Awards Earned: 1st Place, 8th Physical Science, PCA Science Fair 1st Place, 8th Physical Science, ACSI Science Fair

Which hand cream retains the most moisture?

Neutrogena will retain the most moisture because some of the people that I know who use it say that it works well.

Aveeno Hand Cream
Burt's Bees Hand Creme
Crisco Vegetable Shortening
Mary Kay Hand Cream
Melrose Hand and Skin Cream
Neutrogena Hand Cream
Vaseline Moisturizing Cream

The control group is filter paper with no hand cream on it.

Qualitative filter paper, 7-cm diameter (available from any scientific supply house)
Triple-beam balance
Water
Graduated cylinder
Eight jars with screw tops
Mason jar lids that fit onto the jars
Seven hand creams

1] Pour 10 milliliters of water into one of the eight jars.
2] Coat one filter paper on one side with 5 grams of one of the hand creams. Weigh the paper and cream on the triple-beam balance.
3] Place the coated filter paper over the mouth of the jelly jar, cream coated side facing out.
4] Screw the outer ring of a mason jar lid over the mouth of the jar to hold the filter paper in place.
5] Repeat steps 1-4 for each of the other hand creams.
6] Flip each jar over so it is upside down with the water touching the filter paper.
7] Put the jars on a rack so the filter paper is exposed.
8] Let the jars sit until the water levels are noticeably different.
9] Measure the amount of water remaining in each jar.
10] Repeat the experiment.

The jar with the Vaseline Hand Cream retained the most water. Burt's Bees and Crisco came in second and third, but retained nearly as much water as the Vaseline. The jar with no hand cream lost the most water. The jar with no hand cream lost 66% more water than the jar with the Vaseline Hand Cream.

The hypothesis that Neutrogena would do the best was incorrect. Vaseline came in first, but Burt's Bees and Crisco were also very close. The prices of the hand creams affected how some of the hand creams placed, but not all of them. for example, Crisco did well, and it was the least expensive. Burt's Bees did second best, and it was the most expensive.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

When you become a Christian your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. God wants you to take care of your body. One way to take care of your body is by using moisturizers to keep your skin healthy.

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