Whether it’s hereditary, seasonal, age or hormone related, or even the result of inappropriate skin care, dry skin can be difficult to look after. Not only can it feel tight and uncomfortable, but it also plays a factor in early signs of skin ageing by contributing to the appearance of fine lines.
That’s why, at MATER Beauty, our goal for you is soft, supple, hydrated skin. We have carefully curated a range of highly beneficial ingredients to soothe, hydrate and replenish all skin types – all year round.
More than hydration... Meet your skin care heroes – humectants
Humectants are substances that attract water from the air and from deeper in the skin. A little like a sponge, they can hold up to 100–1000 times their weight in moisture. Some humectants are naturally derived (honey, aloe vera), while others are synthesised from other sources (propylene glycol). Since they can draw moisture from the skin, if your skin is extremely dry and dehydrated, it can pay to apply humectants after cleansing onto slightly damp skin to amp up the hydration factor. If your skin is more towards normal, the water content that's already in the product you are applying will more than suffice!
You’ll also want to make sure that humectant-based products are ‘sealed’ with an occlusive one to lock the hydration in, especially if you live in a low humidity climate (the MATER Beauty YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE Supercharged Glow Drops takes care of that for you, as well as adding a tonne of other magical benefits!).
Humectants offer a multitude of benefits for dry skin:
- Moisturise – Humectants draw moisture to the skin
- Seal cracked skin – Some humectants are also occlusive
- Preservative – Some humectants offer preservative properties to extend the life of a product
- Exfoliate – Some humectants help to slough off dry, flaky skin cells on the surface to reveal hydrated skin below
- Soothe – Humectants are a great option for irritated and uncomfortable skin
- Plump – Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by hydrating and plumping the top layers of the skin
MATER's favourite skin hydrating ingredients
Good old H2O is one of the best hydrators - both inside and out! It's an important component in many skincare products, and it's essential to drink enough water to stay hydrated from the inside out.
While most hydration serums have water as the main ingredient, we’ve gone a step further and instead incorporated floral hydrosols (a water-based ingredient made by distillation of fresh flowers) into I WOKE UP LIKE THIS Beyond-hydration Perfecting Serum for extra skin benefits, as well as a beautiful natural scent.
A dermatologist favourite, panthenol is a humectant and an emollient, so it helps to seal the cracks that can appear in dry skin. Panthenol is a derivative of vitamin B5, which is a natural component of the skin and hair so it is known as a skin-identical ingredient.
Panthenol has an excellent ability to penetrate the skin and hair, providing deep hydration and nourishment. It is also known for its ability to promote cell growth and repair, as well as reduce inflammation, thus restoring the skin barrier.
It is considered a mild humectant, so it hydrates the skin without causing irritation or dryness, making it suitable for use in all skin types.
Don’t be fooled by the scary sounding name, Propanediol is a glycol that is derived from corn sugar and is considered a natural and eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic humectants such as propylene glycol. In addition to its eco creds, it is nothing short of amazing for skin. Not only is it a powerful humectant, but it helps other ingredients to penetrate the skin and boosts preservative efficacy. What’s more, it has a lovely, light non-sticky texture that is easily absorbed.
Propanediol is considered safe and non-irritating for use on the skin, as well as being non-toxic and biodegradable - an all-round superstar!
This very gentle humectant is also natural and eco-friendly. It is an amino acid made from sugar beets and other plant sources. It helps to balance skin moisture and can improve skin tone over time. It is also known for its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
A beloved skin-identical beauty ingredient ramps up the skin's absorption of the water in the product, which in turn helps to hydrate and plump the skin cells for a softer, more youthful complexion. In truth, it's not the magical ingredient many tout it to be, as there are many more effective humectants available, but it's an excellent addition to hydrating skincare products.
BONUS Superstar Ingredient: the Legendary Glycerine
One of the most common and yet most powerful humectants, humble glycerine is found in most moisturisers, as well as the creams that doctors and dermatologists prescribe for dry/eczema skin. On its own, it has an unpleasantly sticky texture, so it requires careful formulation in face products, but it is an invaluable addition to a hydrating product.
Glycerine is another skin-identical ingredient which can be extracted from either animal or plant sources. MATER Beauty products use only the palm-free vegetable / vegan glycerine.
Your One-Stop-Shop for Hydration, and So Much More!
All these hydrating ingredients (and more!) feature in MATER Beauty's I WOKE UP LIKE THIS Beyond-hydration Perfecting Serum. Because we want ALL the skin benefits, without the sticky, oily residue, this oil-free serum is a veritable powerhouse of hydration in a super light, rapidly absorbed gel-serum.
In addition to the powerful blend of hydration hero ingredients, this multitasking serum also incorporates:
⇴ Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to help with acne, hyperpigmentation and enlarged pores
⇴ Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) botanical extract to hydrate, firm and boost collagen production
⇴ Liquorice Root botanical extract to help treat hyperpigmentation for brighter skin
⇴ MSM (Organic Sulfur) to soothe, hydrate and support collagen formation
⇴ NAG (N-Acetyl Glucosamine) to exfoliate, rejuvenate and refine skin tone
In short - a worthy addition to any skincare routine!