How To Care For Dry Skin

Do you dream of smooth, dewy looking skin that just glows?

For us dry skin girls, achieving that insta glow is a struggle. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just slathering on some moisturizer in the morning, so if you want your skin to take centre stage for the right reasons, you’re going to have to upgrade your skincare routine for dry skin.

Dicth your highlighter because I’m going to show you my top tips to care for dry skin, so you can get that soft, supple skin that will look good and feel good. Having dry skin can make you feel like no matter what you do your skin is tight, sensitive, and even flaky with areas that are very dry.

Don’t worry.

Whether you naturally have dry skin, or suffer from a skin condition, or simply haven’t looked after your skin properly, there are plenty of things you can do to care for dry skin. One of the first things I suggest doing is finding the best facial cleanser for aging skin, since this is the first, and most important step in any skincare routine.

Are you making these top dry skin mistakes? You might not realize it, but there are quite a few people who do things on a daily basis that can be contributing to their dry skin. From not using key ingredients to skipping certain steps in their skincare routine, I’m going to show you everything you should, and shouldn’t be doing for your dry skin.

Here’s a tip- If you want to avoid getting dry skin on your face, go for products with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid for an extra boost of hydration! Or, why not try to make your own diy facial cleanser for dry skin.

Stay tuned!

Causes of Dry Skin

Dry skin is when there is a lack of moisture in the skin’s top layer, the epidermis. Sometimes as we get older we may get find our facial skin gets more dry as the skin stops producing enough natural oils to maintain moisture.

You might notice a couple of these things if you have dry skin:

• Rough patches

• Red patches of eczema

• Rough dry skin

• Cracks or flaky skin

Before you can treat dry skin, it helps to know what things might be causing it. For some people, it’s purely genetic, but others heal their dry skin by treating the cause. If you have dry skin you’ll notice Both internal and external factors might be causing you to have dry skin.

Environmental Factors- Humidity and temperature both play a part, which is why skin can dry up in cold winter temperatures and low humidity.

Genes and medical conditions– Some people are more prone to dry skin than others, some genetic skin conditions or other medical conditions too such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and diabetes or even allergic contact dermatitis.

Over-washing– washing your hands and sanitizing too often can dry up your hands as well. Taking hot showers can evaporate the moisture from your skin quickly leaving it dry.

Using harsh products- Using products that contain fragrances or alcohols will strip the skin of their natural oils and damage the skin barrier,

If you think your dry skin is being caused by an internal factor such as a medical condition, then it might be worth seeing a doctor to diagnose and treat it, especially for more severe very dry skin such as eczema. However, there is a lot you can do to get rid of dry irritated skin.

How to care for dry skin on face

Here are some of my best tips for looking after dry skin and help to banish it for good!

Use moisturizing ingredients

When you’re shopping for skincare products, you need to check the ingredients list for hydrating ingredients that will lock in moisture. Some of the ones you need to include are humectants and emollients. That means ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and lecithin as well as linoleic and lauric acids that help to soothe dry skin and trap moisture.

Use a rich moisturizer

If you struggle with very dry skin, using a rich moisturizer is a must. Rather than choosing a water based cream, go for a thicker cream that contains petroleum jelly or moisturizing oils. Although they are greasier, they help to seal in moisture and are designed to be applied on wet skin.

Use a humidifier

If you notice your skin gets more dry during winter, or your skin gets dry overnight, then consider using a humidifier. This device can be installed in your room and serves to add moisture to the indoor air. When you live in dry air or very dry climates, this can dry your skin out, but using a humidifier restores that moisture.

Use soap free cleansers

If you’ve read my article on skincare routine for dry skin, then you’ll know that the first step is always cleansing. For dry skin, it is essential to use a soap free cleanser to ensure you are not overly stripping your skin. Choose moisturizing ingredients for sensitive or dry skin so it doesn’t strip away natural oils with harsh soaps or drying soaps.

Don’t take long hot showers

It’s best to stick to shorter, 5 to 10 min showers if you shower daily. Long showers at high temperatures can dry out your skin further, as it takes away the skin’s oily layer. Use lukewarm water rather than scalding hot water, as much as we love burning our skin, it’s just not good for dry skin types. Use warm water.

Don’t be rough with your skin

If you want to avoid damaging your skin, you need to be careful with how you dry your skin after showering or washing your face. That means no scrubbing on the cleanser, rather massage it in, and don’t rub your skin dry with a towel, but gently pat dry it. The same goes for when you’re washing your skin, don’t use a rough bath sponge or scrub cloth, it’s important to be gentle and light when dealing with your skin.

Final Thoughts

Having a daily skin care routine is a must have for dry skin. Whatever your skin type, a gentle cleanser and a moisturizing cream is necessary to prevent sensitive skin. If you follow these tips, you won’t worsen dry skin, but will contribute to relieving dry skin. Of course you can use moisturizing creams and lip balm to combat dry skin especially when it contains mineral oil and petroleum jelly.

Use exfoliating acids such as lactic acid or alpha hydroxy acid before you apply moisturizer. Always finish off broad spectrum sunscreen for sun protection to prevent dryness and moisture escaping the outermost layer. Remember to drink plenty to lock moisture in the outermost layer. You can use natural fibers or synthetic ceramides in your skin care products to prevent dry skin and as a treatment to moisturize especially in winter months.