Let’s face it: dry skin happens. Whether you got a bit too much sun or you’re feeling a touch of the winter blahs, the weather and environmental conditions can take a toll on the skin. Fortunately, there are ways to moisturize your dry skin and quench those thirsty cells.
We’re sharing a few of our favorite tips in this blog. Let’s dive in.
First Things First - Why Does Hydrated Skin Matter?
Before we talk about how to revitalize dry skin, let’s talk about why it matters. From a cosmetic standpoint, hydrated skin looks plump, healthy, and youthful. Adequately hydrated skin also demonstrates improved elasticity, which reduces the appearance of age-related fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss.
As if all that weren’t enough, healthy, hydrated skin is also less oily.
Here’s why:
When the skin is dehydrated, it supercharges oil production to compensate for missing moisture.
Dehydrated skin also tends to be less resilient and less able to deal with environmental irritants. Hydrated skin, on the other hand, is better at flushing out toxins, resisting blemishes, and maintaining its tone and texture.
5 Ways to Hydrate and Your Dry Skin
We’ve got good news: you don’t have to live with tired, dry skin forever. Revitalize and smooth your dehydrated skin with these five steps:
1. Give your daily H20 a boost
By now, you probably know drinking water is THE best way to hydrate skin from the inside out. But did you know that you can supercharge each sip you take??
Recently, there has been a slew of hydration multipliers hitting the market. Typically available in the form of powdered drink additives, hydration multipliers contain electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals to replenish your essential nutrients and help you feel more hydrated.
Add a pack to a large water bottle and sip happily, knowing you’re doing your skin a solid.
Pro tip: Remember that drinking water isn’t the only way to get hydrated! Make sure you’re eating a high-water diet, as well. Pack your plate with foods that contain lots of water, like cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, peaches, and celery. Oatmeal, dairy, and soups are also great bets.
2. Cool it down in the shower
While a hot shower might be soothing, it won’t do your skin any favors. Shower off under cool or warm water to maintain as much moisture as possible.
If you can’t stand the thought of anything less than hot water, limit the time you spend in the shower and follow up immediately with a moisturizing cream or skin oil.
3. Make hydration a part of your skincare routine
Now is a great time to take a second look at your skincare routine. Every product you use should be moisturizing in some way.
This is true even if you tend to have oily or combination skin. While many people think they need to dry out oily skin with harsh cleansers or exfoliation, that will only ramp up oil production and worsen your skin problems. Instead, look for moisturizers suited to your skin type.
Additionally, it’s wise to make sure you’re adjusting your skincare routine to the season where you live. For example, winter weather tends to be dry, which may require you to switch to heavier moisturizers, while summer might require a lighter moisturizer with built-in SPF.
4. Use dermatologist-approved products
If you’re serious about hydrating your dry skin, ask your dermatologist which products they recommend.
We recommend cleansers that contain hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate skin and serums that contain vitamins E and C and peptides. Products with squalane, avocado, and other ultra-moisturizing ingredients are also a great choice.
As far as a skincare line goes, we love Epionce’s products, which deliver all the hydration and skin protection you need without clogging pores or loading your skin up with nasty additives. We’re particularly fond of their sunscreen, which is a skincare must-have even during the cloudy winter months.
If you have dry, cracked feet or hands, we recommend checking out Baby Foot’s foot peels and foot care products.
5. Consider anti-aging skin care treatments
Skincare is a holistic pursuit, and it requires you to look at your skin from all angles. In addition to eating well, using sunscreen and moisture-rich skincare products, and drinking enough water daily, we recommend other treatments to revitalize your skin, like Fraxel Dual, microneedling, or Clear + Brilliant treatments.
When combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, these treatments can take years off the appearance of your skin and help promote even tone and texture and a healthy, vibrant appearance.
Bonus Winter Skin Tips
Here in Montana, we have a lot of winter during our year. Keep your skin in great shape with these winter skincare tips:
Use sunscreen every day - even when it’s cloudy outside.
Place a humidifier in your bedroom if your skin and hair seem to dry out in the winter.
Avoid harsh, stripping cleansers that remove moisture from the skin.
Visit your dermatologist regularly.
In addition to the tips above, we recommend protecting your skin whenever you’re out in the elements. Wear a moisturizing lip balm with SPF, apply facial moisturizer and sunscreen before you go out, put on a hat and sunglasses, and use a scarf or Buff to keep the wind and cold air from chapping the delicate skin of your face.
Laser Cosmetic Center: Your Source for Year-Round Skincare
Learning to hydrate your skin is your top priority if you want to look and feel younger.
While dry skin can be tough to get rid of, simple changes like adding a hydration multiplier to your water, eating water-rich foods, showering in warm (rather than hot) water, incorporating hydration into every part of your skincare routine, using dermatologist-recommended products, and investing in anti-aging skincare treatments can all help.
Here at Laser Cosmetic Center, we’re proud to help clients in and around the Flathead Valley revitalize their dry skin and find products, like Baby Foot and Epionce, that help them do just that.
Ready to learn more about our team, our treatments, or how we can help you protect and nurture your skin? Contact us today.