Urea

Urea has this property to make the skin much more compact on top of being softer. I was using it before taz 0.1, and liked it. So I kept it with taz but had to lower the frequency at which I use it or suffer barrier damage due to the demasquation effect compounded with the the effect of taz..

Bro urea is actually magic for winter hands. I've been using a different brand with 10% urea and it's night and day compared to regular lotions

Urea works pretty good for softening skin, especially really thick and dry skin, but it's also a humectant so I imagine that's why it works so good. Not to mention it's already naturally found in the skin and plays a role in the skin shedding process. High % urea seems to add some oomph to the exfoliant without being as irritating as acids.

+1 for urea. Game changer. Increased softness the very next day and important for long term management as well.

I use the low percentage urea on my body. But I use the 40% urea on rough spots like heels, knees and elbows.

I use a korean scrub cloth thingy and then a gentle body wash with urea when I shower (urea is so important for KP).

Urea in particular is underrated. It not only improves hydration but also helps soften compacted keratin, which makes chemical exfoliation more effective and better tolerated long term.

It’s interesting how often urea comes up as the difference-maker for body skin, especially when exfoliation alone isn’t enough. The balance you mentioned between chemical exfoliation and barrier support seems to be what a lot of people miss when they move from face to body care.