Skin Care 101: The Do’s and Don’ts for Dry Skin

We all have different skin types that require specific skin care routines and products. If you have dry skin, does your routine align with what your skin needs?

More About Dry Skin

People with dry skin suffer from a damaged moisture barrier. This causes their skin to crack, peel, or easily become inflamed when exposed to irritants.

Dry skin may have small cracks—mostly invisible to the naked eye—on the surface that allow for moisture to escape, leaving the skin even drier. These cracks also allow irritants to get in, which may then cause more damage to the skin.

Symptoms

Every person experiences different signs and symptoms of dry skin. The symptoms you feel may vary depending on your age, health condition, location, and time spent outdoors. Here are some of the most common indicators that you have dry skin:

• Skin tightness, especially after bathing, showering, or swimming
• Roughness
• Itching
• Flaking, scaling, or peeling
• Cracks or fine lines
• Gray, ashy skin tone
• Redness

Causes

Dry skin can be an indication of certain diseases. However, most of the time, dry skin is caused by external factors. Here are some of the most common causes of dry skin:

• Low levels of temperature and humidity
• Artificial heat sources
• Hot baths and showers
• Harsh soaps and detergents
• Skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis

Skin Care Do’s and Don’ts for Dry Skin

Having the right skin care routine for your dry skin can save you from suffering too much from its symptoms. You can easily manage this skin condition if you follow these tips:

Do’s for Taking Care of Dry Skin

There are several things that you can do to manage your dry skin’s symptoms. From improving your skin care for dry skin to adjusting your lifestyle, here are the techniques you should follow to take care of your dry skin.

Wash Your Face Daily

No matter how dry your skin is, you should still keep it clean by washing your face daily. Doing so will help you remove any dirt and impurities, which may get into your skin and cause further damage. Cleansing your skin daily will also help you get rid of makeup and excess oil, ultimately soothing your skin.

Exfoliate Your Skin

Reveal the hydrated, smoother, radiant complexion under your dry skin by exfoliating every other day with a gentle whitening scrub, like Gluta-C Intense Whitening Body Scrub With Natural Papaya Enzymes. Removing dead skin cells using an exfoliator can help your moisturizer penetrate your dry skin better.

Layer Products

Your dry skin needs extra moisture to ensure that it is well hydrated. You can achieve this by boosting your moisturizing cream using a hydrating serum, such as Gluta-C’s Elixir.

When using these products, make sure that you are layering them properly to maximize the benefits that you get. You should apply the thinnest product first and the thickest one last.

To moisturize your skin, apply serum to your face first. Then, layer it with your moisturizing cream. Since the serum will not thickly cover your face, the cream can still penetrate your skin and moisturize it.

Seal In Moisture

Dry skin has tiny cracks that allow moisture to escape easily. To address this concern, aim to lock in moisture and keep your skin hydrated at all times. You can do this by adding rich moisturizers and hydrating water-based serums to your skin care routine for dry skin. These skin care products can work hand-in-hand in deeply nourishing your skin and keeping it hydrated.

You should also make applying a hydrating body lotion right after a bath or a shower a habit. This is important because as the water on your skin evaporates into the air, it takes your skin’s natural moisturizing barrier with it. Applying a moisturizing product right after taking a shower will allow you to avoid this from happening.

Choose the Right Type of Makeup

Buying and using the right type of makeup for your dry skin will make a big difference in your appearance. Instead of using regular foundation, you should opt for a high-quality tinted moisturizer. This product can help even out your skin tone while also hydrating your dry skin.

You should also use cream blushes and eyeshadows. These makeup items will leave you with a dewy and fresh look and will be easier to apply to your skin.

Drink Water

One of the best ways to keep your skin moisturized is by hydrating it from the inside. Make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water daily to keep your skin healthy. Once you make this a habit, you will notice great improvements in your dry skin.

Get Enough Sleep

Another lifestyle change that you can add to your skin care for dry skin is getting enough sleep at night. Sleeping for at least seven hours every night will allow your body to enter repair mode and address any problems you may have, including dry skin.

Use a Humidifier

Dry skin can be caused by the low levels of humidity in the atmosphere. That is why you should always maintain a healthy humidity level at home by using a humidifier. This device can add moisture to the air, which can greatly benefit your dry skin.

Wear Gloves

Protect your hands by wearing gloves whenever you are washing the dishes or doing laundry. The soap and detergent used for these chores may irritate your skin and make it drier.

Talk to a Professional

When your dry skin symptoms worsen or would not go away, you should seek help from a professional. Dermatologists and licensed estheticians have the knowledge and right tools to help you in addressing your dry skin problems.

Don’ts of Skin Care for Dry Skin

One of the best things you can do to avoid suffering from dry skin is to prevent the factors that aggravate the condition. Here are some things you should avoid if you are prone to dry skin.

Don’t Over-Cleanse

Although you need to wash your face daily, you might need to limit it to once a day. Cleansing your skin with soap and water too often could dry out and irritate your sensitive skin even further.

What you should do is wash your face with water in the morning. Then, use a mild cleanser at night before sleeping.

Don’t Over-Exfoliate

Some people think that exfoliating their skin often will help them achieve a radiant glow. However, the opposite might be true.

Over-exfoliation, whether using scrubs or peels, can aggravate your dry skin and cause more damage. This is because exfoliating products may disrupt your skin’s natural barrier when not used properly.

Don’t Use Harsh Skin Care Products

Harsh soaps and other skin care products can alter your skin’s pH balance and affect its natural barrier. To prevent this from happening, make sure to avoid using soaps and cleansers that contain alcohol, preservatives, parabens, or other harsh ingredients.

Don’t Use Products With Fragrance

The fragrance in some skin care products can irritate and dry out your skin. That is why it is important that you look for items labeled scent-free.

Don’t Apply Clay Masks

Clay masks are effective in absorbing excess oil in the skin. However, if you have dry skin, this product can worsen your condition and irritate your skin.

Instead of using clay masks, opt for sheet masks. This type of skin care product is ideal for dry skin because it is hydrating.

Don’t Forget to Use Sunscreen

The sun’s heat can dry out your skin even more. To avoid this from happening, make sure to use a body lotion with enough SPF, like Gluta-C Body Lotion with Kojic Plus+ Whitening System and SPF 30.

Don’t Use Powder Makeup

You should avoid using makeup products in powder form if you have dry skin. Doing so will make your skin appear patchy. The powder may also emphasize the cracks and fine lines on your skin.

Don’t Rub Your Skin Dry

Avoid rubbing your skin with towels or tissue paper after cleansing. The friction caused by this action may wear away your skin and even cause irritation and inflammation.

Instead, you should pat your skin using a clean and dry towel or washcloth to blot away excess moisture. You should not aim to dry your skin completely because your dry skin needs extra moisture.

Don’t Use Extremely Hot or Cold Water

Avoid washing your face and hands or bathing using extremely hot or cold water. These temperatures can dry out your skin further.

You should use warm water when showering instead. Warm water can help maintain the moisture level of your skin.

Don’t Take Long, Hot Baths Daily

If you have dry skin, you should limit your shower or bath time to 10 minutes or less. You should also try not to bathe more than once daily. Staying too long in the bath and showering too often can cause your skin to dry out.

Dry Skin Should Not Be Something To Be Worried About

Caring for your dry skin may be a little bit intimidating and challenging at first. However, once you follow the do’s and don’ts listed above, you can come up with a skin care routine that works for your dry skin.

Following this regimen regularly will allow you to notice major improvements in your skin. After a while, you will have the radiant and glowing complexion that you have always wanted!