For these of you who’ve dry pores and skin, utilizing a heavy, wealthy, and thick moisturizer looks like the plain alternative to offer much-needed moisture. However what if you’re utilizing what feels like an excellent moisturizer, but your pores and skin remains to be dry, flaky, and even itchy? The rationale for this can be that you’re utilizing a poorly formulated moisturizer.
Discovering the correct moisturizer to hydrate dry pores and skin lies within the components used within the components – ones that truly restore what causes dry pores and skin. There have been many breakthroughs within the science of moisture retention and all of it comes right down to selecting the best components.
Let’s check out what causes dry pores and skin, the components to search for, which of them to keep away from, and the way to decide on the perfect moisturizer for dry pores and skin.
What Causes Dry Pores and skin and How Does a Good Moisturizer Assist?
The very first thing it’s best to know is that dry pores and skin is completely different than dehydrated pores and skin in that it lacks oil—not water. Because the pores and skin depends on oil to retain moisture, missing it means you’ve got a compromised pores and skin barrier. Translation? Your pores and skin begins to exhibit all of the detrimental traits of dry pores and skin you’re already accustomed to, together with texture points and superior indicators of getting older. Dry pores and skin may also act extra delicate as a result of disruption in your pores and skin barrier. When wholesome, this barrier acts as a protect to maintain irritants out.
It’s pretty simple to inform you probably have dry pores and skin primarily based on the way it appears to be like and feels. Typically talking, dry pores and skin could have a tough texture, minimal breakout exercise, small-to-medium pore measurement, and elevated sensitivity and redness. Usually, individuals who have dry pores and skin battle with a uninteresting complexion, which is why I like to recommend utilizing energizing merchandise to spice up circulation (such because the Vitality Boosting Toner).
By discovering an excellent moisturizer, you can’t solely nourish the pores and skin, but additionally kind a protecting layer on the pores and skin’s floor, stopping moisture loss and exterior irritants from penetrating. They will additionally assist soothe irritation and itchiness related to tight, dry pores and skin.
In the event you’re nonetheless uncertain of whether or not or not you’ve got dry pores and skin, I encourage you to take the Pores and skin Kind Quiz. It’s the simplest approach to find out about your pores and skin sort. Simply reply just a few easy questions, and it will provide you with an correct consequence, together with personalised product suggestions.
What’s a broken lipid barrier?
Your pores and skin has a moisture barrier manufactured from pure lipids that maintain moisture within the pores and skin and irritants out. When this barrier is broken, it creates tiny, invisible cracks within the pores and skin that enable moisture to flee (inflicting dry, flaky pores and skin) and irritants to enter extra simply (making even delicate pores and skin merchandise trigger a stinging, irritating sensation).
To restore dry, flaky pores and skin, search for the next soothing, barrier-repairing components when selecting a moisturizer.
Greatest Skincare Elements that Assist Restore Dry Pores and skin
Plant Oils
Bear in mind how I stated dry pores and skin lacks oil? A straightforward approach to give it what it wants is to make use of skincare merchandise that comprise sure plant oils. Personally, I like jojoba oil, rosehip seed oil, and borage seed oil. They’re stuffed with fatty acids that may assist help and restore the lipids within the moisture barrier. Different nice choices embrace:
- Bois De Rose Oil
- Carrot Oil
- Night Primrose Oil
- Cranberry Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Soybean Oil
- Safflower Oil
- Candy Almond Oil
- Canola Oil
- Sesame Seed Oil
Ceramides
Ceramides are lipids that play a big position in supporting the moisture barrier. They act as a pores and skin protectant and moisturizer, which is why you’ll typically discover them in restorative merchandise formulated for delicate pores and skin varieties.
You will discover ceramides within the Pure Radiance Creme Masque. I formulated this masks with a mix of moisturizing plant oils to depart dry pores and skin easy, supple, and comfy.
Linoleic/Linolenic Acids
These important fatty acids are key parts of the pores and skin’s pure barrier, serving to to strengthen the pores and skin’s protecting barrier, enhance hydration, cut back irritation, and make pores and skin softer and smoother general.
Squalane
This ingredient is implausible for retaining pores and skin moisturized, because it not solely mimics the pure oils that our pores and skin produces, but additionally is a light-weight approach to increase hydration. It absorbs rapidly, is non-comedogenic, and offers further antioxidant properties as nicely.
Linoleic Acid
This omega-6 fatty acid acts as a constructing block for the lipids that kind the pores and skin’s protecting layer, stopping moisture loss and defending from irritants.
Tocopheryl Linoleate
A type of vitamin E, that is notably useful not solely in offering a lift of hydration, but additionally defending the pores and skin from environmental aggressors and soothing dry, irritated pores and skin.
Phytosterols
Basically, these assist restore and preserve the pores and skin’s barrier by mimicking the pores and skin’s pure lipids, locking in hydration, and decreasing irritation, retaining pores and skin balanced.
Shea Butter
This ingredient is a botanical extract that acts as an emollient, which means it softens the pores and skin and seals in moisture. It’s barrier-repairing and skin-protecting, and it’s thought of secure for delicate pores and skin varieties because it’s identified to assuage irritation.
You will discover shea butter in a number of Renée Rouleau moisturizers.
These components will appropriate each the dearth of oil and lack of hydration deep inside your pores and skin and truly restore the pores and skin’s lipid moisture barrier to make your pores and skin moist, supple, and easy. It’s a undeniable fact that hydrated pores and skin is wholesome pores and skin, so begin taking a look at your ingredient labels to search out the right moisturizer to your dry, flaky pores and skin.
Different Elements that Restore Your Pores and skin Barrier
There are a lot of extra barrier-repair components, however the ones listed above are among the extra widespread moisturizing brokers and those I like to make use of within the Renée Rouleau product line.
Greatest General Moisturizer for Dry, Flaky Pores and skin
Relating to dry pores and skin, there are two famous person moisturizers that come to thoughts.
For uninteresting pores and skin in want of a lift, there’s nothing higher than Glow Enhancing Creme. This luxury cream formulation delivers important lipid wealthy oils to restore the pores and skin’s broken moisture barrier. This cream will hydrate and plump pores and skin.
In case your dryness stems from retinol or retinoid-use, over-exfoliation, laser remedies, chemical peels, accutane, eczema, or rosacea, then I extremely suggest Phytolipid Consolation Creme. That is the right approach to restore and calm the pores and skin. Utilizing an age-defying components with superior moisturizing lipids and calming plant extract, this successfully makes pores and skin much less dry and delicate over time.
Greatest Moisturizer for Oily Pores and skin
For these of you with delicate, breakout-prone pores and skin, it’s finest to hunt out light-weight, oil-free moisturizers, like Pores and skin Restoration Lotion. This moisturizer makes use of water-binding hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to handle all signs of a compromised barrier, together with dehydration, flaking, and redness attributable to harsh pimples remedies.
In the event you solely expertise the occasional breakout however are on the lookout for hydration and anti-aging outcomes, Sheer Moisture Lotion is the right alternative. Utilizing time-released antioxidants and niacinamide, this high-performance lotion provides brightening advantages, distinctive hydration, and leaves pores and skin feeling plump, with out clogging pores.
Utilizing a Pores and skin Oil for Dry Pores and skin
In the event you want utilizing a pores and skin oil to your dry, flaky pores and skin, that’s completely high-quality. Because the Head of New Product Growth at Renée Rouleau Pores and skin Care, I’m completely happy to share that we’ve got one thing particular within the works… Keep tuned!
Skincare Elements to Keep away from if Your Pores and skin is Dry
It’s simply as vital to know which components to keep away from when caring for dry pores and skin. Listed here are just a few I recommend staying away from…
Drying Alcohols
In the event you’re a daily reader of my weblog, you understand I dislike drying alcohol components, like SD Alcohol 40, Denatured Alcohol, Ethanol, and Isopropyl Alcohol. These are discovered in lots of skincare merchandise, however I can’t stand to see them in toners. That’s as a result of toners are supposed to hydrate the pores and skin, and these components can strip moisture and trigger extra dryness. It doesn’t make a lot sense, does it? That’s why all Renée Rouleau toners are alcohol-free!
The one exception to this rule is pimples spot remedies. Generally, these drying components could be helpful for drying out blemish-causing micro organism. Since dry pores and skin varieties have minimal breakout exercise within the first place, I’d suggest avoiding them.
Sulfates
Sulfates are used as cleaning brokers, which is why they’re generally present in cleansers. Just like the aforementioned alcohols, sulfates can strip an excessive amount of moisture from the pores and skin, inflicting dryness. That’s why I like to recommend avoiding skincare merchandise that record components like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate on their labels.
You’ll want to keep away from any product that leaves your pores and skin feeling tight. Take a look at your cleansers and ensure to keep away from the components Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, as these solely additional injury the pores and skin’s barrier. In the event you’re utilizing the flawed cleanser, you’re immediately stripping moisture out of the pores and skin, which is the worst factor you are able to do for dry pores and skin.
All Renée Rouleau cleansers are sulfate-free so you may relaxation assured they received’t strip moisture out of your pores and skin!
Moisturizers Don’t Have To Be Greasy!
Surprisingly, a moisturizer for dry pores and skin doesn’t have to be greasy, oily and even thick. In case you have used any of the Renée Rouleau moisturizers, you might discover that those for dry pores and skin aren’t actually that heavy.
Lots of my purchasers assume they want one thing with a greasier texture, however that is merely not the answer. What’s vital is that it’s loaded with a mix of barrier-repairing components that, with continued use, will assist the pores and skin retain its moisture. This can alleviate any tightness and flakiness because of dryness, as a substitute leaving pores and skin moist, supple, and completely hydrated.
Additionally, observe that humectant components like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, sorbitol, urea, and sodium PCA all assist to draw water from the dermis into the dermis, which is an effective factor, however these alone is not going to remedy dry pores and skin.
Don’t Overlook to Exfoliate
Relating to dry, flaky pores and skin, exfoliation is essential and is part of a skincare routine that shouldn’t be neglected. Dry pores and skin typically accumulates useless pores and skin cells, inflicting that flaky texture that so many people expertise. Eradicating this buildup will depart your pores and skin visibly brighter and smoother, permitting hydrating serums and moisturizers to penetrate extra successfully.
Celeb Esthetician & Skincare Professional
As an esthetician educated in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare professional has created a real-world resolution — merchandise which can be formulated for 9 various kinds of pores and skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and look its finest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world data and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “essentially the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”