If you are prone to dry skin, you’ll recognise the signs when the colder months are approaching. Your skin feels constantly tight, super dry, and eventually becomes flaky, despite your best efforts to keep it hydrated.
If you've tried various moisturisers, creams and oils but your skin still feels like the Sahara Desert… this blog is for you!
We're going to tackle the most common skincare mistakes that lead to Dry Skin, and share some tips to help you get your skin feeling comfortable, supple and moisturised all year round.
1. You are over-exfoliating
It’s time to take a look at what you’re currently using on your skin. If you are using products such as retinol serums, lactic acid toner or AHA masks over the week but still not seeing results, chances are you're over-exfoliating your skin with active ingredients.
Over-exfoliation can strip away your skin’s natural barriers, leading to tightness and flakiness. This dryness can cause you to apply additional moisturiser, thinking it will solve the problem. In actual fact, your skin needs the acid mantle and the lipid barrier present, in order to protect it from external aggressions and keep it resilient, supple and moisturised.
The damage from over-exfoliation can take some time to repair, which is why it is important to take a break from those kind of active ingredients. We recommend allowing at least 4 weeks for your skin cells to fully turnover. In the meantime, try using gentle products that will replenish the skin with moisture and hydration daily. Our Moisturisation Boost Duo is the perfect choice, as our Seed Face Oil and Flower Face Cream contain antioxidants, omega's and soothing botanical extracts to help soothe, repair and revive your skin's barrier.
2. Your cleanser is too harsh
Surprisingly, the most common reason behind dry skin has nothing to do with your choice of moisturiser, but everything to do with your choice of cleanser.
Cleansers that are too harsh can strip the skin of its natural oils, which can leave it feeling dry and tight. When selecting a cleanser, make sure you choose one that is gentle and soothing, with a pH balance that is close to your skin’s. Choose from our Tea Cleanser (for oily, combination skin) and our Silky Milky Cleanser (for ultra dry skin).
3. Dry skin is not dehydrated skin
Did you know that dry skin is the result of a lack of oil, while dehydrated skin is a lack of water? How do you know which type you have? To find out whether your skin is dry or dehydrated, we’ve a full blog post for it but the main points can be summarised as below:
For dry skin, using a facial oil may do the trick to help replenish the moisture loss. For dehydrated skin, you may find that a hydrating cleanser or moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid would work best.
4. Your skincare products don’t match your skin type
Using the wrong products for your skin type is just like surviving on supplements without eating proper meals. Your skin is in constant need of nutrients that can help her to look "full", soft and supple. If you don't know what your skin type is, check out this guide to find out more.
The best way to establish a simple and correct skincare routine for your skin type, is to go back to basics. What does that mean? It means sticking with a cleanser and a moisturiser for 28 days straight – the average time that our skin needs to turn over and start to repair itself.
Our Basic Duo is the perfect pair to get you started. Our Tea Cleanser helps to gently cleanse away dirt, makeup and impurities, while our Flower Face Cream helps to repair the skin's barrier and keep your skin hydrated all day long.
5. You've used your skincare in the wrong order
If you layer your skincare products in the correct order, they will absorb better and work harder. Speaking of absorption, it's important to apply products from thinnest to thickest formula, as this ensures each product penetrates the skin without interference.
Not sure how to use your products in the correct order? Take a peek at our handy guide on how to layer your skincare for best results:
Tips to get your skin back on track:
So you’ve read all of the common mistakes that lead to dry skin, and maybe even identified one or two that speak to you! In summary, here’s what you can do to get started on making a difference:
- Stop using active ingredients!
- Go back to the basics: stick to a gentle cleanser and moisturiser that will help to strengthen your skin's barrier; add an antioxidant-rich but lightweight facial oil to boost moisturisation and help repair dry patches.
- Make sure you are using the right products for your skin type, and in the correct order.
- Drink more water – because healthy glowing skin also comes from the inside out!
Happy and healthy skin isn’t far away – make use of these tools listed above to help you combat your dryness and bring back the hydration!
