When it comes to skincare, there are so many products with ingredients in different compositions available in the market that it becomes difficult to choose the best one for you. Each one claims to solve your problem but you might aggravate existing problems with some of these products. Especially when you’re having problems with dry skin and looking for over-the-counter and prescription solutions to restore moisture and bring back a smooth, youthful look to the skin.
Baby oil and lotion combined are usually recommended for dry skin. However, what you choose may depend on your skin type, age, pre-existing skin conditions such as acne, and where you live. Both baby oil and lotion moisturize and nourish the dry skin. It is recommended to apply these products on damp skin, after bathing or showering.
Dry skin can be a real problem, especially when you’re living in a cold environment. The skin can become chapped and crack if you do not take care of it. It is best that you use moisturizers and oil to treat dry skin and to hold water in the skin. Based on your skin type, age, conditions, and environment, you might need a combination of baby oil and lotion to nourish your dry skin and trap the moisture in the skin.
Baby Oil for Dry Skin – Pros and Cons
Baby Oil has been used for many years for treating dry skin and to keep the skin looking smooth and soft. It is essentially mineral oil which has added fragrances to it. Since mineral oil is a byproduct of crude oil, there have been arguments made against it about not being a natural oil like coconut oil, almond oil, or olive oil. However, it is one of the highly recommended products to prevent dryness of skin, skin irritations, and scaly skin.
Pros of Baby Oil for Dry Skin
We will look at some of the pros of using baby oil on dry skin and get to know why some people who swear by it are reaping the benefits of it.
- Moisture Lock
Baby oil forms a protective moisture lock on the surface of the skin. The semi-breathable layer it forms over the skin effectively locks the moisture in the outer layer of the skin, thus avoiding the skin from losing moisture.
It is recommended to apply baby oil when the skin is wet. It works well on damp and wet skin. Since it works when the skin is wet, it is ideal if you can apply the baby oil after a shower.
- Glowing Skin
You can give your skin a glowing and shiny look with regular use of baby oil. The smoothness and glow of your skin are amplified by the moisture that is locked in your skin, giving it a young and healthy look.
- Hypoallergenic
Baby oil is hypoallergenic, which means that it is unlikely to cause any allergic reactions. Most people fear trying new oils and lotions because of allergic reactions that might alleviate skin problems. However, with baby oil, it is safe to use on your skin. The oil is also free of phthalates, parabens, and dyes which is another positive.
There has not been extensive research into the effects of baby oil on the skin. But from the consensus of people who have been regularly using the oil, there are no allergic reactions, even when you’re using it on the skin on your face.
- Noncomedogenic
Baby oil will not clog the pores in your skin. This is especially a concern for teenagers and people who have acne breakouts who wonder if applying baby oil will clog the skin pores. Since the baby oil does not clog the skin’s pores, you can use it to moisturize your face.
- Reduce Marks on Skin
Even though there is no direct research to back claims that baby oil reduces scar and stretch marks on the skin, research that found baby oil is an effective moisturizer suggests that the claim may be likely true.
Baby oil works to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks by plumping up and smoothening the skin in the area.
6.Reduce Itchiness
Baby oil has been found to reduce skin itchiness in people with very dry skin conditions including psoriasis. To reduce the itchiness of the skin, baby oil has to be massaged into the skin where it itches.
Cons of Baby Oil for Dry Skin
There are a few cons of baby oil on dry skin. Some of them can be a concern and you will need to weigh the cons with the pros to make the selection if baby oil will be suitable for your dry skin.
Be aware of these cons when you’re using baby oil for dry skin.
- Inability to Sweat
Baby oil traps the moisture in the skin by forming a semi-breathable layer that prevents skin dryness. However, this very ability of baby oil to trap moisture works against it. You will find it difficult to sweat because the baby oil will make the process harder.
If you’re living in a hot environment or indulging in outdoor activities, you should avoid using baby oil because it will form a barrier and prevent you from sweating.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/baby-oil-on-face#baby-oil-on-face-side-effects
- Allergic Reaction
While baby oil is hypoallergenic, there are a few people who might have some allergic reaction to the mineral oil in baby oil. If you have sensitive skin, you might experience an allergic reaction to baby oil.
Try it for a few days and see if you have any skin irritation, redness, or other skin issues. If you find that you’re allergic to the oil, stop using it.
- Breakouts
The non-comedogenic nature of baby oil will not clog pores on the skin. However, this does not prevent it from triggering breakouts on skin types prone to acne. If you’re having bouts with breakouts, baby oil might not be the best option for you.
Lotion for Dry Skin – Pros and Cons
Unlike baby oil, which as its name suggests is an oil, lotions have a higher percentage of water in them. The lotion works best for skin that is not extremely dry. For regular dry skin, applying lotion can eliminate the visible dryness and make the skin look moisturized.
In lotions, water and oil are held together by an emulsifier. The fine line that separates lotions and creams is the strength of the emulsifier. The thinner the emulsifier, the product is considered a lotion.
Pros of Lotion for Dry Skin
The many benefits of lotions come from its ingredients. Beneficial ingredients to the skin including aloe vera, shea butter, vitamin D, and vitamin E are found in lotions that help replenish the moisture of the dry skin. Lotions are applied to damp skin to keep the water on the surface of the skin. Since the components that make up a lotion differ in different lotions, you will have to try a few before settling on the one that best suits you.
- Ingredients
The best thing about lotions is the ingredients in it. Even if you have dry skin, there is no universal ingredient mix that will work perfectly for every person with dry skin. Depending on whether you have mild, normal, or very dry skin, you can pick a lotion with ingredients that will suit you.
Be sure to always use a hypoallergenic moisturizer that is fragrance-free for dry skin. If you can find natural hypoallergenic products mentioned in the ingredients, you can pick up the lotion for use.
- Humectants
Lotions come with humectants that will attract water molecules from the atmosphere to the stratum corneum, which is the top layer of the skin. This will keep the skin hydrated for long durations.
While choosing a lotion with humectants, look for glycerin/glycerol, urea, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, or sorbitol in the ingredients as all of these acts as humectants.
- Noncomedogenic
Unlike baby oil, lotions are absorbed by the skin. You will have to look for non-comedogenic mentioned in the lotion pack when you’re buying it. This is because if you have pores on the skin, you do not want it to be clogged and hence a non-comedogenic lotion will ensure the pores are not clogged.
Cons of Lotion for Dry Skin
Some cons of lotions are attributed to their formulation. Since the ingredients and their composition varies from product to product, there cannot be one product that works well for all.
We will look at some of the cons of lotions for dry skin.
- Allergic Reaction
An allergic reaction is common since there is no one product that works well for all people with dry skin. You might have to try out a few products before settling on the right one that suits your needs.
Be sure to check the ingredients and look for ceramides, essential fatty acids, and hypoallergenic substances to find the best lotion for you.
- Not Regulated
Since there are no strict regulations surrounding the usage of the ingredients in the beauty industry, you might not always get what is shown in the ingredients when you buy a product. This means that you are not sure whether an ingredient mentioned in the pack is actually in the product.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/in-depth/moisturizers/art-20044232
Which One is Better for Dry Skin – Baby Oil or Lotion?
We will look at the best choice for you when it comes to treating your dry skin. You can choose baby oil or lotion or even a combination of both to moisturize your skin.
| Baby Oil | Lotion |
| Contains mineral oil and fragrance. | Ingredients differ. Usually contains peptides, ceramides, glycerin, essential fatty acids, sodium PCA, and vitamin E. |
| Forms a layer over the skin to prevent the escape of moisture. | Gets absorbed into the skin and absorbs moisture from the environment to hydrate the skin. |
| Mostly non-allergic. | Non-allergic depending on the ingredients. |
| Suitable for very dry skin in the face, body, hands, legs, and feet. | Suitable for mildly dry and dry skin. |
| Use on wet skin to lock moisture. | Use on damp/wet skin to keep skin hydrated. |
Since lotion hydrates the skin while baby oil traps the moisture in the skin, a perfect solution for your dry skin may be a combination of both.
Even though some lotions have occlusive ingredients that will seal the moisture in the skin, try baby oil and lotion separately and together. You will have to try a few products since there is no one product that works for all. In the end, when you settle on the perfect product, you will be more than happy that you found a reliable solution for your dry skin.
