The skin is one of the body's essential organs. It is made up of several internal layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis) and a hydrolipidic film on the outside. The latter acts as a barrier, protecting internal tissues and organs from external aggression. But what is it made of? And how do we care for it on a daily basis? Learn all about it in this article.
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What Is Hydrolipidic Film on Our Skin?
Summary
- What Is the Hydrolipidic Film?
- What Is the Purpose of the Hydrolipidic Film?
- How To Preserve the Hydrolipidic Film?
Published February 29, 2024,
by
Maylis, Chemical Engineer
—
7 min read
What Is the Hydrolipidic Film?
The skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis (the most superficial), the dermis and the hypodermis. In addition, the epidermis itself is organized into four strata, classified as such from the deepest to the most superficial: the basal layer (birth of keratinocytes), the spinous layer, the granular layer and the horny layer made up of dead cells. It's this last layer that we see and feel every time we touch our skin.
On the surface of the stratum corneum lies an invisible film: the hydrolipidic film. This film covers the entire body and is continuously renewed. Its pH is slightly acidic, between 4.2 and 6.7. This prevents bacterial colonization, which is harmful to the skin and the body.
Its biochemical composition is an emulsion of water and fat, hence its name. It is essentially composed of sweat, sebum and water. Water comes mainly from perspiration. It rises from the deeper layers of the skin and is evacuated through the pores of the epidermis. It is this water that maintains the skin's slightly acidic pH.
What Is the Purpose of the Hydrolipidic Film?
Its role is to act as an external protective barrier against the development of microorganisms and external aggression. It also enables the epidermis to retain its suppleness, radiance and hydration. Nevertheless, the hydrolipidic film is fragile and can easily become unbalanced. An excess of lipids will make the skin oily, while a deficiency of lipids will dry it out.
How To Preserve the Hydrolipidic Film?
Stressed on a daily basis, the hydrolipidic film can deteriorate. Both external and internal factors can impair its ability to protect the skin and body on a daily basis. It deserves attention and the application of appropriate care products to help strengthen or restore it.
Use gentle cleansers.
It's best to use gentle cleansers to avoid further damaging the hydrolipidic film. Avoid soaps that have a scouring effect on the skin, especially those containing aggressive surfactants such as sulfated derivatives, and prefer cleansing oils.
For the face, use our moisturizing palmarosa cleanser. Cold-saponified, this process enables the vegetable oils to retain their lipid-replenishing and soothing properties.
For the body, we've developed the relipidizing shower oil. Vitamin E+F 2.5% + Bitter almond extract. Antioxidant, it restores suppleness to the epidermis and reduces feelings of tightness, while delicately perfuming the skin with a light almond scent.
Apply moisturizers every day.
The application of moisturizing care helps the skin maintain its hydrolipidic film and limit the risk of dehydration. Moisturizers should be used every day, morning and night, to maintain the skin's protective barrier.
Hyaluronic acid is the key compound for moisturizing your skin. This active ingredient acts like a molecular sponge: it can bind up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Morning and evening, on clean, dry skin, apply the hyaluronic acid and provitamin B5-based moisturizing serum, followed by the 9-ingredient moisturizing face cream. These treatments compensate for the natural depletion of hyaluronic acid in the skin, leaving it hydrated, plumped and smoother.
Replenish your skin with lipids.
Morning and night, it's important to deeply nourish the skin. You can apply our nourishing serum with olive squalane. This addition of lipids helps repair the hydrolipidic film and limit water evaporation.
You can complement this treatment with a replenishing serum with ceramides and lavender extract, which will help re-form the skin's hydrolipidic film, protect the skin from external aggressions and prevent water from evaporating.
And, of course, drink enough water every day.
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