Is your skin feeling rough, flaky, and tight? You’re not alone! Dry skin is a common beauty concern that most of us will experience at some point in our lives. We delve into some of the causes of dry skin and our top tips for helping to bring back your natural radiance.
What Causes Dry Skin?
Dry skin happens when your skin loses too much water or doesn’t have enough naturally occurring oils to keep itself feeling soft, supple and balanced. Some people are born with a drier skin type that produces less oil than others, whilst some might only experience dry skin temporarily because of other factors. Here are some of the common things that can cause dry skin.
Environmental Factors
It’s common for skin to feel dry during the winter when the air is colder and drier. Plus, things like central heating and indoor fireplaces can zap even more moisture from the air, making the environment less humid than in hotter seasons. When there’s less moisture in the air, it means there’s less moisture being drawn into your skin, which is why you may find it feels flaky, tight and irritated in winter.
It’s not just colder temperatures that can affect your skin, hot weather and strong winds can also lead to dryness by evaporating the water on the surface of your skin.
Over-Using Harsh Ingredients
Harsh soaps, detergents and skincare products like exfoliating acids and retinol can all strip skin of its natural moisture if used too much, leading to a compromised skin barrier. Opting for gentle soaps and making sure you’re gradually adding acids and retinol to your routine can help prevent your skin from becoming dry and irritated.
Over-Washing Your Skin
Similarly, over-washing your skin and bathing excessively can strip the moisture out of your skin, especially if the water is too hot.
Age
As we age, our skin produces less oil (sebum) that helps keep it lubricated, which can lead to drier skin than you might have had when you were younger.
What Can You Do About Dry Skin?
Want to bring back your glow and banish roughness and irritation? Here are our top tips for tackling dry skin.
Use a Gentle Non-Stripping Cleanser
We all know cleansing is an essential step of your skincare routine, but it’s important to choose a gentle one that won’t dry out the top layer of your skin. Instead of using gel-based or foaming cleansers which tend to strip out more of your skin’s natural oils, you could opt for a cream cleanser which has moisturizing and nourishing benefits.
Specifically made for dryness and sensitivity, No7 Derm Solutions Hydrating Cream Cleanser removes impurities and make-up whilst helping to maintain the delicate moisture barrier. The result? Perfectly cleansed skin that feels calm and soothed.
Add a Hydrating Serum
One of the easiest ways to bring more moisture to your skin is to use a hydrating serum. Look for ones containing hyaluronic acid which can draw water into your skin and give it a plumped appearance like the . It’s also packed with vitamin C and ceramides to support the skin barrier and improve the look of brightness.
Our top tip to get the most out of your serum is to apply it whilst your skin is still slightly damp after cleansing. This way your serum can trap in all the moisture. Plus, ingredients absorb more easily when your skin is damp, so you can reap all the hydrating benefits.
Avoid Hot Showers and Baths
Although it might be tempting to up the temperature of your water, especially during the colder winter months, hot water can rinse away your skin’s natural oils. Stick to warm or cool water instead to keep your skin barrier feeling happy and comfortable. The same goes for when you’re washing your face. Try to use lukewarm water when rinsing to avoid any irritation.
Stay Hydrated
Skincare can only go so far, so don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to help keep your skin hydrated from within. Our advice is to have a glass of water when you wake up and then sip water regularly throughout the day and with each meal to maintain hydration levels.
If you’re not a fan of plain water, you could add some flavor with a twist of lemon or lime or try infusing fruit or herbs like mint. You can also boost your water intake by eating foods rich in water such as melon, cucumber and tomatoes.
