Do you know what you should and should not do if you have dry skin?

Finding the right skincare routine when you have dry skin is what makes a difference between flaky, tight, irritable skin and a hydrated, dewy complexion. 

Understanding Dry Skin

 

Our skin has a barrier made of natural lipids to keep moisture in. Due to environmental factors and personal habits (nutrition or over-exfoliation, for example), over time, tiny cracks appear in the skin barrier that allow moisture to escape and also irritants to enter. In other words, dry skin happens when your skin has a weakened moisture barrier. 

Here’s some skincare goals to commit yourself to so that you can protect your skin better:

Moisturise immediately after washing your face

Whether you’re splashing your face in the morning or stepping out of the shower after a hot yoga class, remember to reach for that moisturiser before you rush off on your busy mum schedule. Creams and lotions help to trap existing moisture in your skin and also form a protective seal over your skin surface. Applying it immediately after a shower or wash helps to quickly lock in the moisture.

Look for the right ingredients for your skin type

When purchasing skincare products like cleansers, serums, and moisturisers, choose products with ingredients that help your skin type. Here are some ingredients to look out for:

Hyaluronic acid: This substance is a humectant - a moisturizing agent that works by bringing moisture to an area (in this case, the top layer of your skin). Humectants work like sponges, or magnets, helping to attract or pull in moisture. In short, it helps to retain moisture in your skin. Hyaluronic acid’s humectant properties help to keep your skin dewy and moisturised all day, and also helps to keep inflammation at bay. If you’re looking for product suggestions - check out the Eve Lom Intense Hydration Serum available for order on our site. Containing a blend of hyaluronic acids, it provides hydration up to 72 hours after use and is suitable for all skin types.

Glycerin: Like Hyaluronic acid, Glycerin is also a humectant, which means it attracts water from the environment into your skin. Because of humectants’ strong moisturising properties, they are touted as anti-aging ingredients as the moisture they bring helps to plump up fine lines. Glycerin also helps to maintain a healthy pH level for your skin, and soothes dry, patchy skin. Even better, Glycerin is mild and gentle, which makes it suitable for use if you have sensitive skin too. 

Ceramides: Ceramides are naturally occurring fatty acids in our skin that help to protect our skin from environmental damage, creating a barrier that also stops too much water from leaving our skin. Ceramides deplete from our skin as we age and also due to environmental factors, diet, and overuse of certain soaps or exfoliators. Using products containing ceramides helps to restore your skin barrier and increase moisture levels and smoother, softer feeling skin. 

Mask up! Making masking a regular thing in your life.

Treat your skin to some heavy-duty plumping! Consider moisturising sheet masks and sleeping masks for that added boost, especially if you frequently sleep with the air-conditioner on. Or maybe you’d like to schedule yourself in for a once-a-month facial treat - in that case, we suggest our Rejuvenate facial, which uses POLA ingredients to target ageing and tiredness and is particularly suited for dry skin.