Everybody can get dry skin from time to time, especially during episodes with cold winter weather it’s a common issue. Fine lines from dry skin, red and dry patches, and flaking skin can be very annoying and can make you look older. This is obviously something we do not want. Before you start troubleshooting, it is very important to find out the cause of your skin’s reaction.
Dry skin caused by winter conditions As mentioned, it is specifically common to get dry skin during winter. This has to do with the cold and dry air that winter brings in combination with the dry and warm air provided by the heating in our cosy, warm homes. The combination of dry air, low and high temperatures can truly mess with your skin’s health: the moisture in your skin can, for example, evaporate quicker, which can make your skin more vulnerable. This air quality is also the reason why eczema often gets worse during the winter months. I suggest you try to use the heater less often, preferably only when you really need to. And when you do, it would be best to keep the temperature at a moderate level. It is also recommended to use a humidifier in your house to humidify the air, which can prevent the skin from losing its moisture.
Dry skin caused by inadequate skincare One of the most common causes of dry skin is a skincare routine or product that doesn’t fit with your skin type. Physical exfoliation, using cleansers, and other skincare products that contain irritating ingredients can disrupt the skin barrier. When this happens, too much moisture evaporates from the skin, flakes accumulate, and bacteria can have their way. You can easily prevent this from happening by using very mild cleansers like La Crème Cleanser and skincare products without any perfume. Wash your face once a day with a gentle cleanser and rinse with lukewarm water. Then, apply a face oil, serum, or cream moisturizer on damp skin so that the moisture gets locked in and will be less prone to evaporate.
Does drinking water help with hydrating the skin? The answer to this is two-fold: it does, and it doesn’t. On the short term, it doesn’t actually help. Water passes through the body too rapidly to have this effect on the skin: it first passes through all the organs and will only reach the skin at the end of the journey. But there are several studies [1, 2] that show that drinking extra water (one or two litres more than your average amount per day for 30 days) can lead to increased hydration in the skin. This was especially shown in people who drank too little anyway. Drinking more water won’t harm you, and it can improve the hydration of your skin. So, why not give it a try?
Ingredients that can help Ingredients that can improve dry skin are vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and oils. Apply your skincare products several times a day and avoid physical exfoliation. If you insist on exfoliating, opt for a gentle chemical exfoliant made with fruit enzymes or a low amount of BHA’s or AHA’s. Have a look at La Vitamine C Powder, that helps to repair the skin barrier, and La Prickly Pear Seed Oil and Le Youth Sérum, which both consist of amazing moisturizing plant oils and are very gentle to the skin.
Palma L, Marques LT, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:413-421. Published 2015 Aug 3. doi:10.2147/CCID.S86822 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529263/
Williams S, Krueger N, Davids M, Kraus D, Kerscher M. Effect of fluid intake on skin physiology: distinct differences between drinking mineral water and tap water. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2007 Apr;29(2):131-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2007.00366.x. PMID: 18489334. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18489334/
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