How Skin Absorbs Body Care Products (And Why Some Do Not Work)
How Skin Absorbs Body Care Products (And Why Some Do Not Work)
Most ingredients in body lotion never penetrate the skin. They sit on the surface. Knowing which do penetrate helps you spot products that will work.
The Barrier
The stratum corneum is designed to keep things out. Most molecules above 500 daltons cannot pass.
Hyaluronic acid (giant molecule) sits on the surface. Niacinamide (small molecule) penetrates well.
Lipid-Soluble vs Water-Soluble
Lipid-soluble molecules pass through the barrier more easily because the barrier itself is lipid-rich. Vitamin E, retinol, ceramides absorb well.
Water-soluble molecules struggle unless they are very small or carried by penetration enhancers.
Penetration Enhancers
Glycerin, urea, propylene glycol — common in body care — both moisturise and help other actives penetrate deeper.
Damp skin also enhances penetration significantly.
What This Means for Buying
A body lotion lists 20 ingredients. Only 2–3 are usually doing the meaningful penetrative work. Look for niacinamide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, urea — these all penetrate effectively.
Shop the body lotion collection.
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