If you are looking for creams for getting rid of dry skin, it is important to read the label of ingredients before you buy anything. Most of the products on the market are not actually moisturizing, even though the advertisements indicate otherwise.



Even if the advertisement says that they are natural topical creams for dry skin, you should still read the label of ingredients, particularly if they are manufactured in the US. That is what the FDA advises, because they have been unable to get terms like all-natural legally defined. Just because a substance is naturally occurring does not mean that it is safe.



Most creams for getting rid of dry skin contain petrolatum, mineral oil or both. Those ingredients will not pull moisture into your skins cells. The best they could do is to lock moisture in, if it was already present.



You see, petrolatum and mineral oil are byproducts created when petroleum is converted into gasoline. They are not similar to the skins own oils and even if they were able to lock in some moisture, they would also clog the pores, which could cause a pimple, even in someone that typically suffers from excessive dryness.



You might see petrolatum or mineral oil listed as ingredients in natural topical creams for dry skin, because technically they are naturally occurring. But, they are probably not what you were thinking of when you started shopping for all-natural products.



Oils derived from plants are compatible with the skins own sebum. They are quickly absorbed, do not clog the pores and can actually improve the skins moisture content.



The best natural topical creams for dry skin will contain a variety of plant-based oils, including grape seed, olive, jojoba, maracuja and Shea butter. New ingredients have been found recently that are even more moisturizing than the plant-based oils.



Judging from the latest research, the most effective creams for getting rid of dry skin, today, are those that contain a kind of bioactive protein called functional keratin. Using patented processes, the manufacturers extract the protein from sheeps wool. They are able to make it soluble, without destroying the proteins primary functions, which is why they call it functional keratin.



The most effective natural topical creams for dry skin will contain functional keratin, because it moisturizes and, over time, it improves the skins ability to retain moisture. So, basically, it improves the skins ability to heal itself.



The outer layers of human skin-cells are composed primarily of keratin. One of its purposes is to pull moisture into the cells, which plumps them up. Creams containing functional keratin can be used to supplement the amount that is naturally present. In addition to improved softness and moisture content, improvements in firmness and a reduction of wrinkles has been seen.



So, creams for getting rid of dry skin can also help you reduce the outward signs of aging. All you need to do is take the time to read the label of ingredients to be successful.