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We’re not big fans of dry skin. It can make your complexion look dull, lead to cracking and create flakes. Deep and constant hydration is the best step forward (we’ve got a great product for that, but more later) and it’s worth checking that you’re incorporating these tips – courtesy of Greatist – too:
Exfoliate first.
Before you buy 27 different moisturisers for every body part, stop for a second. The first thing you need to do is gently exfoliate dry skin. The dry, dead flakes are not going to allow any moisturizer to get in, so if you want to increase the skin’s moisture and hydration, you need to make sure there’s no impediment.
A chemical exfoliator over a physical one (the kind with beads or granules). If the word “chemical” freaks you out, don’t panic. “Chemical” just refers to the active acids (alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, or retinoids) that eat away the dead skin cells in a Pac-Man fashion, and these can be found in “natural” forms, such as the lactic acid in soured milk.
For dry skin, the best vehicle for a chemical exfoliator is a cream or lotion, which does double duty by exfoliating and moisturising. We recommend one with no more than 10 percent glycolic acid, “the gold standard” for effective exfoliation.
Rehydrate right.
When your skin is dry (particularly in dry climates, during low-humidity winter weather, or even on an airplane), it’s in need of water—not oil. So next, you need to replenish the water content, then lock it in with oil. How the heck do you do that? Start by understanding the different kinds of moisturizers.
There are three classes of moisturizing ingredients: humectants, which attract additional water; emollients, which seal the cracks between cells; and occlusives, which lock moisture in as an absolute stop. A moisturiser that contains humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water. For flakes, we recommend emollient rich products that contain oils like argan oil, shea butter, and ceramides.
Once you’ve replaced the water content, there’s an optional second step. If you’re dealing with cracked skin, reach for an emollient-rich product. Look for natural lipids, like argan oil, shea butter, and ceramides, on the label. Or you can apply a protective barrier with an occlusive (think: greasy ointments like the classics Vaseline and Aquaphor) to lock in moisture.
Try for twice a day.
Ideally, you’d moisturise twice a day, but if that sounds ambitious (because seriously, who’s got time for that?), skip the morning. Your body undergoes normal circadian rhythms, patterns that occur morning and night, and your skin’s hydration level dips while you sleep. One trick is to keep a moisturiser next to your bedside to make it easy to hydrate before bed. Plus, moisturising is a much more relaxing (and beneficial) bedtime ritual than scrolling through your phone.
But don’t skip after a shower.
We’ll let it slide if you don’t lotion up in the morning, but you should never skip moisturizing immediately after a shower or bath. That’s when your skin’s moisture content is highest. The prime time: within five minutes of getting out. Pat (don’t rub) skin dry then apply lotion or cream generously until absorbed. Showering and moisturizing before bed will earn you bonus smooth skin points.
While having dry skin isn’t often pleasant, treating it can be easy. We are loving Biodroga Sensitive Formula Care 24h for Dry Skin, a 24 care for dry skin, which has a rich and very gentle formulation and is specifically formulated for the needs of dry and sensitive skin. By Bioactive Sensitive Complex with “hautverwandtem” Derma Membrane Complex (DMC) and panthenol is particularly compatible, alleviates mild irritation and stabilizes the skin’s natural protective barrier. The skin is soothed and cared for. The moisture ingredients and nourishing oils support the moisture and lipid level of the skin.