Dry skin has an annoying habit lurking around. One minute you can balance, dew-like perfection, only to be later one day with your face like a tight peeling mess. There are many culprits behind dry skin (more on those later), but the urge to immediately focus on your best moisturizer is a standard pulse. Fair enough! Today, however, we want to make the case of adding a facial oil to your go-to product list when dry skin occurs.
This isn’t just because “oil” isn’t a dirty word in the skincare stratosphere anymore — although, thank God we now know facial oil is a supplement (or a supplement) to the sebum that our sebaceous glands naturally produce. We’re making our case because face oils have the ability to effectively boost your dry skin. Whether applied after your moisturizer or mixed with it, the oil helps form a seal that locks in moisture and minimizes water loss. Plus, in addition to keeping you shining, oils often smell gorgeous, adding a luxurious aura to your skin. skin care routine.
Fear not, people with dry skin. Just grab a scoop of your favorite moisturizer and prepare to find its hardworking partner. To help us navigate the rich world of facial oils, we reached out to a dermatologist and renowned esthetician. Natalie Aguila.
Featured image of Michelle Nash.
What can cause dry skin?
First things first: Knowing the root cause of your discomfort can help you find the right ingredients for your skin. Aguilar shares some insights into the culprit behind your dry skin days.
Environment. “Living in cold, windy or low-humidity climates or flying constantly can strip the skin of its natural moisture,” explains Aguilar. “Heat and air conditioners also reduce humidity — you can almost feel the discomfort of dry air when you breathe.”
You are showering too much. Not to discourage hygiene habits, but everything in moderation still applies to bathtub. “Too long showers or baths with excessively hot water as well as too much scrubbing can dry out your skin,” says Aguilar. “Bathing more than once a day can also strip your skin of its natural oils, so it’s important to moisturize immediately.”
You are dehydrated. Thankfully, this is a quick fix. Aguilar shares: “Drink not enough water can cause the skin to lose water, make the skin uncomfortable, dry, less sharp and appear more wrinkles. “For me, there is no point in spending money on expensive skin care if you don’t hydrate and nourish your body. Nutrient-rich foods. ”
You May Be Predisposed to Dry Skin. This is really out of your control, especially for those who are predisposed to certain skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Consider this expert-supported dry skin routine to keep things in balance.
Aging. Time is a thief of many things, including our skin’s ability to lock in moisture. “As we age, our skin cells lose their ability to hold water, as does sun-damaged skin,” adds Aguilar.
Is There a Difference Between Dry And Dehydrated Skin?
Although they may feel Dry skin and dehydrated skin are completely different. Dry skin lacks oil production and can be a skin type. Dehydrated skin lacks water. Both are treatable, but dry skin requires a little more energy and care.
“When you have dry skin, it could be because your sebaceous glands are not producing enough natural oils, or it can also become dry with age,” explains Aguilar. “As we age, our skin cells lose their ability to hold water, as does sun-damaged skin. Hormone levels also start to drop, and some underlying health conditions can also be the culprits for dry skin.”
According to Aguilar, the key to treating dry skin (especially chronically dry skin) is protecting the skin barrier with emollients, oils, and creams. Drink a lot of water might help, but it’s not the key.
However, water maybe has a significant effect on dehydrated skin.
“Dehydration can make our skin look dull, wrinkled and tired,” says Aguilar. “It can also feel very itchy. One of the first signs of dehydration is chapped lips. Drinking water and making adjustments to our lifestyles can give our skin a healthy glow. I always say, “You are what you eat and you feel what you drink!”
What ingredients should you look for (and avoid) when dealing with dry skin?
We really care about (products) labels, especially when we know what we’re looking for on them. Aguilar breaks down some of her favorite moisturizing ingredients found in facial oils near you.
Lipids and Ceramides. “These are natural fats that live in different layers of the skin,” says Aguilar. “They promote moisture retention and act as a protective barrier.”
hyaluronic acid. “Just like collagen, our bodies produce hyaluronic acid,” Aguilar explains. “It binds with water to improve mechanical functions by acting as a natural lubricant. Hyaluronic acid is made up of several sugar molecules that can hold large amounts of water and act as water reservoirs. With age, hyaluronic acid levels begin to deplete, making it an important ingredient to replenish our skin.”
Natural oil. “Natural oils like grapeseed oil, olive oil, almond oil, jojoba oil and others have natural fatty acids,” says Aguilar. “They’re great because they’re mostly made of one or two ingredients. The second ingredient is usually vitamin E, which also has a moisturizing effect but is used as a natural preservative. Coconut oil, marula oil, as well as avocado oil are especially useful because they contain higher levels of oleic acid, which makes the oil thicker and richer. Oleic acid helps retain and retain moisture. ”
And finally, some ingredients to avoid…
“When faced with dry skin, it is best to avoid products containing aroma and alcohol,” explained Aguilar. “Perfume can be an irritant and cause negative reactions on the skin and scalp, and is known to be one of the leading causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Also avoid using too much alcohol as alcohol can dry out the skin by stripping away its natural oils.”
The best oils for dry skin
And finally, the question of the times…
When should you apply face oil in your skin care routine?
“The oil-before-moisturizer debate is endless,” says Aguilar. “After all, it has to be the thinnest product before the thickest, right? And while most oils are meant to be used prior to moisturizer and most estheticians will say use it As for your moisturizer, I want to remind everyone that face oils are versatile. You can use it before moisturizer, after moisturizer, Or mix it with your moisturizer. “
