Winter might be brutal to the pores and skin, your physique’s largest organ, which requires extra safety throughout harsh temperatures. It’s the perfect time to coach your shoppers on the shocking pores and skin advantages of manicures and pedicures.
However what’s the distinction between a moisturizer and an emollient? How can oil moisturize the pores and skin, if oil and water don’t combine? Humectants, occlusives, emollients – is all of it simply advertising hype? Let’s clarify the advantages of every, and how one can leverage all three in your manicure and pedicure companies.
Humectants, Emollients and Occlusives
Your physique, together with your pores and skin, is at all times dropping water, so you have to continually rehydrate your self. All of us bear in mind to drink water when it’s scorching and we’re sweating, nevertheless it’s straightforward to overlook to remain hydrated when it’s chilly – our pores and skin could also be very “thirsty” when the remainder of our physique isn’t.
Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin bind water to the pores and skin. Glycerin naturally happens within the physique, however plant-derived glycerin in cosmetics can add to the water-holding energy of the pores and skin if utilized topically.
Occlusives and emollients hydrate not directly, as they don’t comprise or appeal to water. These substances replenish and complement the pores and skin’s floor stage (or sebum barrier), a water-repelling combination of triglycerides (fatty-acids plus glycerin), wax-like compounds and squalene. The physique can loses sebum quicker than it may well replenish it as a consequence of cleaning soap, mechanical abrasion or extreme water publicity—suppose wrinkly toes after a protracted bathtub. 
Diagram of Pores and skin by Sarah Ostresh, Ph.D, Sr. Scientist, Product Improvement, OPI R&DCourtesy of Sarah Ostresh, Ph.D, Sr. Scientist, Product Improvement, OPI R&D
Emollients like light-weight oils soften and easy pores and skin and are perfect for oily pores and skin. Cuticle oils and lightweight lotions generally embrace emollients.
Occlusives, primarily present in lotions for very dry and cracked pores and skin, create a extra strong barrier to seal in water, particularly on the heels and different downside areas. Occlusives can really feel extraordinarily nourishing, however some shoppers would possibly discover them too “heavy.”
Placing It All Collectively
Your rescue technique for winter-damaged pores and skin ought to embrace all of the above results in a single or a number of merchandise (layering a number of merchandise is most well-liked). Contemplate optimizing your pedicure and manicure companies by using a number of merchandise that comprise humectants, emollients and occlusives.
Many salons model multi-step companies as luxurious manicures and pedicures. The additional steps are value each additional greenback and minute invested to make sure your shoppers’ nail well being endures by winter.
1. Hydrating Soak
A heat, stress-free soak feels good any time of 12 months. Soaks hydrate the pores and skin and soften the floor layer of lifeless pores and skin cells, making exfoliation simpler. Foot and hand soaks additionally hydrate and soften nails, making trimming simpler. Many soaks comprise magnesium sulfate, which has been scientifically confirmed to penetrate and soothe the pores and skin.
2. Exfoliation
Most exfoliation strategies take away lifeless pores and skin cells by mechanical means both through eco-friendly abrasives like sugar, salt, pumice or nutshells, or through instruments like pedicure information for onerous calluses. Legs and arms love a very good scrub too!
3. Moisturizing Masks
Masks allow the time for substances to penetrate and soften the pores and skin and might be loved all through a pedicure service. Improve the expertise with a scorching towel.
4. Deep Therapeutic massage or Intensive Cream
Light-weight oils that do double obligation as emollients present the slip wanted to final all through a therapeutic massage session.
Intensive lotions ship a heavy dose of emollients and occlusives that assist preserve fingers and toes hydrated lengthy after leaving the salon.
5. Cuticle Oils
Making use of cuticle oil is the right prep step for a lacquer manicure or remaining step for a gel manicure. Cuticles are necessary protecting limitations, and it’s important to maintain them smooth and supple for general nail well being.
At this level, your consumer’s pores and skin ought to have achieved its final plumped and hydrated state, able to be topped off with the right nail coloration!
Concerning the Creator:
Massachusetts native Victoria Briand isn’t any stranger to dry, cracked pores and skin. Briand earned her BS in Chemistry from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and her PhD from the College of Connecticut. She’s an enormous advocate of taking time for your self whereas getting a pedicure!
