W
inter is coming and, if it’s any-
thing like last year, it’s set to be
a cold one. If you have dry skin,
the season can be even harder on your
complexion but there are ways to combat
those unwanted rough, flaky patches of
skin. You just need the right products.
The main thing dry skin lacks is oil, so you
need to use products that work to replenish the
skin’s lipid content while restoring the epidermal
barrier, the layer that protects your body against
the outside world and keeps vital lipids in place.
As a rough guide, skin care products with balm,
cream or oil textures will always serve you well,
as will products described as ‘rich’, ‘nourishing’
or ‘replenishing’. You should also look out for
key ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Shea
Butter, plant oils, Ceramides and Glycerin, as
these will all work wonders for parched skin.
RESPECT YOUR BARRIER
Your skin barrier is made up of lipids, ceramides
and dead cells, but it’s the lipids that keep
the skin soft, supple and firm. If there aren’t
enough lipids holding the cells together, water
can escape more easily which leads to dryness
and irritation. Cleansing with products that
don’t respect this lipid barrier is the quickest
way to dry out your skin, so stick to formulas
that remove impurities without stripping away
surface oils, like the PCA Skin Creamy Cleanser.
This magically removes layers of dirt, pollution
and foundation without disrupting the skin
barrier, ensuring your face never feels tight
post-cleanse.
Once skin is clean, you can start to layer up
your hydrating products. Applying multiple
layers of thirst-quenching formulas is much
more effective than relying on one extremely
rich wonder cream, which will do little more
than sit on the surface of your dried out skin.
For long-term relief, layer serums with creams
and oils to address the varying causes of dryness,
from the dermis to the surface. The VERSO
Hydration Serum is the perfect post-cleanse
hydrator, as it contains a unique mix of Oat
Lipids, Oils and Vitamin E to hydrate the skin
while Niacinamide maintains healthy skin
barrier function. Next, you can layer the DCL
Ultra-Comfort Cream over the top. This not
only relieves surface dryness and sensitivity,
but contains additional lipids to strengthen
the epidermal barrier, making the skin feel
noticeably more comfortable within minutes.
Complete your routine by patting an oil over
the top, to add a radiant glow (well-moistur-
ised skin always has a slight sheen) and lock in
as much moisture as possible. Try the Babor
SKINOVAGE Moisturizing Face Oil, which uses
botanically-derived lipids to soften the skin and
protect against chapping, which is essential on
very cold winter days.
IT’S NOT JUST SKIN CARE
The job of managing dry skin isn’t something
your topical routine can tackle alone; there are
small, seemingly insignificant life hacks you
can adopt to help things change a bit quicker.
Drinking more water and limiting your intake
of alcohol are two simple ways you can increase
the amount of moisture in your body and,
therefore, your skin. You should also check
your diet. If you’re weekly food shop is severely
lacking in foods rich in Essential Fatty Acids,
it’s time to make a change. These help prevent
water loss between the cells, to keep the skin
hydrated and plump at the surface, so start
adding more vegetables, nuts and oily fish to
your meal plan as soon as you can.
Another way to stop dry skin from getting
drier during the winter is to avoid cleansing the
skin with hot water. It might feel like an early
morning treat to warm your face up with a hot
flannel and sink full of steaming water, but this
will only increase inflammation and damage the
lipid barrier. Instead, opt for lukewarm water
when washing your face and avoid rinsing your
face under a hot shower. And remember, pat
don’t rub damp skin post-cleanse; nobody wants
to be met with an angry red face first thing in
the morning.
ISSUE #09 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 15