The main purpose of any moisturizer is to keep water in our skin. Not just to add more water into our skin, but to actually preserve what's already there. A good moisturizer will also act as a barrier against bacteria and will shield our skin from irritants such as dust, sun and cold or windy weather.

Moisture is lost from the skin due to a process called "trans-epidermal water loss" This simply means water leaves our body through the skin and evaporates. This process goes on 24 hours a day, more during warm weather when we perspire, as part of the natural cooling process.

Although our skin has it's own natural moisturizer called sebum, today's harsh conditions, pollution, bad diets and stressful lifestyles can cause damage to our skin that can't be handled without some outside help. Throw in the increasing ultra violet rays and our skin is fighting a loosing battle!

If there's one thing that's more important than actually using a moisturizer, it's making sure there's plenty of water in our skin to start with. The best moisturizer in the world won't create a soft dewy complexion if we don't drink enough water. Our skin draws moisture from our body and if we're dehydrated our skin will shrink, become dry and chapped and will wrinkle and age faster.

For daytime use, any moisturizer we use has to be easily absorbed into the skin so that it can keep our skin comfortable while providing a suitable base for applying make up or sunscreen.

For aging or dry skin, we can use an anti aging moisturizer at night. This can contain additional nourishing or anti aging ingredients suitable for our particular needs. The skin absorbs nutrients while we're asleep and also revitalizes itself from within ready for the day ahead.

Which moisturizer do we choose when there's so many different ones out there? My golden rule is to use a natural moisturiser, one that's made from pure natural oils from fruits and nuts such as wheatgerm oil or borage seed oil. One that contains no mineral oil, parabens or chemical preservatives.

Natural oils have a greater affinity with our skin and will be absorbed better. Mineral oils sit on the skin's surface and can caused blocked pores that can lead to skin problems. Mineral oils can actually dry our skin further. Not something we want when out skin is already dry!

We don't have to spend a fortune on natural moisturizers. There are many expensive ones available, but an economical moisturizer can do the same job as those costing big dollars.

What's the difference between an organic moisturizer and a natural moisturizer? Not a great deal as far as our skin is concerned, but an organic moisturizer usually has a shorter storage life. It's best to buy a moisturizer that has some type of preservative. There are good natural preservatives, so make sure the product you choose doesn't contain toxic preservatives such as parabens.

Avoid alcohol in any product you choose, it will dry your skin out very quickly. Even if your skin is oily it's best to avoid products containing alcohol as they remove the moisture from the skin as well as the oil.

Using a natural moisturizer each day will keep your skin healthy. Other ingredients such as sunscreen or essential oils can be added to enhance it's performance. The most important thing though is to use it!