Eucerin Complete Repair Moisturizing Cream

Urea is one of the substances produced naturally by the skin called “natural moisturizing factors” (NMFs). Urea is hygroscopic, binding water in the uppermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum. Urea is also keratolytic, meaning it breaks down the connections between dead skin cells, improving cell shedding and, thus, smoothing the skin’s surface.

NMFs are a variety of water soluable compounds like amino acids, Urea and Lactic Acid which naturally occur in the stratum corneum (outer layer of the epidermis). They increase the water-binding capacity of the skin, keeping it well hydrated.

Ceramides are produced by the skin as a natural protective barrier that prevents moisture loss due to evaporation. If the skin’s ceramide levels fall, dryness can result. Ceramide-3 is a synthetically produced biologically identical molecule that protects the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Being a derivative of the skin’s own humectant glycerol, glyercyl glucosides facilitate epidermal moisturization. Dry, stressed skin shows significant reduced aquaporin channels. These channels control the transport of cellular water and other small solutes between and into cells. Thus, playing an important role in maintaining epidermal water balance. The most abundant aquaporin in the epidermis is aquaporin-3 (AQP3). Glucosylglycerol (Gluco-glycerol) stimulates the expression of AQP3 in epidermal skin cells and has been shown to stimulate the formation of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in skin cells, thus increasing the number of aquaporins that control water transport in and out of cells.