Emollient (noun)

A substance that softens or smoothes the skin.

Origin:

Late middle english (as an adjective): from latin emollient- 'softening', from the verb emollire, from e- (variant of ex-) 'out' + mollire 'to soften'. the noun use dates from the early 19th century.

Examples:

1. The emollient cream was recommended to me by my dermatologist to help soothe dry and irritated skin.
2. She applied a generous amount of emollient to her hands after washing them to prevent them from becoming rough and chapped.
3. The baby's skin was very sensitive, so the mother used a gentle, fragrance-free emollient to keep it moisturized.
4. The elderly man's rough, calloused feet were greatly improved after he started using an emollient foot balm regularly.
5. The athlete's muscles were sore after a hard workout, so she used a soothing emollient lotion to help relieve the pain and stiffness.