How do you like my clever use of alliteration? Sweet, huh? I’m going to try to keep it up for the whole #skingoals series.. Just to keep you entertained!
So dry skin is the number one skincare complaint I hear about from you guys.. and I’m with you! It seems like pretty much October-March spells dry, lackluster skin, be it from the cold weather, the dehydrating indoor heating, or less moisture in the air. Either way, it sucks. Personally, I managed to drive away my dry skin a few years ago with the tips I’ll share below, until they all came back after I had little M. A few weeks after I gave birth, my cheeks, chin and jawline got insanely dry, and it took months of experimenting with different hydrating techniques to really make a difference. But my pain is your gain! I was able to further refine my remedies to suit even the most stubbornly dry skin.
Follow these dry skin rules and you will be a beautiful, hydrated, goddess in no time at all! (And by no time at all, I mean anywhere from 1-3 weeks… true beauty takes time, people).
5 Rules for Dry Skin
Dry Skin Rule #1: No more face wash!
News flash: Even face washes that claim to be moisturizing are not, my friends. The additives that “clean” your skin start by sapping it of all moisture and washing away the beautiful natural oils that keep your skin hydrated, healthy, and youthful. Face wash is not your friend. The solution? Switch to face cleansing oil! Oils deep clean your skin without drying it out, and leave your face hydrated and happy. How can an oil clean, you ask? Well, oil sticks to oil! It actually deep cleans your pores by drawing out the nasty, dirty, oiliness, and replaces it with happy, radiant skin. I’ve been using the oil face wash method for a few years now and managed to completely clear up my skin (no more pimples!), drive away dryness, and maintain a healthy, youthful glow year round. Seriously, this is a miraculous game-changer. It’s also great for acne or breakout prone skin, aging skin, rosacea, and more.
Fave product: Sunkissed Dream Sun Goddess Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover
Dry Skin Rule #2: Exfoliate weekly
Over-exfoliating your skin can definitely cause problems, but not doing it enough leaves your skin dry and flaky. Once a week, in the shower, when skin is wet with pores steamed open is the perfect time to exfoliate. But say bye-bye to all those harsh, chemical scrubs or beads, which are awful for your skin and the environment. Instead, go for a natural, fine grain or kernel based scrub that sloughs off dry, dull skin, without tearing up your face.
Fave product: Buff Her food-based exfoliation
Dry Skin Rule #3: Hardcore hydration
A great moisturizer is obviously critical for hydrating your skin, but sometimes just using a moisturizer isn’t enough. After toning and antioxidant serum, use a moisturizer that is suited for your specific skin type. I’m a big fan of organic ingredients like jojoba and coconut oils, shea butter, and calming rose hip for all skin types. For aging skin, look for sea buckthorn and frankincense. For breakout prone skin, look for rosemary and tea tree oils. For sensitive skin, look for aloe and chamomile. But your hydration doesn’t end there! For dry spots, an oil-based balm is key for sealing in moisture and keeping those areas hydrated. Use balm on your dry spots day and night, and even use a little extra before exposing your skin to sun, wind, cold, or swimming.
Fave products: Odylique Timeless Rose Moisturizer and Ultra Rich Balm
Dry Skin Rule #4: Use the right masks
A weekly, super hydrating mask is an amazing tool for driving away that dry skin, but not all masks are created equal! Masks that are clay based without the addition of hydrating oils are going to dry out your skin even more. Steer clear of masks labeled as clarifying, pore refining, or tightening if you have dry skin. Instead, opt for masks with hydrating ingredients like baobab and avocado oils, shea butter, and alpha hydroxy acids, which slough off dead skin cells without over drying.
Fave products: Earth Kiss Hydrate Sheet Mask
Dry Skin Rule #5: Hydrate from within
Lastly, your diet plays a HUGE role in your skin’s hydration. Make sure you’re drinking tons of water (at least half your bodyweight in ounces a day), and eating foods rich in healthy fats every day. Avocado, wild caught salmon, coconut oil, nuts and seeds, and probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut and kombucha. And of course, try to minimize dehydrating elements like caffeine and alcohol (obvi!).
January 21, 2016
Having dry skin is a big no. It’s not a good sign of having a healthy and glowing skin. And if we don’t want having it, we must do our best to avoid it by just following rules. And we should know about these rules too. We can do research or read tips and advice from the trusted resources online like yours. Thanks for sharing this one and for making us all aware of it.