Top Tips for Dry Skin

Top tips for Dry Skin Care

The reason why skin gets dry is because the outer layers of the skin lose their ability to maintain normal moisture levels.

The first step is to stop damaging the outer layer of skin by avoiding:

• Soaps and harsh foaming cleansers of all kinds.
• Products with irritating ingredients (i.e. alcohol, peppermint, menthol, mint, citrus, eucalyptus, fragrance)
• Exposure to hot water – skip those long hot baths or showers!
• Abrasive scrubs such as microdermabrasion-at-home types, or those that contain fruit and nut fragments
• Loofahs

Once the above have been eliminated then implement the following steps to further improve your dry skin condition:

1. Wear sunscreen daily, even in winter. Sun damage slowly makes your skin less and less able to hold moisture and feel      smooth.
2. Use state-of-the-art moisturisers packed full of antioxidants, ingredients that help skin hold on to water, skin-repairing ingredients, and anti-inflammatory ingredients. To ensure stability of the light- and air-sensitive ingredients, make sure whatever moisturiser you choose does not come in clear or jar packaging.
3. Exfoliate: Skin cell turnover (exfoliating) is a function of healthy skin, but your skin needs a little help with this      process. A well-formulated fruit acid product can help skin cells turn over in a more natural, youthful manner by removing the build-up of old skin cells and replacing them with newer, smoother ones.
4. For very dry skin, a pure plant oils such as olive oil or flax seed oil, can be applied over your moisturiser over areas      which still look dry.
5. Don’t forget your lips as lips are the least capable of staying smooth and soft. Do not leave your lips naked day or      night. During the day it is essential to apply and reapply an emollient lipstick or gloss.
6. Constant exposure to dry environments, cold weather, or air from heaters or air conditioners can also be problematic because they impair and degrade the skin’s outer protective layer. Adding a humidifier to your home or work environment can help.

Originally published October 30, 2012 20:57pm, updated September 24, 2017