Last year I wrote an article called Solutions for Dehydrated Skin. I have had so many responses to this article and with the change of season approaching I thought I would update on this topic. Dehydrated skin tends to get worse in Winter due to the decrease in humidity. The “drier” air draws moisture out of the skin so that even if you usually have good skin moisture content, during Winter, it can feel tight and even look drawn or flaky. The most common response is to lather on more moisturiser or a richer cream. This will work but there are some other key tips you can use to help your skin stay hydrated:

Switch to a cream cleanser during the cooler months: foaming cleansers tend to disrupt the acid mantle to a greater degree than cream cleansers. While this is fine during Summer, during Winter, less protective surface oil means more moisture loss. Avoid SLS containing cleansers completely. If you have fine, dry skin you can even use the ancient Ayurvedic oil cleaning method which uses oils to clean your skin.

Use a richer cream during the day: if you have no issues with skin congestion, the richer cream will act as a physical barrier to moisture loss which means more of it stays in your skin cells. Alternatively, if you are prone to congestion, continue with your regular day moisturiser and use a serum at night.

Night Serums: these are ideal for managing congestion while increasing the water holding capacity of your skin. They also carry nutrients into the skin doing great things like increasing the antioxidant capacity and reducing inflammation. I still can’t go past Remedica Regenerate Visage as one of the best night serums for dry/dehydrated skin I have seen in action. I am inclined to devote a blog to the Remedica Serums as I think they are just magic.

Hyaluronic Acid: hyaluronic acid attract moisture from the air and binds it to the skin tissue, thereby increasing the moisture content and hydration of the skin. I often recommend that customers use Hyaluronic acid in Winter and then change over to Vitamin C serum during the warmer months. This is particularly good as part of a “slow” ageing strategy.

Keep up your Fluids: it is hard to drink cool or even room temperature water when the temperature drops. I shy away from water and crave hot drinks (Soy Chai Tea is my weakness!) during Winter. So to manage my internal fluid levels I make sure I  start the day with at least 300mls of warm water  and lemon (just squeeze half a lemon into a glass of warm water and drink before any other food or drinks). Throughout the day I sip on herbal teas or just plain warm water.

Good Oils: yes I know I bang on about fish or flax oil regularly but they are so good for increasing the internal moisture holding capacity of the skin. See my previous blog about the Lemon Detox Drink with lots of lovely flax oil as it would be an ideal way of increasing “good” oil intake. That or you could increase oily fish intake or take a fish or flax oil capsule.

If you give any of these tips a go I would love to hear what the results are for you.

Be Sociable, Share!
0 Comments