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!