Hello fellow nerds,
1. If we know that a quick "pat" of water is useless for bringing moisture to the skin, how long does it take for skin to become sufficiently hydrated in the presence of water? Is soap necessary to remove any preexisting skin occlusives?
2. Secondly, Randy responds with: "Creams and lotions are designed to deliver oil WITH water so you lock in the deeper moisture that's already in your skin AND get a quick hit of surface moisture from the water in the lotion." I do not understand how this is any different from wetting skin prior to applying an occlusive; in both cases water is being brought to the skin. Is there something special about a true emulsion in how it delivers water to the skin? If so, how does it work?
3. Finally, and more importantly, is an oil or oil/wax combination (i.e., mineral oil, or petrolatum) really better for skin health long-term? I know that in the world of leather care, there is debate on the practical usage of conditioners that contain beeswax, versus those that have a non-greasy formula. The idea here is that waxes and oils used on leather/skin end up attracting environmental dirt and dust because they are inherently sticky, thus causing more of a problem than the occlusive solution they solve. For leather, this means a gradual break-down of the fibers due to the abrasive quality of dirt, and for skin the greater possibility of blocked pores (even with a non-comedogenic substance such as petrolatum). So does an oil/wax used on the skin present a problem of blocking pores because of their dirt attraction properties, or is this just a theory of mine?
Sorry for the wall of text. As always, I am out to understand exactly how something works. Looking forward to the discussion!
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