What moisturizers are used in body wash?

If you read the label of your body wash, you'll probably find a long list of difficult-to-pronounce ingredients. But if you see any of the following ingredients, your body wash contains a moisturizer:

Many of these ingredients -- such as soybean oil -- are lipids, or oil-soluble molecules, that replace natural oils removed from the skin during cleansing [sources: Bruno, Case]. Other ingredients are emollients and humectants. Emollients -- such as petrolatum -- remain in the outermost layer of the skin and act as lubricants, while humectants -- such as glycerin -- help trap moisture in the skin [source: Mayo Clinic].

On the next page, learn how lipids, emollients and humectants are combined to create skin-softening body wash.

The chemistry involved in producing a moisturizing body wash is different from producing either an individual cleanser or an individual moisturizer -- the two skin-care products must be fused together by creating an emulsion, which is a mixture of water and oil [source: Case].

Oil and water don't naturally mix, so a chemical called a surfactant is added to the mix. Surfactants bind to both water and oil, thereby linking the two ingredients -- that is, until you bathe [source: Case]. When you lather up, the moisturizing oils break down and are deposited into the skin [source: Draelos]. So, with one emulsion you're able to cleanse the skin with both water and cleansing ingredients -- while moisturizing the skin with oil-based or oil-soluble moisturizers.

A typical moisturizing cream is 50 percent water and 50 percent oil, but a body wash needs to retain its liquid cleansing properties. [source: American Academy of Dermatology]. So, in the case of moisturizing body washes, the ratio must be changed to incorporate more water than oil. Your skin needs oil to be properly moisturized, but slathering on mineral oil is a messy process. An emulsion, which is half water, goes on cleanly, and the water evaporates, leaving behind a layer of oil.

Keep reading to learn what other ingredients may be added to your moisturizing body wash.

In addition to moisturizing and cleansing benefits, some moisturizing body washes also include vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals. These ingredients can add beneficial nutrients to the skin in addition to water and oils.

If you have sensitive skin, moisturizing body washes may not be the best choice for you because they often contain fragrances and preservatives. Preservatives are used to prevent bacteria growth, and fragrances mask the odor of chemical ingredients -- but fragrances and preservatives can irritate sensitive skin or cause an allergic reaction. However, moisturizing body washes are typically less harsh than soaps and scrubs, so if you have sensitive skin, try a body wash that's organic and fragrance-free [sources: Mayo Clinic, Unilever]. Although they're less harsh than soaps, body washes can still eliminate dirt, bacteria and other irritants from the skin. Plus, moisturizing body washes can trap water and essential oils in the skin -- something soap can't do [source: Draelos].

Thanks to modern science, moisturizing body washes can perform the jobs that soap and lotion used to do separately. Check out the links on the next page to learn more about moisturizing body wash.