Why Is Your Skin So Dry
When your skin is uncomfortably dry, its only reasonable to want someone or something to blame. Many factors can contribute to dry skin, such as harsh soaps, chlorine, long hot showers, and even aging. One general theme: Dryness occurs when skin doesnt produce enough sebum. The skin barrier normally prevents moisture loss, but this can be compromised by various things, including skincare mistakes and low humidity.
Skin tends to be driest in winter months due to temperatures dropping and humidity levels falling. Being outdoors in cold temperatures makes it difficult for skin to retain the essential moisture it needs, causing it to appear dry. A lack of moisture in the air can also leave skin more susceptible to drying and flaking. Be mindful of how long and how often youre in cold temperatures, and remember to protect your skin with the help of an effective moisturizer.
Tip #: Remove Makeup Without Drying Out Your Skin
Having dry skin can make you averse to cleansing and makeup removal, but it shouldnt. What often happens is that those with parched complexions go to remove their makeup, only for the process to leave their skin feeling extra tight and dry. While this is no good, it doesnt eliminate the need to take off your makeup. Instead, it means you should be careful about how you do it.
Wash away the day, including your foundation and mascara, with Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil. The oil cleanser effectively dissolves dirt, oil, and hard-to-remove makeup while leaving skin soft and replenishedjust what your dry skin needs.
How Can You Get Rid Of Dry Patches
Thankfully, these dry patches wont last forever. If you think you know the cause of the patches based on the above, like a new skincare product, remove the product from your routine, stat.
No matter if you can identify the cause or not, the first step to remedying a dry patch is finding a holy grail, rich, luscious moisturizer. Try applying an effective skin barrier repairing moisturizer as soon as possible and in ample quantity, Kim says. She recommends paying attention to your skin. Some patches may only need to be moisturized twice a day and others may require hourly care. Her go-to products for over the counter hydrators are Aquaphor Healing Ointment and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
Aquaphor Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Don’t shy away from heavy emollients to hydrate your skin all winter long, either. “Look for products that combine humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin with emollients like ceramides, petrolatum, and shea butter to lock in the moisture,” says Hadley King, MD, a New York-based dermatologist.
Also, consider swapping out your gel-based moisturizers and cleansers for cream-based formulations instead. If you’re acne-prone, make sure you use an oil-free moisturizer so you can apply it generously without risking a breakout. Look for labels that say non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic, which mean the product won’t clog pores or worsen acne.
CeraVe CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Additional reporting by Nicole Saunders and Grace Gold
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What Can I Expect If I Have Dry Skin
Most people can successfully treat dry skin by using a daily moisturizer and taking proactive steps like minimizing exposure to hot temperatures and other irritants. Its a good idea to take care of dry skin for your overall health. Rough, dry skin can feel uncomfortable and if your skin gets too dry, it can crack and break open, which makes you more prone to infection.
Ps We Did The Homework So You Dont Have To:
Picardo, M., et al. Sebaceous gland lipids. Dermato Endocrinology. .
American Academy of Dermatology. Dry Skin Relief. .
Sethi, A., et al. Moisturizers: The Slipper Road. Indian Journal of Dermatology. .
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Harsh Soaps Or Skincare Products
Skincare products containing harsh chemicals are often at the root of dry or flaky skin on your face. This is especially true for some alcohol-based products, like aggressive toners or astringents, that can strip your skin of natural oils and result in increased dehydration or irritation. This can also be true for highly fragranced products, deodorant soaps, perfumed soaps, and other products containing drying alcohol ingredients.
If you have dry skin on your face, its usually recommended to seek out non-comedogenic, gentle, fragrance-free products developed with dermatologistsor to consult a board-certified dermatologist directly for personalized guidance. CeraVe recommends gentle hydrating products, such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, that contain ingredients designed to help retain moisture, like hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to help restore the skins protective barrier.
Lack Of Humidity In The Air
The skins outermost layer, known as the epidermis, reflects the amount of moisture in the air. In climates where humidity is low, the result is surface dryness. Furthermore, a 2015 study in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology concluded that low humidity, combined with low temperature, can impair the skins moisture barrier leading to trans-epidermal water loss and dry, irritated skin.
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Fine Lines And Wrinkles
From the furrow of a brow to a frown, psychological stress inevitably finds a way to make permanent evidence of our emotions.
So whats one to do about it? You can try face yoga. Arguably safer than Botox, face yoga can lead to similar results, although the commitment to doing this every day might a hard to do.
For additional assistance, applying facial pressure with a chilled jade roller activates the lymphatic system, which can also reduce puffiness and the appearance of stress damage on the skin.
Tip : Hyaluronic Acid Helps
Hyaluronic acid is used for moisturizing. âItâs super hydrating and has anti-aging properties. When used in peels and cleansers it helps to retain the skinâs moisture,â says Dr. Jaliman.
Now You Can Treat Your Severely Dry Skin in the Shower with Curel Hydratherapy Wet Skin Moisturizer!
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Tip #: Use An Overnight Face Mask
You dont need to be awake to pamper your skin. Its one of lifes small joys that you can smooth on an overnight skincare mask and let it do all the work while youre sound asleep. Using an overnight maskmeaning a mask thats specifically formulated to be worn while you sleep and washed away in the morningis the easiest form of TLC you can ever show your skin.
Try Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask for a major dose of nourishment. It replenishes skins moisture reserves for long-lasting hydration. For anti-aging benefits and moisture, Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask gets our vote. The sleep mask has an air-whipped, velvety texture that melts onto skin, leaving it with a smoother appearance when you wake.
Kiehl’s Expert Tip: If youre wondering how often you should use an overnight cream or mask, let us fill you in. Its important to moisturize every night . Apply a night cream daily. As for masks, it can vary from product to product. For our Ultra Facial Mask, we recommended using it twice per week, while our firming mask is best used five times per week.
Keeping Moisture In The Skin
Skin moisturizers, which rehydrate the top layer of skin cells and seal in the moisture, are the first step in combating dry skin. They contain three main types of ingredients. Humectants, which help attract moisture, include ceramides , glycerin, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, and lecithin. Another set of ingredients for example, petrolatum , silicone, lanolin, and mineral oil helps seal that moisture within the skin. Emollients, such as linoleic, linolenic, and lauric acids, smooth skin by filling in the spaces between skin cells.
In general, the thicker and greasier a moisturizer, the more effective it will be. Some of the most effective are petroleum jelly and moisturizing oils . Because they contain no water, they’re best used while the skin is still damp from bathing, to seal in the moisture. Other moisturizers contain water as well as oil, in varying proportions. These are less greasy and may be more cosmetically appealing than petroleum jelly or oils.
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What Is Dry Skin On Your Face
Generally speaking, there are four types of skin: oily, dry, normal, and combination. Dry skin produces less oil , which is a complex mixture of lipids that coats, moisturizes, and helps protect the skin.¹ Dry skin might have less of an ability to retain moisture and build a protective shield from external factors, like climate. In case you were wondering, it is possible to have oily or combination skin thats dry and lacking moisture. This is sometimes described as dehydrated skin, rather than dry skin. Dehydrated skin describes a skin condition, not a skin type. If youre wondering whether your skin is dry or dehydrated, check out our guide here.
Here Are Five Great Tips On How To Treat Dry Skin On The Face Quickly And Easily
Vaseline® Healing Jelly Original
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C Alter Your Bath Routine
When you have a bath, make sure the water is lukewarm , never hot as hot water dries out the skin, and robs it of its natural oil, which keeps the skin moist.
Restrict your bath time to not more than ten minutes as excessive exposure to water dries your skin further. For the same reason, unless it is scorching, shower only once a day.
If swimming regularly, moisturize your face suitably before getting into the pool as chlorinated water can also dry the skin.
Keeping Moisture In Your Skin
Tip: Make sure to close the bathroom door to keep moisture in during showers and baths. Keeping the door open during a shower or bath will allow moisture to escape and this can dry out your skin.
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Protect Your Skin From The Sun
Dry skin might become worse when exposed to the sun. The damaging UV rays from the sun hasten skin aging and cause wrinkles and fine lines to emerge earlier than they should. Before going outside, cover all exposed skin with an SPF 50 sunscreen. To protect your face, put on a cap, hat with a wide brim, sunglasses, and a scarf.
Tip #: Trap Moisture After A Nighttime Shower
If you shower at night, theres a moisture opportunity you may have been missing out on. When you hop out of the shower, dont rush to dry off with your towel. Instead of wiping away every last water droplet, you can trap that moisture on your skin by applying moisturizer before it dries. Smooth Ultra Facial Creamwhich can be used anytime of day but makes an amazing night creamonto damp skin post-shower. The formula provides lasting hydration for soft, smooth, healthy-looking skin.
As for the rest of your skin, thats a job for Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter. In the morning, when you have 10 seconds to throw on your outfit, you might not make time to apply body butter and let it soak in. When your day is wrapping up, however, you can make it part of your night routine to hydrate skin all over. Apply the indulgent body butter with shea butter, jojoba butter, and honey to damp skin after bathing or showering to maximize its moisturizing benefits.
Kiehl’s Expert Tip: Speaking of your shower routine, make sure you arent turning the temperature on too high. Steaming H2O may feel spectacular against your skin in the moment, but one thing is for sure: It isnt the secret to how to cure dry skin overnight. Rather, hot water can dry out your skin further. Instead, wash with lukewarm water.
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Apply Coconut Oil Before Bedtime
Coconut oil becomes a solid at room temperature, so use it as a moisturizing cream at bedtime or anytime, recommends Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care in Beverly Hills, California. For chapped heels and hands, apply the oil, then layer with thick socks or nonlatex gloves.
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What Does Flaky Skin Mean
Flaky or peeling skin is the result of unintended damage to the surface of your skin that causes the loss of its upper layer. Healthy skin should have 10-20% water content. Flaky skin occurs when the natural oils produced by your skin begins to dry up and cause it to dehydrate in the process. This results in dry skin losing water 75 times more than normal skin, thereby causing the outermost layer of your skin to flake and peel away.
Let us now dig a little deeper into what could actually be causing your skins oil and water content to dry up.
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Avoid Washing Your Face Multiple Times A Day
If youre experiencing dry skin, it may be best to only wash your face at night, unless youre working out.
This cleanses your face after a long day of collecting dirt and helps prevent you from eliminating necessary oils from the skin.
Dont exfoliate your skin on a daily basis. Instead, try just once per week. This can reduce irritation associated with harsh scrubbing.
Causes Of Very Dry Skin
Before diving into the steps you can take to help dehydrated skin, lets briefly chat about what causes dry facial skin. While some skin types are naturally drier, there are often environmental issues that contribute to the issue. Common culprits include the following:
- Dry Air: Low humidity levels are a common cause of dry skin. Dry air tends to be more of an issue during the winter months, in arid/hot climates, and when indoor heating is running.
- Hot Water: While a steamy hot shower feels glorious in the moment, it can lead to dehydrated skin.
- Chlorine: If you thought the summer months would escape from this list unscathed, think again. Chlorine pools can dry out your skin, so always rinse off after a swim.
- Harsh Soaps: Its important to use gentle ingredients on your face and body. If you notice an adverse reaction after using a product, stop using it.
- Age: Mature skin produces less sebum, so if youre over the age of 40 then you may be at an increased risk of dealing with dehydrated skin.
- Certain Skin Conditions: Dry, irritated, and reactionary skin is particularly common in people who have eczema or psoriasis.
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Tip #1: Pay Attention To Your Pillowcase
Sheets and their coordinating pillowcases arent solely for your bedroom aesthetic. The fabric of your pillowcase can actually play a role in overnight skincare. The wrong material can soak up the hydrating overnight creams and masks youve so diligently applied, and can even be rough against your skin. We recommend silk pillowcases, which not only feel extremely luxurious but are gentle on your skin, too.