Autumn or winter weather can be tough on your skin. The cold, dry air can leave your skin feeling parched and irritated. If you’re suffering from dry skin this season, never fear! You can do a few simple things to improve it.
1. Use a Humidifier
A humidifier is a device that increases the humidity, or water vapor, in the air. There are several benefits of using a humidifier to improve your dry skin.
First, increased humidity levels help to prevent your skin from losing moisture. When the air is too dry, your skin will pull moisture from itself to stay hydrated. This can lead to even more discomfort and problems with dry skin. A humidifier can keep the air moist, which will help your skin to retain its natural moisture levels.
In addition to preventing moisture loss, increased humidity levels also help to reduce inflammation and redness associated with dry skin. When your skin is dried, it becomes inflamed and can even start to crack and bleed. Using a humidifier can keep your skin hydrated and reduce inflammation caused by dryness.
In addition to improving dry skin, increased humidity levels can help ease other respiratory ailments such as congestion, coughing, and sinus infections.
2. Moisturize Regularly
When your skin is dry or lacking in moisture, it’s more susceptible to irritation and infection. That’s why it’s so important to keep your skin moisturized. There are also many other benefits to moisturizing your skin, including fewer breakouts, softened wrinkles, and the prevention of eczema.
Before choosing a moisturizer, note that there are two types of moisturizers: humectants and emollients. Humectants are ingredients that help to attract water to the skin. Emollients are ingredients that help to soften and smooth the skin.
The best moisturizers combine both humectants and emollients to provide maximum hydration. Some common humectants include hyaluronic acid and urea. Common emollients include plant oils like jojoba oil and grapeseed oil, as well as Shea butter and lactic acid.
The first step in finding the best moisturizer is determining your skin type. This may seem like common sense, but when shopping for any cosmetic skin solution, it’s important to know whether you have dry, oily, combination, sensitive, or normal skin before making any decisions.
You can usually figure out your skin type by paying attention to how your skin feels after cleansing. If it feels tight and dry, you probably have dry skin. If it feels shiny and greasy, you likely have oily skin. If it’s somewhere in between—not too dry and not too oily—you have normal or combination skin.
Consult a board-certified dermatologist or esthetician if you’re still unsure of your skin type. They will be able to help you figure out what type of skin you have and make recommendations accordingly.
Now that you know your skin type, it’s time to consider your specific concerns. You know you want to hydrate dry skin, but what else? Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles? Soothe irritation?
Your moisturizer should be working to target these specific concerns. For example, if you want to reduce the appearance of fine lines, look for face creams containing retinol or other vitamin A forms. These ingredients stimulate collagen production and help smooth out the appearance of wrinkles over time. On the other hand, if you just want a basic face cream that will hydrate your skin without bells and whistles, something with glycerin will do the trick nicely.
3. Exfoliate Gently
If you have dry skin, you know that exfoliating can be tricky. On one hand, you want to slough away all of the dead skin cells that can leave your complexion looking dull. On the other hand, you don’t want to overdo it and end up stripping your skin of its natural oils. So, how can you find the perfect balance?
Use a gentle exfoliator. Look for an exfoliator with small, spherical beads rather than large, jagged ones. You should also avoid exfoliators that contain alcohol, which can further dry your skin.
Also, exfoliate no more than once or twice a week. Over-exfoliating can actually cause your skin to produce more oil to compensate, which can lead to breakouts.
Finally, don’t forget the sunscreen! This should come after. Exfoliating can leave your skin feeling more sensitive to the sun’s rays, so apply sunscreen before spending any time outdoors.
By following these simple tips, you can improve your dry skin and enjoy the cold season without any more irritation or discomfort. Remember, dry skin doesn’t have to ruin your day or your fun!
