Emollient

Emollient

Emollients are substances that soften and soothe the skin. They are used to correct dryness and scaling of the skin. They are a key component in the manufacture of lipstick, lotions, and other cosmetic products.

The terms "moisturizer" (something that adds moisture) and "emollient" (something that softens) are sometimes used interchangeably, as they describe different effects of these agents on the skin. However, the term emollient is most often used to describe single ingredients, whereas "moisturizer" describes finished products.

Mechanism of action

Emollients have three basic properties:
* Occlusion - providing a layer of oil on the surface of the skin to slow water loss and thus increase the moisture content of the stratum corneum
* Humectant - increasing the water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum
* Lubrication - adding slip or glide across the skin.

ee also

* Glycerine
* Diprobase


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  • émollient — émollient, iente [ emɔljɑ̃, jɑ̃t ] adj. • 1549; lat. emolliens, p. prés. de emollire « amollir » ♦ Méd. Qui a pour effet d amollir, de relâcher des tissus enflammés. ⇒ adoucissant. Remède, emplâtre émollient. N. m. Un émollient. ⊗ CONTR.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Emollient — Émollient Voir « Émollient » sur le Wiktionnaire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Emollient — E*mol lient (?; 106), a. [L. emolliens, entis, p. pr. of emollire to soften; e out + mollire to soften, mollis soft: cf. F. [ e]mollient. See {Mollify}.] Softening; making supple; acting as an emollient. Emollient applications. Arbuthnot. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • émollient — émollient, ente (é mo li an, an t ) adj. Terme de médecine. Qui a la propriété de relâcher, de ramollir les parties enflammées. Cataplasme émollient.    Terme de pharmacie. Espèces émollientes, les feuilles sèches de mauve, de guimauve, de molène …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • émollient — ÉMOLLIENT, ENTE. adj. Terme de Médecine. Qui amollit. Remède émollient. Emplâtre émollient. [b]f♛/b] Il se prend aussi substantivement. Faire usage des émolliens …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • emollient — (adj.) 1640s, from Fr. émollient (16c.), from L. emollientem (nom. emolliens), prp. of emollire soften, from ex out (see EX (Cf. ex )) + mollire soften, from mollis soft (see MELT (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • emollient — [adj] soothing balsamic, demulcent, healing, lenitive, palliative, relieving, remedial, softening; concepts 7,22,110,384 emollient [n] lotion balm, cream, lenitive, liniment, moisturizer, oil, ointment, salve, soothing agent, unguent; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • emollient — Emollient, [emolli]ente. adj. Terme de medecine. Qui amollit. Remede emollient. emplastre emolliente …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • emollient — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having the quality of softening or soothing the skin. 2) attempting to avoid confrontation or anger; calming. ► NOUN ▪ an emollient substance. DERIVATIVES emollience noun. ORIGIN from Latin emollire make soft …   English terms dictionary

  • emollient — [ē mäl′yənt, ē mäl′ē ənt; imäl′yənt, imäl′ē ənt; ] also [, ēmōl′yənt, ēmōl′ē ənt; imōl′yənt, imōl′ē ənt] adj. [L emolliens, prp. of emollire, to soften < e out + mollire, to soften < mollis, soft: see MILL1] softening; soothing n. something …   English World dictionary

  • Emollient — E*mol lient (?; 105), n. (Med.) An external something or soothing application to allay irritation, soreness, etc. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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