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Especially when the winter rolls around, one of the number one issue that we hear about is dry skin. Ranging from mild dryness, to sever dryness, cracking and rashes, it can seem endless! No amount of lotion is helping, and so what you left with? More dry skin!
The reality is, one factor of dry skin is the fact that, when the cooler temperatures roll around, we tend to put up the furnace or have the fireplace running more frequently. When we hop in the car, we blast the heat and put on the seat warmers. Although it feels good to the senses, the heat is, over time, drying out the moisture in the skin, causing more and more, dryness.
Don't worry! The solution is not to freeze! The solution is taking the appropriate steps to help your skin not only shed the dryness but also lock in the moisture in helpful and effective ways!
So lets get to it! Here are some easy and effective way to combat dryness!
1) Exfoliate!
Did you know, no amount of cream nor lotion, whether it was a $5 bottle or $500 bottle of cream or lotion, can penetrate dead skin? The dead layer of skin just takes it in and does nothing with it! Overtime, the dry skin, especially on our face, builds up if we dont exfoliate, and creates in turn peaks and valleys, which we see as wrinkles on the skin. Exfoliation is so important to a daily or at least weekly routine! There are different ways to exfoliate and different products to do the job!!
Did you know, no amount of cream nor lotion, whether it was a $5 bottle or $500 bottle of cream or lotion, can penetrate dead skin? The dead layer of skin just takes it in and does nothing with it! Overtime, the dry skin, especially on our face, builds up if we don't exfoliate, and creates in turn peaks and valleys, which we see as wrinkles on the skin. Exfoliation is so important to a daily or at least weekly routine! There are different ways to exfoliate and different products to do the job!!
Dry brushing is by far one of my most favourite ways to start exfoliating! If you haven't dry brushed before, warning, its a little scratchy feeling at first, but once you get over the initial roughness of the brush, your skin will be all the more thankful! The idea is that the coarse fibers will help to remove dead skin and improve the skin's ability to eliminate toxins through the pores. In dry brushing, the skin is typically brushed toward the heart, starting at the feet and hands and brushing toward the chest. Dry brushing also offers lymphatic support. The motion of dry brushing helps to move the lymphatic around and helps to facilitate drainage. It also helps to reduce cellulite and cleans the pores, even the small ones! When it comes to selecting the right one, make sure you have a look. You may want to start with a softer one and build your way up to a more firm one, they have brushes for sensitive skin as well as dry brushes specifically for the face! Note: you may read that you can use the brush wet or dry, it is NOT recommended to use it wet! Trying to exfoliate dry skin, when its wet, it like trying to remove a paper sticker after its been soaking, instead of peeling off, its mottled and doesnt come off easily. Brush on DRY skin :D
Here is how to dry brush:
Starting at the feet, brush the bottoms of the feet and up the legs in long, smooth strokes.
As a good rule of thumb, always brush toward the center of the body.
Repeat the same process with the arms, starting with the palms of the hands and brushing up the arm toward the heart.
On the stomach and armpits, brush in a circular clockwise motion.
I then repeat the process on my abdomen and back, and then switch to my face with the more delicate brush.
Note: Don’t brush too hard! A soft and smooth stroke often works best. My skin is slightly pink after brushing, but it should never be red or sting. If it hurts at all, use less pressure!
Here is a link to find a dry brush that suits your needs! https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=dry+brushes&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Another great way to exfoliate is sugar scrubs!
Sugar has naturally occurring glycolic acid. This is excellent for the skin, brightening the skin, removing excess dryness as well the glycolic acid in sugar penetrates the skin and breaks down what bonds skin cells, encouraging cell turnover and generating fresher, younger-looking skin. Glycolic acid is typically used to treat sun-damaged and aging skin.
To make a simple sugar scrub, combine 2 parts sugar (white sugar is fine here, your not ingesting it, and its one of the best for topical use!) to 1 part oil. Olive oil or avocado oil or coconut oil are great choices. *If you use coconut oil, melt it down first!
Mix together and use!
If you are looking for a more conditioning sugar scrub, check out our Creamy Conditioning Sugar Scrub with added cosmetic butters and enriching oils!
Lastly, Pumice scrubs are excellent for exfoliation!
You can get a pumice block from a beauty supply store which are excellent for the feet! You can also find pumice scrubs, using finely ground pumice, for the body! Pumice is volcanic rock that is produced when lava with high water and gas content is thrown from a volcano. Pumice is widely used as an abrasive in soaps and cleaners. Surprisingly, it is considered one of the softest abrasives on earth.
You can purchase the pumice stones just about anywhere for tough calluses on the feet, as well you can find body scrubs with finely ground pumice, like ours. https://www.tranquilitymatters.ca/search-results/q-scrub
2) After exfoliating, you want to really lock in moisture and hydrate your skin to help prevent further dryness! You can do this with a variety of products. Listed here are some options and their benefits, so you can find what is right for you!
Oils:
One way to hydrate your skin is using straight up oils! Although its not for everyone, the proper combination of oils can be beautifully hydrating and moisturizing to the skin.
Here are some different types of oils and their skin loving properties!
OIL TYPE/MAIN CONSTITUENTBENEFITSCARRIER OILSTHIS TYPE OF OIL...
Nut Oils are REPUTED TO (BE)
Extremely emollient and soothing for sensitive, dry, inflamed and sore skin
Efficient in face mask treatments for acne-prone skin
Stimulate circulation
Anti-inflammatory
Facilitate wound healing
Maintain skin tightness and elasticity
Almond Oil
Hazelnut Oil
Macadamia Oil
Walnut Oil
Seed Oils
Condition skin to rejuvenate complexion, especially in mature or prematurely aging skin
Repair damage caused by dryness
Soothe itching and discomfort caused by burns
Reduce appearance of scarring
Baobab Oil
Black Currant Oil
Borage Oil
Broccoli Oil
Carrot Oil
Fruit Oils
Gentle and nourishing
Light in texture to moisturize without leaving a greasy residue
Reduce the appearance of aging skin
Suitable for sensitive skin
Cleansing and softening
Exhibits anti-oxidant properties
Apricot Oil
Avocado Oil
Grape Seed Oil
Peach Kernel Oil
Olive Oil
Essential Fatty Acid Oils
Hydrate and soothe itchy, dry, inflamed, and acne-prone skin
Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-septic
Balance essential fatty acid deficiency and skin’s oil production
Balance hormones
Demonstrates reparative and astringent properties that facilitate wound healing
Argan Oil
Babassu Oil
Calendula Oil
Lotions and creams: the more common way to hydrate and moisturize the skin is by using creams and lotions! Avoid the ones using fragrance and pthaltes, parabens, and honestly, anything you cannot pronounce. Look instead for lotions that are cruelty free, using plant based oils and ingredients and using pure essential oils.
3) Last but not least, hydration.
This may sound silly, but this is so important! Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water! The body is a system that is so complex and smarter than we realize! We are made up of up to 60% water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%. We also need water to sweat, urinate, and have bowel movements. Sweat regulates body temperature when you're exercising or in warm temperatures. You need water to replenish the lost fluid from sweat. You also need enough water in your system to have healthy stool and avoid constipation.
By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. When you no longer feel thirst, your internal mechanism turns off, no longer alerting you of being dehydrated! So when you are dehydrated, your body automatically pulls water from the skin first to feed other areas of the body! Who knew!
In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day.” For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be 75 to 150 ounces of water a day.
This is why drinking water is another key component in combating dry skin!
Keeping our skin hydrated and moisturized is a life long routine! But one that is not complicated or costly! Making sure you drink adequate water, exfoliating and moisturizing the skin are all simple and easy ways to take care of our largest organ!!
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