Every woman hates waking up with dry, flaky skin. There’s no question that dry skin is the enemy of beauty and if you want to have a beautiful, plump, dewy skin moisturizing daily is an absolute must. Dry skin is usually a result of changes in the weather as we find our skin to be especially dry during the winter. Excessive use of soaps can also cause dry skin because of the harsh ingredients used in its production. Dry skin can also come as a result of aging, genetics or a medical condition. Nevertheless, there is no need for you allow the weather or genetics ruin your skin. Even if you have naturally dry skin, you can keep your skin beautiful and prevent wrinkles. The key is to consistently moisturize your skin. Moisturizing the skin is extremely important even for people with normal, oily or combination skin.
Our skin produces sebum which lubricates the surface of the skin. However, for people with dry skin, there’s not enough sebum produced and the skin ends up being dry and flaky. In turn, you end up an unattractive ashen skin tone. People with normal skin or oily skin don’t really have to worry about inadequate sebum production. Most people think that moisturizing and hydrating the skin are the same? Hydration has to with making sure your skin doesn’t lack water but moisturizing goes further than that. Moisturizers trap the water in your skin and even draw water from the atmosphere into your skin. In a nutshell, they rehydrate your skin. Here is a list of the most common ingredients used in popular skin care products:
Humectants: Humectants pull moisture from the air into your skin. They are very important ingredients you must look out for before buying a moisturizer. They include ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, lecithin and sorbitol. Honey is a natural humectant.
Occlusives: These are substances that work to seal in the moisture on the surface of your skin. They include oils like argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, etc, petrolatum and lanolin.
Emulsifiers: An emulsifier is a substance that helps oil to blend with water. Without it, the other ingredients will not blend properly as oil and water naturally separates when mixed together.
Emulsifiers are very lighter than the other two ingredients. Many commercial moisturizers contain emollients and humectants like lauric, linoleic and linolenic acids. Usually, the thicker the moisturizer, the greater the effect on your skin especially if you have naturally dry skin. You can use several skin oils such as coconut oil, avocado oil and almond oil. They are best applied when your skin is damp so that the water is sealed into your skin. The best moisturizers must contain all or some the ingredients listed above in different quantities. These ingredients should be your guide when looking for a good moisturizer.
Additional tips to keep your skin moisturized:
Use a humidifier during the winter months
Take short baths and avoid spending so much time in the shower.
Avoid using soaps as they dry out to the skin. Use non foaming cleansers and avoid fabric softeners for your clothes
Be kind to your skin. Don’t scrub your skin or rub it harshly. Always pat dry with a towel.
Don’t scratch your skin. You can use a cold compress if you have itchy spots.
Avoid wearing fabrics that irritate your skin