Skin conditioning

Ingredients with skin conditioning function help to keep the skin in a softer, smoother and more comfortable condition. They usually reduce the feeling of dryness and tightness, improve the surface of the stratum corneum, and help the skin retain moisture better. There may be several types of substances behind this name at once: moisturizers, softening lipids, silicones and other components that make the skin more elastic and visually more well-groomed. In cosmetics, such substances are used not to treat diseases, but to improve the appearance and consumer properties of the product, which corresponds to the general purpose of cosmetics. (paulaschoice.com)

In practice, this function is found in creams, serums, lotions, masks, and even decorative cosmetics. Such ingredients not only work on the skin, but can also affect the texture of the formula: make the product more gliding, more comfortable to distribute, reduce roughness after application and leave a smoother finish. Typical examples are glycerin, which attracts water and helps maintain hydration, and hyaluronic acid, known for its ability to bind moisture to the skin's surface. Ceramides, squalane, and some silicones often belong to the same group. (paulaschoice.com)

It is important to understand that the same component can have several cosmetic roles at once: for example, to simultaneously soften the skin, improve the sensory of the product and reduce moisture loss. Therefore, the mention of such a function in the INCI description does not mean strictly one mechanism of action, but indicates a general beneficial effect on the skin — a smoother, softer and more hydrated feeling after application. (paulaschoice.com)