Skincare guide for Dry Skin
Creating A Skin Care Routine For Dry Skin
Dry skin can be very uncomfortable and most people who have dry skin, whether it is temporary during the colder winter months, or the permanent state of their skin, are looking for ways to boost moisture and keep their skin hydrated. Putting moisturiser onto dry skin might seem like an instant solution, but there is a lot more you can do to deeply repair and hydrate dry skin from the inside out. A consistent, targeted approach will give you the best long-term solutions for treatment and prevention.
What Is Dry Skin?
The scientific term for dry skin is xerosis and it is a condition that affects people of all ages. The symptoms can be as mild as slight tightness and flaky skin or may go so far as to be itchy, painful, and even involve skin splitting and bleeding. External factors like the weather, air conditioning, pollution and health concerns can exacerbate dry skin. Dry skin is not the same as dehydrated skin, though they have similar symptoms. Dehydrated skin is temporarily lacking moisture through trans-epidermal water loss, while dry skin is due to a lack of natural oils. It is possible for oily skin to become dehydrated, so it is important to understand what your skin really needs because a skincare routine designed to support dry skin may be too intensive for dehydrated skin. If skin becomes extremely dry it is called dermatitis and there are several types of dermatitis, the most common of which are contact dermatitis (localised inflamed dryness caused by exposure to an irritant), and atopic dermatitis (chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis). Dry skin is very normal, and your skin tends to dry out over time. By the time most people reach the age of 60 they will have dry skin.
How To Get Rid Of Dry Skin
There are some very simple things you can do immediately to help treat and prevent dry skin. First of all, develop a skincare routine specifically designed for your skin type. Stop taking very hot baths or showers, rather use warm water and keep your time in the water to five minutes. Hot water is extremely drying to the skin because it causes damage to the keratin cells in the epidermis. By disrupting these cells, it prevents these cells from locking in moisture. Apply moisturisers immediately after bathing, and choose oils, ointments, and creams over lotions. Use a natural, emollient lip balm. Avoid fragrances in your skincare as these often irritate dry skin and look for natural ingredients in general and these are much less likely to exacerbate dryness. Where possible wear gloves and natural materials and wash your clothes with natural detergents designed for sensitive skin (look for the term ‘hypo-allergenic’). Keep moisture in the air and in your body. If it is too dry, add a humidifier, even a small one at your desk or in your bedroom can help keep your skin hydrated and drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will keep you internally hydrated as well.
Curating A Skin Care Routine For Dry Skin
To treat dry skin effectively, it is important to build a skin care regime that is full of really nourishing, moisture-rich natural skincare products. Ingredients should be chosen to fortify your skin’s lipid barrier which will help you keep moisture locked into your skin. They also need to be as natural as possible because dry skin is often sensitive or inflamed and does not have the capacity to deal with more irritants or toxic chemicals. The products also need to work together and build on each other so that each fulfils a need rather than working against each other. Here is our targeted skin care regime to support and heal dry skin.
Step 1: A Hydrating Cleanser
Dry skin needs a rich and gentle cleanser to remove dirt and bacteria, particularly if it is prone to flaky or splitting which can make the skin extremely vulnerable. Look for ingredients like Vitamin E, a powerful natural healing oil, and Hyaluronic Acid, a naturally occurring substance that increases the skin’s ability to hold onto moisture. Our Petitgrain Ph Balancing Cream Cleanser is a lightweight cleanser that removes makeup and environmental pollutants while it balances the pH level of the skin. Nourishing shea butter soothes dry or damaged skin as it cleanses and the skin is left hydrated and soft.
Step 2: Hydrating Toner
Many toners contain extremely drying ingredients like alcohol and nothing is worse for dry skin. Make sure your toner is water based and is designed to balance the skin’s pH. Our Rose Hydrosol Pore Refining Toner is made from pure Bulgarian organic roses and is designed to balance sebum production and hydrate the skin. A great way to keep dry skin hydrated throughout the day is with frequent use of a hydrating toner mist.
Step 3: Exfoliant
Dry skin needs weekly exfoliation because dry flakes of skin need to be removed so that moisturisers can reach and get to work on your skin, however it needs to be gentle because very dry skin is already in trauma and the last thing it needs is strong chemicals or vigorous physical scrubbing. Use a very gentle physical exfoliant to buff away dead skin and unclog pores. Our Rosemary Jojoba Bead Exfoliating Cream Cleanser is ideal for gentle buffing and cleaning using Aloe Vera and Shea Butter to protect and hydrate as it cleanses.
Step 4: Hydrating Serum
Once your skin is clean it is vital to build a strong defensive and healing layer of products designed specifically for dry skin. The perfect hydrating serum for dry skin is a rich oil like our Rosehip and Frankincense Revitalising Skin Repair Oil. Rich in Vitamin A and retinoids, this oil is a skin hero when it comes to strengthening the skin. It restores the cells making them less likely to lose moisture and boosts collagen production to brighten, lift and tighten dull, dry skin. The best way to deliver this oil to the skin is mixed with a few drops of Rose Hydrosol Toner to make an emulsion that can be gently patted into the skin.
Step 5: Moisturiser
Extremely dry skin needs more than a regular moisturiser. It needs a rich balm or cream that are based on oils rather than water. Moisturisers that contain ceramides are especially good as they contribute to building a strong lipid barrier in the skin. To really rescue dry skin try our Intensive Dermal Repair Moisture Balm that uses star organic ingredients Calendula, Shea Butter, Beeswax and Chamomile to help provide deep relief and act like a first-aid kit for the skin. The balm creates a natural, breathable barrier to environmental stressors like dry heat, wind and cold to lock in moisture and protect the skin.
Facial Oils
Facial oils are another way to protect and nourish dry skin. You can add an oil before your moisturiser or serum and can help it penetrate deeply into the skin by creating an emulsion with your oil and a few drops of your hydrating toner. Patting this into the skin will nourish, heal and protect. Look for richer oils like Argan, Pumpkin Seed, Hemp Seed and Seabuckthorn Fruit in our Natures Elixir Oil. These oils contain a cocktail of vitamins A, E, P, K, zinc and omega-3-6-9 which work to deeply nourish and heal.
Hydrating Masks
Once or twice a week, a deep hydrating mask is a great addition to your dry skin protection kit. Cream masks can be really nourishing for dry skin, as long as they are based on rich oils, balms and hyaluronic acid, but if you are pressed for time, a sheet mask is just as valuable for infusing ingredients deep into the skin. After your exfoliation, try our Silver Hyaluronic Acid Collagen Boosting Sheet Mask to deliver your skin both colloidal silver, to provide natural antimicrobial protection, and hyaluronic acid which acts as an osmotic pump to deliver amino acids, fatty acids and phytochemicals deep into the epidermal layer. Your skin will not only be deeply moisturised but will be set up to heal and stay that way.
Daily: Sun Protection
Do not underestimate the importance of sun protection for dry skin. Heat and sun not only damage your skin but are one of the key aggravators of dry skin. Add a sunscreen to your morning skin routine to protect from UVA and UVB rays. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides and aim for a broad-spectrum protection.
Vanessa Megan’s Full Dry Skin Care System
Dry skin is a very common skin concern and one that can be treated and healed. We have curated a selection of skincare designed specifically to cover all of the needs to dry skin and to build skin strength over time. Dry skin is also easily exacerbated if it is not treated and tends to get worse over time. It is one of the key causes of early skin aging and a major contributor to fine lines, wrinkles and crepey skin, so if it is your skin concern, formulate a plan designed to heal, nourish and strengthen as early as you can, building a system of powerful skincare products that work for your skin.
