When Moisturising your skin
Moisturisers, ointments, and creams improve the skin’s natural barrier function, which promotes water retention. Moisturising overnight can provide additional benefits. A person can apply moisturiser to their face before bedtime and wash it off with a mild cleanser in the morning.
Many different moisturisers are available for sale. A person may need to do tests to determine what is best for their skin type. Gentle, skin-friendly moisturisers often contain the following beneficial ingredients:
- hyaluronic acid
- ceramides
- colloidal oatmeal
Some moisturisers and other skincare products contain drying agents that can make dry skin worse. In general, people should avoid products that contain:
- alcohols
- artificial fragrances or colours
- dioxane
- petroleum jelly or petroleum jelly
Some people may prefer to use natural moisturisers to help relieve dry skin on the face. Among them:
- pure aloe vera gel
- coconut oil
- shea butter
Coconut oil and shea butter contain natural oils. Some people with normal, oily, or combination skin types may experience breakouts after using these products.
When using your soap
Soaps that contain fragrances, dyes, and other chemicals can irritate and dry out your skin. It’s generally best to opt for mild, fragrance-free facial cleansers or soaps and avoid products that contain alcohol, artificial colours, and plastics. Ingredients to avoid include:
- sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)
- mineral oil derivatives, including petrolatum and paraffin
- parabens
- diethanolamine (DEA)
- monoethanolamine (MEA)
- triethanolamine (TEA)
When exfoliating
A person can remove excess dead skin by exfoliating it. The skin naturally generates new cells and sheds old ones, usually replacing them within a month.
When dead skin cells get trapped on the surface, people may notice dry patches or clogged pores. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells, which can reduce dry spots and improve overall skin texture. Exfoliators can be mechanical or chemical. Mechanical exfoliators include:
- cleaning brushes
- exfoliating cloths
- facial scrubs
This form of exfoliation works by physically removing dead cells from the skin’s surface.
Although they sound harsh, many people find chemical exfoliants to be gentle alternatives to mechanical exfoliators. Chemical exfoliants include alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs).
AHAs dissolve dead cells from the surface of the skin, while BHAs penetrate the deeper layers of the skin to remove dead cells from the pores. Both AHAs and BHAs increase cell turnover, which helps keep skin smooth and elastic.
When using water
It’s best to use warm water, not hot when you bathe or wash your face as hot water can strip natural oils from your skin.
Spending too much time in the water can remove sebum from the skin. The experts recommend limiting showers or baths to 5 to 10 minutes or less to help dry skin heal. After taking a bath or washing their face, people should immediately apply a moisturiser to help lock in moisture.
