Caring for dry skin

Dry Skin

Dry skin can be such a hassle at times, but it does take understanding to know how to care for it.
There are so many products out there offering to hydrate your skin, and most of them will only work as long as your skin is hydrated, already.

As a skin care/DIY junkie, I've learned some cool tips and tricks over time on how to take care of dry skin.

Cleanser

This can be so tricky because a majority of the people have oily skin, and usually those with oily skin are a bit more problematic. ( Clogged pores, blackheads, etc. )
So everywhere you look, it's as if out of 10 products only 2 will pertain to dry skin.

Key words you want to look for

Moisturizing, Hydrating, Gentle, Non-Drying, Non-Irritating, Hyaluronic Acid ( HA Attracts needed moisture to your skin, and is 1,000 times it's weight in water. It is found naturally occurring in your skin cells - but as you age the skins ability to produce HA is decreased. )  Ceramides ( Help repair skins barrier ), Alcohol Free, Emollients ( Help soften dry skin ), Non-Foaming, Soap Free, Mild, Fragrance Free, Anti-Bacterial.

Moisturizers

Moisturizers can be pretty tricky to figure out. Most are formulated for oilier skin types. ( if you haven't caught on, it's mostly oily skin that dominates the market. )

It is important to moisturize, more than the usual twice a day.

For dry skin, it is recommended to moisturize at least 4 times a day. You want to pick a strong moisturizer, not the general pretty bottle.

Avoid gels, as they are intended for oily skin. Oils are your best friend and will help seal and moisture ( and can help even out your skin tone. )

Shoot for creams, not lotions. Creams tend to absorb into the skin more than a regular lotion does. 

Exfoliation

Dry skin does flake up and exfoliation can help. There is no need to use an abrasive, harmful exfoliant like Apricot Scrubs ( Store brand and St. Ives ). Exfoliation can be both chemical and physical, and both help remove dead skin cells.

Exfoliation is very important because your skin is constantly producing new skin cells. These skin cells are produced at a lower layer and then sent to the uppermost layer. Exfoliation helps remove those dead skin cells, giving your skin a more youthful, healthy look.

It is essential that you are gentle with exfoliation. If you over exfoliate you are putting your skin at a great risk of bacterial infections.

By Over exfoliating, you can remove a protective layer of your skin. This layer is essential for protecting your skin from bacteria. This can cause cysts. premature wrinkles, discoloration, etc. So it is essential to know how to pick out a good exfoliant.

Things to look out for:

Apricot scrubs, or any exfoliant that uses shells. An exfoliators beads should be rounded and smooth - not pointed.
If you use anything with BHA, AHA, Glycolic Acid or even Salicylic acid you are already exfoliating. These are all chemical exfoliants.
T-Sonic devices. The Clarisonic and the Foreo Luna already provide exfoliation, just use a regular cleanser along with them.
Manual face brushes.. The Neutrogena Wave, a simple cheap brush, Olay's Brush, etc also provide exfoliation. They do not yield the same results as the above devices, but you still need to be very gentle with them.
Sugar as an exfoliant. It can be used, yet it needs to be very refined and smooth. I always used to do a honey and sugar scrub. Be very gentle with it.
Jojoba Beads are a very gentle exfoliator. You can either buy them  at any health store ( Whole foods ) or in bulk online. You can mix these with any cleanser of your choice or honey. Neutrogena has a Naturals line which includes a Jojoba Bead exfoliator.
Oatmeal is also an amazing exfoliant and hydrator. View my post here to see how to use it as an exfoliant. 

How I take care of my Dry Skin

As a make up remover I use Cold Pressed Organic Coconut Oil 

Cleanser: I use CeraVe's hydrating cleanser.  Another great alternative would be Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Cleanser. 

Moisturizer: I love my CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.  It applies mattee like, and quickly absorbs into my skin. I apply it generously about 3-4 times a day. 

To seal in my moisturizer I use Rosehip Oil.