.

But what exactly is a hydrating cream? How does it work, and why is it crucial to choose one that suits your skin type?

Let’s start with the basics. According to the dictionary:
HYDRATE: [chemistry] a process in which a substance absorbs water.

The Facts

What Exactly Is a Hydrating Cream?

Water. It doesn’t just quench your thirst—your skin craves it too! Water is essential to keep your skin soft, smooth, and elastic. Regardless of whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive, or mature, it’s largely made up of water (around 80%, to be exact).

The same goes for virtually every cream. If you take a look at the ingredients list on the packaging, you’ll likely notice “aqua” (water) at the very top.

You’d expect moisturizing or hydrating creams to somehow infuse your skin with water, wouldn’t you?

It sounds straightforward, but it’s a bit more complex than that.

A hydrating body cream does deliver some moisture to your skin, thanks to the water content in the cream itself. But its more critical function is locking in the moisture already present in your skin, preventing it from evaporating.

How Does a Hydrating Cream Work?

Hydrating creams achieve their magic using two main components:

1. Fats and Oils
   The fats in the cream create a thin layer on your skin that traps moisture and keeps it from escaping. This explains why a cream unsuitable for your skin type can leave you feeling greasy—it contains too much oil for your skin.
2. Humectants
   These ingredients bind moisture from the air to your skin, keeping it hydrated. Natural humectants like aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin are particularly effective.

Choose a Body Cream Suited to Your Skin Type:

Only applying something because it smells nice or comes in pretty packaging? That’s asking for (skin) trouble.

Every skin type benefits from personalized care.

And just like every pot has its lid, every skin type has a specific body cream that fits.

Let me help you out.

Tip! Don’t start panicking about which body cream to choose! Did you know that stress is a major reason for weakening the skin barrier and causing skin problems? So don’t do it—it’s not necessary at all.

Do you have dry or damaged skin? Then choose a cream with as many pure ingredients as possible.

centaury (woundwort) is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps prevent infections. And Shea Butter and thistle oil can work wonders too.

These two ingredients contain a high concentration of vitamins A and E and ensure that moisture from the environment is absorbed even better by your skin.

They also give your skin an extra nourishing boost.

Your skin also needs specific care in every season of the year.

In winter, for example, the heating is often turned up. Dry air and dry skin are the result.

In summer, your skin is more exposed to sunlight and pool water. Then too, you’re likely to experience drier or even more damaged skin.

So be careful not to just apply something because it smells nice or happens to be on sale. Proper care should be specifically tailored to your skin. This will make it glow.

And when your skin glows, so do you.

After reading all about body cream, are you eager to treat your skin with it? Why not make your own? This hydrating DIY vanilla-coconut body cream is easy to make, and the results are sure to impress. Nourishing, caring, and completely natural. Go ahead and apply!

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Do you already have the right body cream at home? Or didn’t you know these tips yet? Let us know in the comments! Good tips for skin care are always welcome! I’d love to try them out.