Urea – you may have already seen it on the ingredients list of your favorite cream or lotion. This body-own ingredient plays a crucial role in hydrating and protecting the skin. At Hypogeen, we intentionally add urea to many of our products, such as foot creams, hand creams, body lotions, and leg creams, to optimally support the skin. Do you suffer from dry, tight skin or rough patches? Read on to discover what urea can do for your skin.
What is urea?
Urea is a natural substance produced by the body during the breakdown of proteins. It is one of the so-called... Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMF’s) in de bovenste huidlaag, een groep stoffen die ervoor zorgen dat de huid vocht kan vasthouden en soepel blijft.
Although urea naturally occurs in the skin, its amount can decrease due to factors such as aging, dry skin, or certain skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. The result? Skin that feels dry, tight, or flaky. Fortunately, urea in skincare products can replenish these deficiencies and help hydrate and repair the skin.
What does urea do for the skin?
Urea is a powerful ingredient that serves multiple functions in skincare. This makes it a favorite among dermatologists and an essential ingredient in many Hypogeen products. Here's what urea does:
- Urea attracts moisture from the environment and helps retain it in the skin, keeping it better hydrated.
- In higher concentrations, urea acts as a mild exfoliant that removes dead skin cells and improves skin texture.
- Urea strengthens the skin's natural protective barrier, making it more resistant to external factors such as cold, wind, or dehydration.
- Thanks to its soothing properties, urea reduces redness and irritation, making it ideal for sensitive skin.
Why does Hypogeen use urea in so many products?
At Hypogeen, we use urea because it is not known to be a skin-irritating ingredient. On the contrary, urea offers many benefits for people with dry or sensitive skin. Thanks to its moisturizing and soothing properties, urea is an essential ingredient in our products. Hypogeen is frequently used by podiatrists, and for this group of people – often with dry, rough feet or other skin issues – urea is an ideal ingredient for effectively and safely caring for the skin. You can find urea in the following Hypogeen products:
- Fußcremes (weich machen und hydratisieren trockene, raue Füße und helfen, Hornhaut zu reduzieren)
- Hand creams (repair chapped, dry hands and protect them from further dryness)
- Body lotions (help keep the skin hydrated daily and prevent a tight feeling)
- Leg creams (not only support hydration, but also help strengthen the skin barrier)
Hypogeen Foot Cream
- Contains 5% urea
- Strengthens skin elasticity
- Restores and nourishes the skin's natural fat and moisture balance
- Absorbs quickly for immediate hydration
Where is urea found and how do you recognize it?
Urea is not necessarily an ingredient used exclusively in hypoallergenic skincare. It is a versatile component that has been used in cosmetic creams since 1940 and has proven its effectiveness time and time again. Urea can be found in a wide range of skincare products, especially those focused on hydration and skin repair.
On the ingredient list of a product (the INCI list), you can often recognize urea simply by the name "urea." Sometimes the term "carbamide" is also used, but this is less common. At Hypogeen, we clearly state that urea is included in our products so that you always know exactly what you're using.