Winter is the perfect time to talk about the magic of urea.   Even though you may have never heard of it, urea is a common ingredient in many skin care products and is a natural moisturizer found within the skin itself.  Unlike applying topical collagen in a futile attempt to [Link Removed]  using a lotion or cream containing urea will in fact improve our skin's condition.  In fact, studies show dry skin has lower levels of urea than well-hydrated skin.

The magic of urea is two-fold. Firstly, when it comes to skin care, urea is part of the skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) – a natural defense system of sorts. Urea has humectant properties, helping it to attract moisture to the skin.  This water-binding ability allows the skin to maintain a healthy moisture balance and to keep the skin's protective barrier strong to resist external irritants and bacteria.  Secondly, urea has natural exfoliating properties, helping to remove dead, dry skin cells and allowing new, healthier skin to show through.  The result is smooth, soft, and hydrated skin.  Not bad for one little ingredient!

Although urea is beneficial to dry skin, it can also cause irritation so take care when introducing it to your regimen. If you have sensitive skin you may want to consider a product with a lower concentration of urea and do a patch test first. Introduce it gradually, carefully watching for any reaction, and you'll soon be saying goodbye to rough, dry winter skin.

You'll find urea in these hardworking products:

*[Link Removed]  available in concentrations of 10 and 20 per cent creams and a lotion to best suit your dry skin needs.  

*[Link Removed]  containing 10% urea, this foot cream is the ideal for softening rough heels and callouses.  

*[Link Removed]  when you need to get serious with severly rough, dry and problem skin.  Dermal Therapy contains 15% urea as well as silk protein to improve skin tone and leave it looking smooth.  

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed] 

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