There's no single inventor of moisturizer. The concept of moisturizing skin has evolved over millennia, with various cultures developing methods and ingredients long before the modern formulation of creams and lotions.
Early Uses and Recipes
- Ancient Times: Early humans used natural oils, such as castor oil, obtained by crushing castor plant seeds, for skin hydration. [Reference: SkinCenter]
- Ancient Greece and Rome: Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician, used honey as a moisturizer. Around 150 A.D., Galen, a Greek physician, documented a recipe for cold cream using water, olive oil, and beeswax. [Reference: SkinCenter]
Modern Moisturizers: A Progression
Modern moisturizers are a far cry from these ancient methods, utilizing advancements in chemistry and dermatology. While pinpointing a single "discoverer" is impossible, the evolution of moisturizers involves many contributions:
- 3000 BCE (Northern Africa): Historians believe lotion-like products were used in this region, marking one of the earliest known uses of moisturizing agents. [Reference: Zip It Clean Inventing]
The development of modern moisturizers involved countless scientists, researchers, and formulators who have refined ingredients, packaging, and delivery methods over centuries. Companies like La Mer continue to innovate and market sophisticated moisturizers. [Reference: La Mer Europe] The development of products like Bio-Renew EGF Cream shows the ongoing scientific contributions to the field. [Reference: Gloskin Beauty]
In short, the discovery of moisturizing wasn’t a singular event but a continuous process spanning thousands of years.
