If you are someone with dry and sensitive skin – these are some tips that have been tried and tested over the years and also apply to any kind of skin irritation, dermatitis and eczema.

But first, it’s important to distinguish between your skin type and skin condition. Whereas dry skin refers to a skin type (just like oily), dehydrated skin refers to a skin condition. Dry skin lacks oil which can be a genetic factor, and it usually appears flaky as well as rough. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, lacks water or moisture, and appears dull as well as tight.

The pros of having a dry skin are that it makes you less prone to blemishes as the skin isn’t producing much sebum, and you may also enjoy smaller pores. However, the skin can easily look lackluster when it can’t hold on to moisture, making wrinkles orany fine lines more pronounced which gives the complexion a rough and dull appearance and might sometimes be confused as aging signs.

Don’t Wash Your Face while Showering

Most people cherish a hot shower at the end of the day but it can be too much for the thinner, delicate skin of the face – and is worth avoiding if you are prone to dry skin. If you get the feeling of tightness when you come out of the shower – it’s because your skin has lost too much moisture.

Most importantly, take precaution not to cleanse your face in the shower as you might find the water beating down too chaotic and you might prefer to cleanse before/after so take your time with each step and make it a relaxing experience.

Exfoliate Gently

Gentle exfoliation with the right skin product for your skin type helps to speed up cell turnover, increase skin radiance and boost the absorption and effectiveness of your moisturizers, oils and serums. However, avoid over-exfoliating – either with manual exfoliants/brushes, retinols or acid serums.

Although it’s important to remove dead skin cells on the surface to help skincare products absorb properly, over-exfoliation can result in damaging the skin barrier – resulting in more sensitivity and skin issues. If you have dry skin, stay away from abrasive manual exfoliants and use gentle solutions like lactic acid good for its antioxidant and chemical exfoliant properties which helps remove dead skin cells, makes the skin smooth, moisturizes as well as making skin look firmer. It also  helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, fades dark spots and hyper-pigmentation making it a safe ingredient to brighten dull skin and naturally achieve an even complexion.

The other solution to consider for your skin are the fruit enzymes and gentle acid serums that are organically and naturally derived if possible. Fruit enzymes break down the keratin protein in the uppermost layer of skin which bonds dead skin cells together. With this process the dead skin can gently slough off, resulting in smoother, softer skin and helping diminish scars and pigmentation.

An enzymatic serum contains enzymes and molecules found in nature, that helps eliminate dead cells, as well as significantly improving cell renewal, providing a radiant complexion in the morning. Most importantly, both acids and enzymes work to dissolve away dry, dead skin cells but enzymes work specifically on the surface of your skin, while acids work deeper into the skin’s barrier.

Enzymes also do not disrupt your PH balance meaning they are kind to your skin barrier because they exfoliate using enzymes rather than abrasive granules. Enzymes also help to break down the keratin in the skin’s upper layers which helps it lift off anything dead and it does this in a funky way.

The enzymes literally digest the dead skin on your face. The choice of which enzyme to use is determined on the basis that an enzyme peel is naturally derived from a variety of fruits and helps to refresh the skin for a more youthful appearance, while a deep cleansing enzyme peel can treat acne, rosacea and pigmentation issues as well as improving fine lines or wrinkles by exfoliating the top of dead skin cells to expedite cells turnover

 Try Oil Cleansing

Oil cleansing can be a total game changer for just about any skin type and condition. The basic concept of this cleansing method is that oil dissolves oil – so the oil used to massage your skin will dissolve the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores.

By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals that heal, protect and nourish your skin.

Oil cleansing reduces blackheads and clears the skin naturally over time without any of the surfactants, harsh ingredients, or necessary preservatives in foaming cleansers that leave the skin feeling “stripped” and cause disruption to the skin’s microbiome. Oil cleansing easily dissolves makeup, sunscreen and dirt – while keeping the skin’s microbiome healthy and balanced.

After switching to oil cleansing, people often notice clearer, softer, brighter skin, fewer blackheads, more balanced oil production and a sense of ritual in their evening routine.

Moisturize & Protect

If you have dry or dehydrated skin, make sure you always have some moisture on your skin, especially if you are going to be exposed outside. Whether it’s an oil, moisturizer or SPF – it’s important to have an extra layer of protection against the elements.

This barrier helps to protect the skin from wind, damp, dry heat, pollutants and helps the skin to lock in moisture – especially when we are moving between different temperatures such as being indoor and exposed outside. Having a layer of cream or oil provides a seal over your skin to keep further moisture from escaping.

Organic oils work as a nourishing, protective layer in your skin care regime and should be used as the last step to seal in all the goodness and moisture from your other products. Wearing SPF everyday is also extremely important to keep your skin healthy and glowing. As dry skin is more prone to fine lines and wrinkles, wearing sunscreen everyday – even if you are inside – is enormously beneficial to keep the skin healthy and youthful.

Try a Honey Mask

Honey is a natural humectant, which means it pulls in moisture from the air – creating plumped, hydrated skin. It also has numerous vitamins and antioxidants, as well as antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Honey hydrates and soothes irritated skin, balances the skin’s pH, sloughs off dead skin cells, reduces inflammation and bacteria – healing breakouts and leaving the skin soft and hydrated.

Apply a thin layer to cleansed skin, leave on for up to 30 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

Improve from Within Your Body

You can also try food supplements – and add more Omega oils into your diet. Omega 3, 6 & 9 contain high levels of beneficial fatty acids and have been proven to reduce inflammation and epidermal water loss, which is particularly helpful for those with dry skin.

Consuming more beneficial fats in general can help with dry skin. Coconut, avocados, fatty fish, and sweet potatoes can help improve skin texture and dryness.

Water is more likely to help rehydrate those with dehydrated skin, rather than dry skin – but drinking more water is helpful for any skin type in order to keep the system moving, and help the lymph function optimally.

Finally, If you live and work near a busy or dusty road or generally in the city, or your are a field worker, such environments are quite polluted which creates dust and allergens that can irritate and affect the skin. Always try to keep your environment clean, change your pillows regularly and wash your bedding frequently to deal with dust mites. These can also be contributory factors for dry, dehydrated and irritated skin.

If you are not content with all this, swing by Inspirations World of Beauty at Cham Towers and we could get you started on a routine ritual of facial treatment using any of our Organic or Dead Sea products that is suitable for your skin and your pocket.