Skip to main content

Followers

How Do You Treat Your Dry Skin


I hope everyone is keeping safe and healthy during the lockdowns. 

Coming into the winter/drier months there can be an increase in dry skin, or for people here (like myself) also experience this more frequently.

When talking about dry skin, this refers to a skin barrier that does not produce enough moisture content which results in impaired lipid/protein function (usually occurs with age but other factors can contribute to this which I’ll list below). The skin is naturally designed to prevent trans-epidermal water loss. However, through a variety of internal/external factors these can be impaired. This can be chronic or more sporadic and be triggered by factors such as:

- Heating
- Air-conditioning
- Bathing in hot water
- Genetics
- Stress,
- Lifestyle/dietary
- Medications/prescriptive products
- Otc topical actives like Retinol
- Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis (if dealing with these types of conditions it’s best to seek medical advice first)

This can result in a lack of sebum production, a feeling of dryness/tightness of the skin, itching, roughness or even peeling/cracking of the skin in more severe cases.  The more common triggers for this are environmental (dry/hot and cooler climates seem to be worse).

The Treatment includes using a moisturiser that provides adequate moisture to prevent trans-epidermal water loss, use both facial and body products that aren’t going to dry out your skin but provide essential fatty compositions to support your skin, ensure your body is not only hydrated with fluids but the essential minerals to absorb these. Essentially fatty acids internally/externally can also help with this. A tip to help lock in moisture is to apply your products to damp skin. I came across this years ago when applying moisturiser. I do this for both my face and body and have found it increases the moisture locked into my skin.
Here are some ingredients that are generally well tolerated for dry skin (however, as with any new product/ingredient patch test it to be safe):
- Oils like Borage Seed, Argan, Sesame, Almond, Evening Primrose, Sunflower - Seed and Cranberry Seed Oils
- Ceramides
- EGCG
- Cholesterol
- Humectants like Glycerin, Allantoin, Propylene glycol,  Cetyl alcohol, Hyaluronic acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitol Urea, Sodium PCA
- Emollients like Shea, Jojoba and Cocoa Butters, Squalene, Omega Fatty Acids and Beeswax
- Moisturising delivery systems additives like Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene glycol, Cetearyl alcohol, and Stearic acid

Some ingredients to avoid are:
- Essential Oils - especially those for the citrus or menthol families
- Fragrance (Parfume/Parfum)
- Natural fragrances like
- Denatured/Isopropyl alcohols
- Sodium chloride
- Benzoyl Peroxide unless prescribed to treat acne conditions
- Surfactants such as:
- Sodium lauryl, Ammonium lauryl and Sodium Laureth sulfates
- Soaps such as sodium tallowate or cocoate
- BHA’s like Salicylic acid
- Willow bark (the natural version of salicylic acid)

I’ve listed some products below that contain some of the above ingredients, minus the ingredients to avoid:

Sunscreens:
Mineral -
Purito Comfy Water Sunblock SPF 50+ Pa++++
NIOD Survival 3.0
The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF Antioxidants

Chemical -
Purito Centella Green Level Safe Sun SPF50+ PA++++ Unscented
Klairs Soft Airy Uv Essence Spf 50 Pa++++
Krave Beauty The Beet Shield
Simple Protect & Glow Liquid Spf30

Cleansing Oils/Balms: Rohto Mentholatum - Hada Labo Gokujyun Oil Cleansing
Then I Met You - Living Cleansing Balm
Simple Cleansing Oil
Isntree Micellar Melting Cleansing Oil
Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm

Cleansers: Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser
Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser
La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Paula’s Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser
Paula’s Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel
Paula’s Choice Defense Gel to Cream Cleanser
NIOD Low-Viscosity Cleaning Ester

Moisturisers:
For moderately dry skin - Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturiser or Moisture Boost Hydrating Treatment Cream
Pyunkang Yul - Nutrition Cream
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion 
For more severe dry skin - Paula’s Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturiser or Ultra Rich Repair Moisturiser
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Krave Beauty Oat So Simple
Beauty Bay Thirst Trap Rich Moisturiser
Pyunkang Yul - Intensive Repair Cream
CeraVe Moisturising Cream

Exfoliants:
Paula’s Choice or The Ordinary's 10% Azelaic Acid Suspension 
The Ordinary's 5% Lactic Acid Solution

Serums:
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
The Ordinary's Buffet
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum
NIOD S01 Networked Defence System

Masks:
Paula’s Choice Radiance Renewal Mask
Super Hydrate Overnight Mask

Body Products:
CeraVe PM Lotions or Cream has worked well for me for many years but Paula’s Choice has a great range of body care.
I hope this helps occupy sometime for a bit (sorry it went on so long). If any questions feel free to let me know.
Also the above is a list are products that I’ve tested and have found these have worked for myself and others, but I’d love to hear from others if they have products that have also helped with this issue. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Product Review: Paula's Choice Peptide Booster VS The Ordinary's The Buffet Serum

Today the battle of the Peptides serums is here. Before starting I would like to clarify that this is The Ordinary's The Buffet Serum that does not contain the Copper Peptides (I'm still skeptical of these). I've tested each product for 3 months to get an accurate gauge of the results. A 3 month period is usually a sufficient time to gauge improvements from any active ingredient. Though if it's more deeply seeded issues like acne or hyper-pigmentation this can take additional time. The Ordinary's The Buffet Serum: A fantastic product. This adds moisture to the skin and also gives it a slightly powerless appearance. Paula's Choice Peptide Booster: usually I'm an advocate for Paula's Choice products however, I couldn't get behind this one. It pilled on numerous occasions with various products I tested. A few occasions I was able to get this on without pilling it didn't give that slightly powerless effect The Buffet seemed to provide. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Combining Active Ingredients - What Can And Can't I Combine

A very common question is what actives can, and can't be combined? There are so many actives around these days and at some point you end up scratching your head about what you can and can't combine when it comes to some of these ingredients. When it comes to combining actives some factors to consider are tolerance, sensitivity levels and chemical interactions. Personally I would avoid combining actives unless you’re treating something specific like pigmentation/acne/etc, are well acclimated to actives (though still be cautious) and/or have been prescribed a combination of one, or more of the below actives.   I’ve been prescribed a few compounded serums containing a few of the below actives to treat some hyper-pigmentation. While my skin is not easily irritated this definitely was a shock but also manageable when prepared. Once you’ve built a tolerance to these ingredients (and do not have sensitivity issues) you can look at combining them strategically to get the b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Serums, Actives and Chemical Exfoliants - How Frequently Do I Really Need To Use These?

A common question asked is how often do I need to use my serums or exfoliant? Serums and Actives:   Depending on the formulation and the issue you’re treating can vary how frequently you may need to use these to achieve the desired result. For example if your aim is to add hydration/moisture, maintenance or general anti-aging, realistically this only needs to be used between 2-3 days a week (either in the AM or PM not really both).  You could get away with more hydration/moisturisers like peptides, omega fatty acids, etc but even then there’s a limit to how much the skin can absorb and too much can lead to irritation.  If treating issues like scarring, hyper-pigmentation, these may require more frequent use of actives like Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Retinoids or brightening agents like Alpha Arbutin/Hydroquinone. A frequency of somewhere between 3-5 days per week to treat the issue, then reduced to 2-3 days for maintenance, unless directed by a profes...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do I Need A Mini Fridge For My Products

I see this come up so I thought I'd put some information that might help with this. Majority of skincare products are PH balanced and preserved to ensure the can be maintained in the common climate they're produced in.  There a few exceptions for those actives that are notoriously unstable when exposed to air, light, etc. These include Vitamin C, it's derivatives and Retinoids however, this is not necessary it's more so if you're looking to extend the life of your product.  This can also be used to enhance soothing properties of anti-inflammatory ingredients however, the product should not be left in the fridge but rather placed in 10-15 minutes prior. For a lot of products refrigeration can impact their efficacy and texture by essentially "shocking the product".I myself have fallen victim to the marketing of these (I have one along  my skincare products, rarely used). So while these do have some minor benefits I would not recommend this a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is Niacinamide A Treatment For Congested/Acne Prone Skin?

Niacinamide seems to be growing in popularity as an effective form of treatment for more moderate-severe congestion/acne-prone skin. While it does definitely have its benefits I thought I'd dispel a little misconception surrounding this well-rounded ingredient.  Generally B3 Supplements come in 3 forms: - Niacin - Nicotinamide - Nicotinamide Riboside Niacin  is a more easily converted NAD within the body. Nicotinamide, also known as  Niacinamide, is an amide (a molecule the nitrogen atom is bonded to by only one carbon atom) of nicotinic acid, which is commonly known as niacin.   Niacinamide  is the active form of vitamin B3 and a component of the coenzyme Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide NAD. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), on the other hand, is a chemically altered/synthetic form of nicotinamide that has unique attributes but limited uses. Niacinamide assists by building protein/ceramides and lipid function that keeps the ...
Post a Comment
Read more