Step Up Your Moisturizer Routine

April 24, 2024

It is common understanding that lotion is intended to keep our skin soft, hydrated, and youthful, but are you applying it in a way that will maximize its benefits? With so many complicated skincare trends popping up, sometimes we can forget the three foundational steps we should all master if we want to step up our moisturizer routine and really put our products to good use.

The basics to any skincare routine are to wash, exfoliate, and moisturize the skin. Add in a few more variables like shaving, ingrown hairs, sensitive skin, skin damage, maybe even a simple sunburn and things can get, well, a little complicated. Not only that, but we’ve been practicing these skincare techniques (in some form or another) for years, so it’s natural for these things to become something we just do like second nature, not giving a whole lot of thought as to whether or not we’re really using our products or applying them correctly.

There’s actually More to Lotion Than Just Moisturizing!

We apply lotion to our skin to hydrate & moisturize the skin or to act as a barrier in preventing dry skin, but we’ve found that many commercial lotions contain ingredients that are actually doing the opposite of that. When we put these ingredients on our bodies, they soak into our skin, heading straight into our bloodstream. Just think about the chemicals our bodies could be harboring after years of continued use of these products made with toxic ingredients! That's scary!

Here are a few common toxic ingredients you may find in the commercial lotions you've been using:

DMDM Hydantoin: A formaldehyde-releasing preservative that has been known to cause irritation to the eyes and skin. While DMDM hydantoin isn’t a carcinogen, formaldehyde certainly is. We’re shocked that this ingredient can still be found in many lotions.
Phthalates: Phthalates are chemicals used in the plastics and cosmetic industries that are found in many everyday products. These particles are linked to harmful effects on human health, such as infertility, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy complications. Phthalates can affect the hormones that regulate the endocrine and reproductive systems and can cause severe harm to unborn babies, children, and adult women.
Parabens: Search for parabens on a label under the names: butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. These ingredients prevent bacteria and fungus from growing, as preservatives, which sounds fine, right? Well, not exactly because they also disrupt hormones by mimicking estrogen and are linked to breast cancer as well as an abundance of other hormonal issues.
GMO Oils (Genetically Modified Oils): Many lotions are made with soybean oil or other oils labeled as “vegetable oils” which can be anything from canola oil to corn oil. All of these oils are potentially genetically modified (and even banned in other parts of the world!
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA): This is a food preservative that disrupts the endocrine system and may also be a human carcinogen.

Now, How to Step Up Your Moisturizing Routine!

Thankfully, there’s a better way. Becoming one of our most loved products by those who've tried it, our all-natural goat milk lotions can offer you the results you want with all-natural ingredients your body deserves.

Okoboji Soaps natural lotions are crafted from wholesome, plant-based ingredients. We avoid synthetic chemicals, and harsh, cancer-causing preservatives commonly found in commercial products. Our gentler approach is especially beneficial for sensitive skin. Our lotions creams and butters contain nourishing oils, butters, vitamins and botanical extracts that deeply hydrate and moisturize your skin. They help maintain skin elasticity, prevent dryness, and leave your skin feeling soft and supple.

Another crucial element to ramping up your moisturizer routine isn’t just using our quality natural creams and lotions, it’s what happens before this step. Here are three ways you can step up your moisturizer routine and get the most use out of our skincare products.

Step 1: Gentle Cleansing

When we wash our skin, we want to remove the dirt, oil, and other impurities on our body and start with a clean base for the next steps to follow. Avoiding super hot showers, limiting your time under the water to avoid drying out the skin, and using a high-quality soap or body wash are all things to remember with this step.

We might be slightly biased, but our natural soap bars are a tried-and-true gentle cleanser, and we have tons of options. From Goats milk, which is absolutely amazing for the skin because it naturally contains alpha hydroxy acids which help to gently remove dead skins cells from the surface of your skin, revealing new skin cells that are smoother and younger looking. We also offer vegan option which is just as amazing ... and let's not forget the oh so heavenly hemp! It's so hard to pick! We LOVE them all, and we use them all!!

Step 2: Exfoliation

It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman, this step can’t be skipped! Exfoliating the skin allows you to scrub away dead skin cell buildup on the body to reveal fresher, younger-looking skin. You can use an accessory like our natural sisal Pouch for gentle exfoliation or a natural body scrub. The key here is to find a product that contains ingredients that are healthy for your skin to ingest. Our sugar scrubs are made using a handful of natural ingredients that work with your body as it regenerates skin cells.

To get maximum benefits from our sugar scrub, we suggest turning off the water while you exfoliate so that you can make sure the product stays on your skin versus washing down the drain. Apply in gentle, circular motions taking your time to make sure that every part of your body has been exfoliated.

Step 3: Moisturize

After steps 1 and 2, it’s SO very important that you seal in the moisture from your shower. After your bath or shower, grab your favorite lotion and apply it to damp skin to lock in that additional hydration before it evaporates. Spend an extra 20 seconds during this step to make sure that the lotion is thoroughly massaged into the skin and give it a few extra minutes to dry before putting on your clothes. Rushing during this process can lead to more lotion ending up on your clothes than on your actual skin.

For those who don’t shower every day, note that it’s still important to moisturize certain parts of your body on a daily basis like as your face, hands, and feet as these are typically areas that are exposed to the elements and can benefit from the added moisture.

When you choose our natural lotions, you avoid the junk that’s used in commercial lotions and your skin reaps the added benefits:

Less irritation: Our goat milk lotion doesn’t any chemicals, GMO oils, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, or fillers which can cause redness, irritation, and breakouts for some.
Naturally gentle: Natural creams, lotions and butters will leave your skin feeling smooth and soft. While some individuals may react to natural ingredients, the numbers are far fewer than those who are allergic or react to synthetic ingredients in commercial lotion.

Things to remember

We get it －Life happens! There are going to be some mornings where it’s all you can do to jump into the shower before racing off to take on the day. But, taking time to plan on implementing these three steps into your skincare routine can make a big difference between dry, itchy skin and soft, moisturized and healthy skin. In the long run, thoughtful application of these amazing products makes them worth their weight in gold and actually end up saving you money in the end.

Don’t let this get complicated - Keep it natural and simple. Opt for quality in the products you choose. In the end, you'll be happy that you did, and trust me, your skin will thank you too! When it comes to your health and your skins health, you are absolutely worth it!