You realize if you’re shopping for all the brand new LE blushes as a result of OMG they’re so fairly after which you find yourself utilizing the identical previous one repeatedly as a result of that’s what works for you? Urea is like that blush. Whilst you’re getting carried away by all the brand new skincare bling – Stem cells! EGF! Bee venom! – urea’s the workhorse that’s preserving your pores and skin all tender and glowy.
It deserves a bit extra credit score, don’t you suppose? Particularly, cos your pores and skin goes south rapidly when it doesn’t get sufficient of it. Simply ask anybody with eczema or psoriasis. Their pores and skin has little or no urea and have a look at how a lot harm that’s wreaking. Ugh. So, what is that this urea thingie and how are you going to make sure that your pores and skin at all times has all of the urea it wants? Right here’s the whole lot you’ll want to know in regards to the skincare advantages of urea and why you’ll want to add it to your skincare routine instantly, particularly when you’ve got dry, scaly pores and skin:
What Is Urea?
Urea is protein rubbish. Actually. And your physique makes it. Let me clarify. When your physique makes use of protein, it spits out a nitrogenous waste byproduct known as urea by way of sweat and urine (ewww!). Your physique doesn’t want it. However your pores and skin…. it will possibly’t get sufficient of these things.
“Urea is a naturally-occurring byproduct of protein metabolism in our livers. Artificial urea is manufactured for skincare use,” explains NYC dermatologist Dendy Engelman. In case you’re questioning, the urea in skincare merchandise doesn’t come from urine. It’s man-made. I suppose for as soon as we will all be glad one thing ain’t pure.
Urea is a part of your Pure Moisturising Elements (NMF, for brief). Made well-known by The Bizarre, your NMF is a bunch of water-loving components that embrace amino acids, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Along with epidermal lipids, they make up your pores and skin’s protecting barrier. The barrier that retains moisture in for plumper, softer pores and skin. This barrier additionally retains irritants out. Urea makes up 7% of your NMF.
Urea has two tremendous powers: it exfoliates pores and skin AND hydrates it on the identical time. Cool, huh Wholesome, younger pores and skin has loads of urea. However as you grow old, your pores and skin makes much less of it. That’s one of many the reason why you often want extra hydrating merchandise as you grow old.
You realize who else wants their additional share of urea? Psoriasis and eczema victims. Pores and skin with psoriasis has 40% much less urea than wholesome pores and skin. Pores and skin with eczema fares even worse: it lacks 85% of the urea it wants!
Advantages Of Urea For Pores and skin
Urea is a godsend for dry and troubled pores and skin. It could actually deal with a truckload of skincare circumstances, together with:
- Contact dermatitis
- Eczema
- Itchiness
- Psoriasis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
Spectacular, isn’t it? And it’s all because of its tremendous hydrating and exfoliating properties. In the event you’ve bought the persistence for the science, right here’s the way it works:
1. Urea Intensely Hydrates Pores and skin
Urea is a humectant, a.okay.a. a moisture magnet. Its job is to entice moisture from the air and bind it to your pores and skin to maintain it hydrated. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are probably the most well-known member of the humectant household however urea has bought what it takes to provide them a great run for his or her cash. Not solely urea readily absorbs water, it additionally has a really excessive water content material itself. Which means it will possibly maintain a truckload of moisture within the pores and skin.
The Koreans aren’t bluffing after they say moisture is the fountain of youth. When your pores and skin is well-hydrated and has all of the moisture it wants, it capabilities higher. All this moisture plumps out your pores and skin, so your positive traces and wrinkles look smaller. It smooths out pores and skin, giving it a softer texture. It gives prompt aid to dry, itchy pores and skin and nurses it again to well being. It makes it glow. You should utilize all of the antiaging superstars cash should buy, however should you get the hydration half incorrect, your pores and skin is rarely going to look good. By no means.
In keeping with The Bare Chemist, “when [urea is ] topically utilized, dehydrated pores and skin improves by as a lot as 50%!”. Plus, urea additionally will increase the manufacturing of filaggrin, a protein that aids pores and skin hydration and reinforces the pores and skin’s protecting barrier. When your pores and skin loses an excessive amount of of this protein, you get water loss and dehydration. This makes urea a godsend for dry pores and skin and any pores and skin situation that’s aggravated by dryness, together with psoriasis, eczema, or just sensitivity to retinoids.
Associated: What The Heck Are Humectants And Why Ought to You Add Them To Your Skincare Routine?
2. Urea Is An Exfoliant
Urea has exfoliating properties, but it surely works a bit in another way from different exfoliants. Whereas scrubs manually take away useless cells out of your pores and skin and acids chemically dissolve the “glue” that retains them caught collectively, urea works with the substances that make up the molecular construction of the pores and skin. Collectively, they regulates the pores and skin’s mobile turnover, i.e. its pure exfoliating course of. In different phrases, it makes certain useless cells slough off after they’re purported to.
That doesn’t simply make your pores and skin smoother and brighter. It strengthens the pores and skin’s protecting barrier, too, in order that moisture stays in and germs and different pores and skin’s enemies keep out. Plus, as Engelman shares, “Urea can penetrate thick pores and skin, corresponding to foot calluses, and is great for cracked ft.
Associated: Bodily Vs Chemical Exfoliation: Which One Ought to You Select?
3. Urea Has Anti-Fungal Properties
Urea additionally has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. It boosts the exercise of LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide that may kill pimples micro organism. Plus, it inhibits malassezia, the fungus concerned in fungal pimples, psoriasis, eczema and so forth. You should utilize a thick layer on or round nails to fight fungus. However, for this to work, you’ll want to use excessive focus. Board-certified dermatologist Carl Thornfeldt, MD, explains: “Urea enhance the supply of different biologically lively molecules within the pores and skin corresponding to anti-fungal/yeast medicines. It does this by being hydrophilic and a lipid barrier disruptor at concentrations above 12 p.c.”
Associated: How To Deal With Fungal Pimples
How To Use It
Observe the directions on the product. If it’s a moisturiser, use it as a moisturiser. If it’s a serum, use it as serum. Simply ensure you choose a product that has sufficient urea to do what it wants. In case your pores and skin simply want some additional hydration, skincare merchandise with a excessive focus will do. If you’d like assist in eradicating powerful calluses, you then want one thing with 10% or larger, ideally round 20%. In the event you’re utilizing urea on cracked areas or ft, you may also apply socks or fabric to lock in moisture, in order that it really works higher and quicker.
Who Ought to Use It?
In case your pores and skin is in some sort of hassle – eczema, pimples, psoriasis, Sahara-like dryness, you identify it – urea may be the factor it wants. I like to recommend it to anybody with the above pores and skin circumstances, and any sort of dryness and sensitivity. It’s additionally a terrific hydrator and moisturiser for individuals affected by fungal pimples.
When To Use It?
You should utilize space each within the morning and at night time. If it’s in a serum type, apply after anti-aging serums however earlier than moisturiser.
How Usually Ought to You Use It?
In the event you’re simply utilizing a moisturiser or serum with urea, you possibly can apply it as much as twice a day. In the event you’re utilizing it as a remedy for extra critical circumstances, you possibly can apply it as much as 3 instances a day.
PRO TIP: In the event you’re utilizing a excessive focus of urea, wash your arms properly afterwards.
Facet Results Of Urea
On the small concentrations utilized in skincare merchandise, urea is mostly thought of to be protected. However should you use excessive focus, like 40%, Engelman shares chances are you’ll expertise “burning, itching, irritation, or pores and skin break down in uncommon instances.” If that occurs to you, seek the advice of a health care provider instantly. It goes with out saying, however I’ll say it anyway, that such excessive concentrations ought to solely be used for the driest of pores and skin circumstances, and even then solely underneath medical supervision.
What Are The Greatest Skincare Merchandise With Urea?
- Eucerin Dry Pores and skin Replenshing Cream 5% Urea (£12.00): A light-weight moisturiser for dry pores and skin that plumps it up and heals dryness and dehydration with out leaving a grease residue on pores and skin. Out there at Boots, Look Incredible, and Sephora.
- First Help Magnificence KP Smoothing Physique Lotion with 10% AHA ($28.00): An exfoliating physique lotion with hydrating urea to easy out imperfection and take away bumps you will have in any space of your physique. Out there at Look Incredible, Pores and skin Retailer, Sephora and Ulta.
- The Bizarre Pure Moisturizing Elements + HA Every day Moisturizer ($13.50): A light-weight moisturiser infused with just about each pure element of your pores and skin’s protecting barrier, from urea to amino acids and hyaluronic acid, to strengthen the pores and skin’s protecting barrier and make each pores and skin sort tender and easy with out including extra oil to it. Out there at Magnificence Bay, Boots, Cult Magnificence, Look Incredible, SpaceNK, The Bizarre, and Ulta.
The Backside Line
Neglect about all these fancy skincare substances. In the event you’re coping with tremendous dry pores and skin, psoriasis, eczema, fungal pimples or another critical skincare hassle, return to fundamentals and get your self a tube of urea. It has hydrating, exfoliating and anti-microbial properties that’ll nurse your pores and skin again to well being very quickly.
About Gio
Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – day by day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising jargon that can assist you work out what’s definitely worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that can assist you create the very best skincare routine to your distinctive wants.
