Cold days and long nights aren’t the only things to dread when winter drops by. It’s also the season for dry skin. Of course, a dry climate isn’t the only cause for flaky, itchy skin; harsh soaps and chemicals, an unbalanced skin pH, smoking, and skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis all play a part.
So, what can we do about it?
What causes dry skin?
Our skin becomes dry when it stops producing enough sebum, an oil secreted by hair follicles and pores. Dehydrated, our skin becomes itchy, flaky, and bumpy, and can even break out in angry red patches. Overall, we can look dull and drawn.
Fortunately, there are a plethora of treatments for dry skin, from in-clinic options through to at-home rituals. Let’s take a look at the best of them.
Cleanse morning and night
Believe it or not, you’re dirty. Throughout the day, our skin becomes clogged with dirt and makeup that effectively forms a barrier. We recommend always using a cleanser at night so your moisturiser doesn’t have to fight its way through to your skin and so you can get the full benefits of all the ingredients. We also recommend using a cleanser in the morning to remove any product you used the night before so your day moisturiser and sunscreen can work to its full potential.
For dry skin, you want a gentle cleanser. We recommend the Lira BIO Enzyme Cleanser, which has alpine rose plant stem cells and grape plant stem cells to aid cell repair, aloe vera to sooth and calm your skin, vitamin E as a potent antioxidant, as well as pineapple and papaya enzymes.
Moisturise morning and night
Now that we’ve got all that grime off your face, it’s time to moisturise. Using a moisturiser day and night improves your skin’s natural barrier and promotes water retention. Of course, choosing the right moisturiser is key, and there are plenty on the market that can exacerbate issues with dry skin. If you have dry skin, avoid moisturisers containing these ingredients:
- Alcohol
- Petroleum
- Artificial fragrances
Exfoliate
Our skin is always making new skin cells and shedding the old ones. Instead of falling away, however, some dead skin cells get stuck on the surface of our skin. Exfoliating removes these stubborn dead cells, but we must be careful not to over exfoliate as that can make dry skin worse.
When it comes to exfoliators, we’re looking for two ingredients: alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA). AHA dissolves dead skin cells sitting on the surface, while BHA penetrates deeper, removing dead cells from pores and softening the skin.
The product we recommend is Lira MYSTIQ Illuminating Polisher. This is fantastic for all skin types and can be used as a masque by leaving it on the skin for ten minutes before removing with warm water. It contains salicylic acid, shea nut shell powder (mechanical exfoliant), colloidal silver (anti-inflammatory), Narcissus extract (cell rejuvenator) and many more amazing ingredients.
Treat from inside out
All the treatments we’ve looked at so far work from the outside in. Let’s take a look at what we can do internally to help our poor dry skin. Firstly, drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated. Eating foods rich in fatty acids, such as avocados and olive oil, will help nourish skin cells. There are even supplements that assist and support healthy skin. Look for products containing vitamins B2 and C, the second of which maintains collagen formation and supports wound healing.
In-clinic treatment
Given that there are many factors behind dry skin, coupled with the fact that we all respond to them in our own way, it can be difficult to know exactly why our skin is dry and what the best course of treatment is. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is visit a clinic that specialises in chemical peels and hydration facials.
The therapists at these clinics have the knowledge and experience to diagnose the causes of your dry skin and formulate a treatment plan specific to you. There are many peels that target dry skin concerns. Lira chemical peels designed for this purpose have mandelic acid, which is an exfoliator, orange plant stem cells for cell production, narcissus extract for cell rejuvenation, bearberry extract for skin brightening, plus other ingredients that target dehydrated skin.
As you can see, there are many things we can do to get on top of your skin’s midwinter blues. If you’re suffering from dry skin, book in with a therapist at VC Dermal Clinics today. They’ll develop a plan specific to you and your needs and get you back to your glowing best.
Yours in Beauty,
Victoria Chakkour