to the water matrix the composition should include a source of hydrolyzed protein either collagen or marine based protein this acts to restore strength to the skin which has been dried out by the embalming fluid which denatures the protein in the skin the protein also acts to retexturize the skin this should be present in an amount of 0 5 to about 4 0 by weight additionally there should be one or more humectants many compositions act as humectants such as glycerin polypropylene glycol ethylene glycol and urea two commercially available humectants which are useful in the present invention are petavatim and hispagel the humectant should be present in an amount from about 1 to about 10 a mixture of different humectants can be employed if desired in addition to the humectants there should be a liquid crystalline material basically either a blue or a green cholesteric ester this acts to carry the hydrolyzed protein into the skin this should be present in an amount from about 1 to about 5 finally the remainder of the composition should be water other ingredients such as polypropylene glycol ethylene glycol aloe and the like can be included in the moisturizing composition to improve the appearance of the skin one preferred formulation is as follows ______________________________________ preferred specific range formulation ______________________________________carbspel 940 910 carbopol u00ae 1 0 5 1 5lubragel 1 0 25 2 0triethanol amine tea gt 1 0 1 1 0hydrolyzed proteins 2 0 5 4 0glycerin 1 0 25 3 0polypropylene glycol ppg 0 8 0 1 2 0aloe extract 0 5 0 1 1.