Some people have sensitive skin that is prone to dryness. Looking at yourself in the mirror in the middle of the day can be quite scary. You see fine lines, dry flakes, or sallow skin, and you become terrified. While it isn’t fair that others have naturally moisturized, supple skin, there are hacks that can improve hydration. It’s time to take back control of your skin and use the following hacks to rectify your dry skin.
Load Up On Antioxidants
If you want to hydrate the skin, you have to examine your diet. You need more than emollients, humectants, and lips to nourish the skin and keep it as supple as possible. When it comes to how many antioxidants you should consume per day, there is no numerical answer, but the more the better. Dermatologists point out that the more you neutralize unstable molecules, which stem from free radical formation, the longer you can protect your skin cells. Not only do antioxidants protect your skin from free radical damage, but they also improve your skin’s ability to retain moisture. Additionally antioxidants decrease inflammation to enhance skin barrier function. Antioxidants help reduce transepidermal water loss, a process in which water leaks out of the epidermis into the air around you.
Shower Sandwiching
Before you jump to conclusions, don’t take a sandwich into the shower. Shower sandwiching is a favorite ritual among people with dry skin. Apply body oil before and after a shower, also known as shower sandwiching. Applying oil after a shower is a familiar practice, but the before part is surprising for some. When you oil up before a shower, the oil barrier prevents excessive water loss in the shower, helping you avoid any irritation. Standing in a hot shower for too long can dissolve the body’s natural lipid barrier, making it more susceptible to dryness and irritation. When you layer a protective shield of oil beforehand, the skin has a buffer against the hot water. After you get out of the shower, reapply the same body oil over slightly damp skin to trap moisture in the skin and nourish the skin barrier.
Nourish Your Skin Barrier
If your skin barrier is healthy, your skin should remain hydrated and smooth, as opposed to flaky and dry. If you suffer from dry skin, chances are that you need to rebuild your skin barrier. Seek out ingredients like ceramics, which are like building blocks within the skin. Ceramides work to regenerate the skin’s natural barrier. Additionally, you can incorporate other ingredients into your skin barrier-boosting routine. Panthenol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and glycerin all work to trap moisture and prevent transepidermal water loss.
Choose The Right Lip Balm
A lip balm is simple in theory, but it should contain three things in order for it to be effective. There’s nothing worse than applying a lip balm that leaves your lips drier than they felt before application. A great lip balm should keep your lips hydrated for hours, so you only need to reapply a couple times throughout the day. In order to keep your lips hydrated, a lip balm should contain occlusives, emollients, and humectants. Occlusives create a protective seal on top of the skin, humectants attract water, and emollients support the barrier and repair micro cracks in the skin. Together, this trio can effectively hydrate your lips.
Multi-Moisturizing
When it comes to hydrators, the texture can make or break the experience. There are those who prefer spreadable formulas because they provide all-over coverage. Other people prefer dense creams that sink in the skin. The hydrating solution you use ultimately comes down to what you prefer and how the moisturizing experience is for you. Depending on the time of year and how your skin feels, you may need to switch creams, lotions, or body butters. Multi-moisturizing is a great way to care for your body. This concept is not new and it used to involve applying multiple formulas to your face to target your skin’s unique needs. You may need to use different products depending on what particular areas of the body need. Larger areas may require spreadable lotions, while areas that require extra attention may need body creams. And hand cream is a must to replenish moisture on the hands!
