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George J. ryan Middle School
Cracking the Code of Moisture
Which moisturizer works best for keeping the skin moist?
“(iconic beauty aesthetics)”
Kimberly Mwewa
Biology, Grade 8
George J. Ryan
November 18 2024
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Table of Contents
Purpose, Problem, & Hypothesis …….…...…………………..... 3
Background research …………....…………………………… 4-6
Materials & Procedure………………………...……………. 7-9
Pictures……………………………………………………10-12
DataTableandObservations …………...…………….……13-15
Analysis and Results ….……………………………….......…..16
Application and Recommendations (conclusion) ……..………. 17
Bibliography …………….……………………….………….... .18
Acknowledgements …………………………………....…….. 19
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Purpose
Recently when I look in the mirror after a couple of hours my skin usually looks dry.
The purpose of doing this project is for me to know what skin moisturizer would keep my
skin moisturized. And how I would do that is to evaluate how effectively different ingredients
in moisturizers (e.g., petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and triethanolamine) retain
moisture in a skin model. Then hopefully I can help other people who have the same problem
as me to find a good skin moisturizer.
Problem
How do different moisturizer ingredients (petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and
triethanolamine) affect moisture retention in a JELL-O skin model?
Hypothesis
If petroleum jelly is applied to the JELL-O skin model, then it will retain more moisture
compared to other moisturizers. I think this will happen because petroleum jelly acts as a
strong occlusive agent, forming a barrier that prevents water loss.
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Background research
The skin, the largest organ of the body, is composed of water, protein, lipids, and various minerals
and chemicals. Weighing about six pounds, its primary function is to shield the body from
infections and germs. Proper skin care is essential to maintain its health, and applying moisturizer
is a key part of this routine.
In the article “The American Academy of Dermatology Association” they provide advice for relieving
dry skin, emphasizing gentle skin care and effective moisturization. Key recommendations include using
warm (not hot) water for showers and limiting their duration, as hot water can strip the skin of its natural
oils. They recommend using thicker creams or ointments with occlusive and humectant ingredients, like
petroleum jelly and glycerin, to lock in moisture effectively rather than lotion. The guide suggests using a
humidifier to add moisture to the air, particularly in dry climates or during winter months, which can help
prevent skin from drying out further. It also advises wearing soft, natural fabrics like cotton to reduce skin
irritation.
Lotions are the thinnest and ideal for normally hydrated skin. Creams offer more hydration than
lotions but less than ointments; they have a rich, silky texture and contain less oil than ointments.
Ointments are the thickest due to their high oil content, often including petroleum or mineral oil.
In another article "Moisturizer Ingredients: Understanding the Label," Dr. Heather L. Brannon
explains how to choose the best moisturizer by understanding its ingredients. She outlines three
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main types of ingredients that benefit different skin needs: humectants, emollients, and
occlusives. Humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, attract water into the skin, which is
particularly useful for hydrating dry areas. Emollients, such as ceramides and fatty acids, soften
and smooth the skin, making them ideal for repairing the skin barrier. Occlusives, like petrolatum
and dimethicone, form a protective layer to lock in moisture. Dr. Brannon suggests choosing a
moisturizer based on your skin type and concerns, with lighter, oil-free options for oily skin and
richer, more occlusive products for extremely dry skin.
Key terms
● Moisturizers- Ointments, creams or lotions that help keep the skin moist.
● Moisturizers- Ointments, creams or lotions that help keep the skin moist. Skin-
The largest organ in the human body.
● Dry Skin- Skin that has cracks, feels rough and may be irritated. Occlusive
Agents- A moisturizer ingredient that seals moisture in to prevent water loss from
the skin. An example is petroleum jelly.
● Emollient Agents- A moisturizer ingredient that is oily and fills in spaces between
the skin cells. An example is mineral oil.
● Humectant Agents- A moisturizer ingredient that grabs water from its
surroundings like the dermis and humidity in the air. An example is glycerin.
Collagen- A protein found in the dermis of the skin and makes up 75% of the
skin.
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Triethanolamine- An ingredient added to moisturizers to make them less acidic and increase PH.
These ingredients will be analyzed for their moisturizing effects using a gelatin-based skin
model. This model mimics the skin’s structure, as gelatin is made from collagen—a protein
found in the dermis, making up 75% of the skin. The selected moisturizers for testing include
petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and triethanolamine.
To investigate how mineral oil in a moisturizer affects the human skin model, you will need a
moisturizer product that lists mineral oil as the first or second ingredient. This may likely be an
ointment, because ointments are mostly oil. To investigate glycerin, look for a product that lists
glycerin as the second ingredient (after water) and a product listing glycerin as the fourth or
lower ingredient so that you can see the effect different amounts of glycerin have. (These
products will be either lotions or creams; lotions usually contain more water than oil, making
them thinner than creams, or cremes, which contain about equal amounts of water and oil.) To
investigate petroleum jelly, use a product that is 100% petroleum jelly (commonly sold by
Vaseline®). To investigate triethanolamine, find a product that lists it anywhere in the
ingredients. For additional details, see the Materials and Equipment section in the Materials tab.
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Materials
● Petri dishes, 100 mm diameter x 15 mm deep (18, or three dishes for each skin
moisturizer you test plus three more for controls).
● JELL-O® gelatin dessert (two 3-oz. packages are needed for 18 petri dishes)
● Stove
● Measuring cup
● Cooking pot
● Clock or timer
● Stirrer
● Cup with a pouring spout
● Graduated cylinder (50 mL volume)
● Refrigerator
● Paper towels or rags
● Scale, which must be able to accurately measure 0.1 g increments. A digital scale that is
this accurate
● Measuring tablespoon
● Plastic knife or butter knife
● Clock
● Ruler, metric
● Toothpick
● Calculator
● Lab notebook
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Procedure: Making the JELLO
1) Take out your materials
2) Take out 18 petri dishes and label them 1-5 with 3 letters each (Ex: 1a,1b,1c,2a..)
3) Assign 3 petri dishes to a moisturizer (There should be 5 moisturizers in total)
4) Turn on the stove on medium or 4-5
5) Follow the instructions on the gelatin dessert packaging to prepare 50 ml of
gelatin for each petri dish. There are 18 petri dishes multiplied by 50 ml equals
900 ml of gelatin. Prepare two 3 oz packages by boiling 2 cups of water and
mixing in the gelatin for about 3-4 minutes
6) Take off the stove and add two cups of cold water and stir all the time to keep the
gelatin mixture clear.
7) When you notice its clear transfer you liquid JELLO to the pyrex with a spout
8) Pour 50 ml of gelatin into each petri dish. The gelatin dessert should fill up the
petri dish more than halfway.
Procedure: Testing the moisturizers
1) Set up two tables in your lab notebook—one for weight measurements and
another for height measurements.
2) Take the lids off the petri dishes and set them aside for the duration of the
experiment.
3) Wipe off any gelatin residue from the outside of the petri dishes and place them
on paper towels.
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4) Weigh each dish and record its weight in your lab notebook.
5) Use a ruler to measure the height (in cm) of the gelatin in each petri dish,
including the control samples. Record these measurements in your notebook.
6) Add two tablespoons (or 30 ml) of the assigned skin moisturizer to each petri
dish, ensuring the gelatin is fully covered with a thick, even layer. Note the time
and document observations about the appearance and texture of each moisturizer.
7) Record the weight and height of each petri dish at 0 hours, and take pictures for
reference.
8) Measure and record the weight of each petri dish at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16 hours.
9) Continue recording weight and height measurements every 24 hours for one
week.
10) At the end of the experiment, take the final weight and height measurements and
turn it into percentage and make detailed observations.
11) An example on how to calculate weight is, if at 0 hours a petri dish weighed 84.5
grams and after three days it weighed 75.1 grams, you would record 88.9% for
day 3 for this dish. (75.1 grams divided by 84.5 grams equals 0.889, which is
88.9%.)
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Pictures:
0 Hours 1 Hour
2 hours 3 Hours
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4 hours 8 hours
, 16 hours 24 hours
48 hours
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72 hours 96 hours
120 hours 144 hours
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Percent of Initial Weight of of Petri dishes %
Time Cetaphil Burt Aqu Vasel St.
(hour) Bees apho ine Iven
(1a) 1b 1c 2b 2c 3b 3c 4b 4c 5b 5c
(2a) r (4a) (5a)
(3a)
Jello 71 71 66 86 85 86 80 76 76 77 76 75 80 84 49
only
0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
1 98 90.4 97.5 97.3 97.5 97.4 99.1 99.8 99.4 99.8 99.3 99.8 99.6 100 100
2 97 97.7 97.2 97 97.8 96.8 99 98.9 100. 100 99.1 99.7 99.3 98.8 98.2
8
3 97 96.1 96.8 96.4 96.4 96.3 98.7 99.9 100. 99.8 99 99.7 99 97.4 95
6
4 95 96.1 95.2 94.4 94.7 93 97.5 99.1 100 100.5 98.6 99.6 98 96.3 94.9
8 94 93.4 93.9 91.3 91.5 92 87.8 97 99.9 100.3 98.8 99.3 97.1 90 92.6
16 93 92.1 92.5 89.1 91.3 88.9 87.5 95 99.7 100.1 99 99.2 96.9 80 90
24 91 89 91 87.6 87.5 85 87.7 93.6 99.4 99.3 99.2 99.3 94 79 88.2
48 87 87 84.7 78.4 81 79.2 86.8 88.9 98.2 98.7 98.7 98.8 92.7 73 64.7
72 88 79 77.1 72.1 75 71.9 86 86.4 96 98.2 98.1 98.2 89 73 64.6
96 86 77 76 70 76 64.5 85.7 85 94 97.9 98 97.6 85 60.5 53.5
120 84 76,9 75.5 69.9 75 64.1 85.5 83 93.8 97.9 97.7 97 84 60 53.4
144 82 75 74.3 69.7 74 64 85 82 90.9 97.6 97.5 96 79 59.5 53
168 80 74 72 69 73 63.9 85.8 80.9 90 97 96.9 96.5 74 59 52.9
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Graph Explanation
Purpose of the Graph:
This graph shows the changes in the weight of various moisturizers over time, which reflects their
ability to retain moisture and prevent evaporation.
X-Axis (Time):
The x-axis represents the time in hours, showing how long the moisturizers were exposed.
Y-Axis (Weight):
The y-axis indicates the weight of the moisturizers in grams. The initial weight was around 100
grams, and the decrease shows moisture loss over time.
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Key Observations:
1. Cetaphil (Blue Line):
Cetaphil maintained a relatively steady weight, suggesting that it effectively
prevents water loss over time.
2. Burt’s Bees (Red Line):
Burt’s Bees showed a significant weight drop early on, indicating that it may not be
as effective at retaining moisture compared to others.
3. Aquaphor (Yellow Line):
Aquaphor demonstrated good moisture retention, with only a moderate decline
over time.
4. Vaseline (Green Line):
Vaseline had the best moisture retention, with minimal weight loss throughout the
time period. This aligns with its properties as an occlusive agent.
5. St. Ives (Orange Line):
St. Ives lost weight steadily, showing a less effective moisture retention ability
compared to Aquaphor and Vaseline.
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Analysis:
Variability within Moisturizers: There is significant variability within each moisturizer group.
This suggests that experimental factors might be influencing the results.
Vaseline (4a, 4b, 4c) - thick paste, extremely hard to spread but consistently maintains high
percentages throughout the experiment, suggesting strong water retention.
Aquaphor (3a, 3b, 3c) - greasy, hard to squeeze, and clear in color but also performs well,
showing high and relatively stable percentages.
Cetaphil (1a, 1b, 1c) - soft /fluffy texture, smooth on skin, very easy to spread but shows some
variability and a notable decrease in percentage towards the end of the experiment.
Burt's Bees (2a, 2b, 2c) - lightweight, thin, smells like honey, easy to spread and shows some
initial fluctuation but maintains a decent level of water retention.
St. Ivens (5a, 5b, 5c) - silky, smooth, easy to spread like nutella and consistently demonstrates
the lowest percentages throughout the experiment, indicating poor water retention.
Control sample: - Clear red jello
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Conclusion
Based on this Jello model experiment, Vaseline appears to be the most effective moisturizer for
retaining moisture in the Jello skin model. It consistently displayed the highest average weight
percentage across all time points. So that means my hypothesis was correct. If petroleum jelly is
applied to the JELL-O skin model, then it will retain more moisture compared to other
moisturizers. This suggests that Vaseline, as an occlusive agent, provides a strong barrier to
prevent evaporation. Aquaphor also performed well, maintaining a significant amount of its
initial weight. In contrast, Burt’s Bees and St. Ives exhibited the most weight loss, indicating a
lower capacity to retain moisture. Cetaphil showed moderate moisture retention, performing
better than Burt's Bees and St. Ives but not as well as Vaseline or Aquaphor. Understanding the
effectiveness of different moisturizers has practical implications for both individual skincare
routines and the broader medical field. For people with dry skin conditions, such as eczema or
psoriasis, selecting a moisturizer that retains moisture effectively can reduce discomfort, prevent
cracking, and maintain healthy skin. Products like Vaseline and Aquaphor, which excel in
moisture retention, may be particularly beneficial in cold, dry climates where skin tends to lose
moisture quickly.
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Bibliography
Science Buddies Staff. "The Skinny on Moisturizers: Which Works Best to Keep Skin
Moist?" Science Buddies, 27 Oct. 2023,
[Link]
otechnology/moisturizers-which-works-best-to-keep-skin-moist , Accessed January 6, 2024
Jessica Migala. “Skin Moisturizers 101: Why to Use One, Types, and Ingredients to Look
for.” Everyday health, 21 March 2023,
[Link]
and-ingredients-to-look-for/
Paula Ludmann “Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin” American Academy of
Dermatology Association, 16 May 2024,
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[Link]
ry-skin
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my biology teacher Mrs. George for pushing me to pick a better
project which is this one, I wouldn't have been able to do the best I can without her inspiring me
everyday. And to my parents for letting me use their money for the materials I had to buy to
make this project.
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MLA format is 12 point font, Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, and double
spaced. Each page should be on its own sheet of paper, so do not print on the backs. The title is
centered, without a space above or below. Ifitisjustapaper,theheaderwilllooklikethe
exampleonthispage.Ifyouaredoingareport,deletethatandthatinformationwillbe
on thetitlepage.This sample has both versions, but you should only choose the one that goes
with the type of paper you write.
Microsoft Word
First, you need to set the line and paragraph spacing. Formal papers are double-spaced.
Do this by clicking the “Home” tab, and clicking the icon with the up and down arrows next to
some lines. Select “2.0” from the dropdown menu. Do not hit “enter” when typing lines to do
this; it becomes very hard to edit. The margin, or outer spacing, needs to be 1”. Click “Page
Layout” and then the “Margins” icon to do this. When you need a new paragraph, don’t forget to
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hit the “Tab” key on the keyboard to indent. There is no extra space between paragraphs.
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The text is size 12, Times New Roman. This can be set from the “Home” tab. You can change
alignment from the “Home” tab by highlighting the text then selecting the icon that looks like a
centered paragraph. If you don’t have a title page, the first page will have the author’s name,
teacher, class, and date on the left (Note that if you are doing the official science fair, you will
NOT have a header on that final paper or in a header, but a back page). All other pages will have
the author’s last name and page number aligned to the right in the area called the “header”.
When you have two pages of text, access the header from the “Insert” tab. Select “page
number—top of page” to have it automatically change. Also click “different first page.” Google
Drive Formatting
The 12 point font and Times New Roman font choices are easy to change in the toolbar.
Double spacing (2.0) can also be chosen by the icon with many horizontal lines and a vertical
line with two arrows. On the mobile version, it is next to “spacing.”
1 inch margins are already correct, but you can check by going to File>Page Setup. Remember to
center the title by highlighting your title then choosing the icon with centered lines. If you do not
highlight, the line with the cursor line will change. If you did not format before you
started typing, you can highlight all the text or do Command + A to select all, then change it. To
change the header on the 2nd page, go to Insert> Header. Click the box that says “different first
page header/footer.” After typing your last name and Right justifying it (next to the centering
icon), you can Insert> Page number. Delete the page number from the first page only if you do
not have a title page. If the header cuts off when you print, download it first as a pdf or to word,
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then print.
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Citations and Bibliography
You need to give credit where credit is due, for any idea or sentence that comes from
someone else. One might think for a research paper every sentence needs a citation, but if each
paragraph is referencing the same person or article, the citation can come at the end. “In MLA
style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what is known as
parenthetical citation. This method involves placing relevant source information in parentheses
after a quote or a paraphrase.” (The Writing Lab). Notice that what is in the parentheses is the
first thing you find in the bibliography. Since this website had no author, it was the author
company.
If you mention the author in a sentence however, you do not need to use parentheses,
because you already gave them credit. Another fact about what you do not cite comes from The
Writing lab at Purdue University: “Common sense and ethics should determine your need for
documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known
quotations or common knowledge.”
Most of you are citing internet sources, so there are no page numbers. However if you
are referencing a book, include the page number. The general rule is author and page number,
otherwise do a short version of title of the article or title of the book (“Guidelines” 496).
Now some facts about the bibliography. Check the format your teacher/audience wants;
MLA and APA are two common formats. Websites like [Link] and [Link]
are great resources, but you still need to check the computer’s work, as it does make mistakes.
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You often need to find the copyright date and publisher, which are often located at the bottom
of the page after the “©”symbol.
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Take a look at the formatting of the bibliography on the next page. Spacing, header, etc
will all match in format. It looks like backwards paragraphs, with the indent/tab on every line
except the first line. You will also notice it is in alphabetical order. This is just a nice thing to
do. You may have more in the bibliography than what you referenced in your paper.
Extra hints for easy formatting
After following the above, there are a few tricks to help keep your format. Insert a page break
between sections instead of inserting “enters” until it gets to the next page. When you edit, you
will not have to readjust the format. To keep your bibliography and table of contents lined up, set
tabs. If there is anything that isn’t working or changes to something wonky, Command/Control +
A to select everything and reset the font, size, and spacing. Conclusion
In conclusion, your final essays should look EXACTLY like this handout, with only one option
for your identification information (full name, class, teacher, date), and no pink hints. Change
the margins, spacing, font, and headers. Do not try and “trick” the teacher, as it is easy to tell
when all papers look the same. If you need more help, open the document program you are
using and click the question sign at the top right of your toolbar or find the “help” section.
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Procedures
1. Start the numbered list of procedures by typing the number and a period. It will do so
automatically.
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2. Make sure to include safety procedures and how to properly clean up.
3. Make sure to label equipment to keep all trials separate.
4. Write sentences in the third person (no “I” or “you”). Commands sound best. 5. Don’t
forget to explain how to measure the dependent variable, not just “measure,” in metric or
SI units (see textbook).
6. Use the word “repeat” to cut down on long procedures, and plan for 3 trials.
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Photographs:
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This was day one of applying the moisturizes. This was 5 days after applying the moisturizers
As you can see nothing has blended in
Analysis: (pick the right chart. Insert-chart. Edit in the linked sheet. Use “Help” for editing.)
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Bibliography
"The Best of the Chemistry Cat Meme." [Link] Education. About Inc., 2016. Web. 08 Dec.
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2016.<[Link] .
"Citation Machine Homepage." Citation Machine. Imagine Easy Solutions, 2015. Web. 25 Jan.
2016. <[Link]
"EasyBib Homepage." EasyBib. Imagine Easy Solutions LLC, 2016. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<[Link]
“Guidelines for Parenthetical Documentation.” Language Network. McDougal Littell, 2001.
McCray, Ian. “Science Fair Project Packet.” Personal interview. 25 January 2017. "MLA
Format Sample Paper, 7th Edition." [Link] RSS. [Link], 2016. Web. 01
Feb. 2016. <[Link]
Rinde, Marissa Lynn. ""How to Write a Paper." Personal interview. 1 Feb. 2016. The Writing
Lab, The OWL at Purdue, and Purdue University. "MLA Citations: The Basics." Purdue
OWL Writing Lab. Purdue University, 2016. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<[Link]
(Use Easybib to HELP make MLA8 format: you still need to find information and type it into the
boxes. Add a hanging indent so each following line is indented, NOT the first one. Alphabetical
order.)
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Acknowledgements
(In a short paragraph, thank the people who helped you. This gives credit to those who
helped you with the project, but you didn’t quote them or use their ideas. You do NOT thank
yourself {I can’t believe I have to mention that}.)