Beauty Expert Donna Fay with 6 fast and easy tips for relieving dry skin
1. Yes to Warm, No to Hot.
A steamy shower might feel good, but that hot water is not a good idea for your skin. Hot showers will strip your body of its natural oil barrier, and you need that barrier to help trap moisture to keep your skin smooth and moist. So turn down the temperature and don’t stay in there for too long. We recommend a short, warm shower or bath that lasts no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Gentle cleansing.
Wash with a soapless cleanser when you shower. Soaps that are free of fragrance are a great option. Products with deodorant or antibacterial additives can be harsh on your skin. You may want to also consider a cleanser that contains ceramides. Ceramides are fatty molecules that make up the outer barrier of your skin. This helps the skin hold in moisture. Ease up on the toners, peels, and other astringents made with alcohol. These will also cause your skin to dry. When you exfoliate don’t scrub too much or too hard. It will irritate and thicken your skin.
3. smart shaving.
Shaving can irritate dry skin. As you shave unwanted hair, you’re also removing your skin’s natural oils. The best time to shave is after you shower – the hairs become softer and more pliable, thus making shaving easier. Always use a shaving cream or gel, and shave in the direction the hair is growing to protect your skin. Make sure that the razor is sharp. A dull razor blade can cause additional irritation. Also change your razor blades often. If you are using a blade you’ve used, soak it in rubbing alcohol to clean it.
4. Cover up.
Cold weather brings with it a much lower level of humidity. This will cause your skin to dry and crack – from your lips, face, hands, to your feet. The main thing to do here is to keep your skin hydrated and covered, easily accomplished by just a pair of gloves and a scarf.
5. The rules of moisturizing.
The simplest moisturizing products can soothe dry skin. Petroleum jelly is a great moisturizer when you’re in a pinch, or you can use mineral oil, a favorite cream, or lotion. If you’re a fan of very rich moisturizers, look for one with stearic acid, shea butter, ceramides, or even glycerin. All are rich moisturizers that will help you replenish your skin’s barrier. Whichever one you choose make sure you have a consistent, smart moisturizing routine to go along with it.
Wash with a non-soap liquid cleanser, to replenish the skin’s outer layer. Pat skin dry, then apply a thick moisturizer to slightly dampen the skin within minutes of washing, this will help to trap in moisture. You should always try to moisturize your hands every time you wash them so that evaporating water doesn’t draw even more moisture from your dry skin. Lastly, try to get a moisturizer. Also look for a cream with an SPF of 30 or higher to get the added benefit of sun protection.
6. Winter and humidity.
Cold, dry air is a common cause of dry, irritated skin. Heating your house keeps you warm, but it also sucks the moisture from the air, leading to dry skin becoming even more irritated. To replenish the missing moisture from your home, use a simple humidifier.