Considering that holiday gifts often include some sort of skin care products, and that wintertime (even in Florida) tends to include dry weather, I was curious about the differences among what we call some of these products. Here is what I found (in case you are about to give such a product as a gift, there IS a difference 😉).
From www.cerave.com (I thought that Lotions were the lightest – what do I know!)
- Gels – have a watery consistency; the most lightweight option, contain the most water; often clear in color and absorb quickly when applied; weightless; do not feel greasy after application
- Lotions – lighter in texture than creams but richer than gels; designed to be easily absorbed by the skin, but they often have “creamier” consistency and have more skin-softening emollient ingredients than gels; have more water content than creams, so they usually have a thinner consistency; preferred by people with normal to oily skin
- Creams – generally have a heavier, thicker consistency due to a higher consistency of oil in their formulations; preferred by people with dry skin
- Ointments – the thickest moisturizer option; usually includes a petrolatum; used for cracked, chafed, or chapped skin
- Salve – (from Merriam Webster) – an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores
- Paste – a preparation usually of flour or starch and water; also, a smooth food product made by evaporation or grinding
But what about Toothpaste? Does that have flour or starch in it? According to Wikipedia, toothpaste is a “paste or gel” (oh, dear, now I am totally confused – I don’t think that those products feel the same at all!).
I am not sure that I helped. 🤔😕
Enjoy the holidays with or without creams, lotions, etc!
I had to look up unctuous… from google:
1. excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily.
“as I turned away an unctuous salesman appeared”
2. (of food or drink) having a pleasingly rich taste.
“this variety of cured meat is pleasantly unctuous and melts in your mouth”
I feel like these two definitions aren’t really the same. Interesting.
Hi, Eric. I’ve only seen unctuous used as definition #1 for someone who is trying to get a favor from someone else. So, I think of it in a negative way. But if it’s “pleasantly unctuous,” as in your definition #2, or as in the definition of salve, then oily might be a better way to remember it. Like butter! We can “butter someone up” or food can melt in your mouth like butter. Whew! Words!!
Extreme Unction is anointing of the sick. Unction meaning anointing with oil. Maybe that explains the “application to wounds and sores (of the soul)”
Great insight, Willie, about the use of the noun version of this word (“tion” ending – noun; “ious” version – adjective). I now feel a lot more positive about the word! Thank you for your comment 😊