Soothing Dry Skin

I received the following question from a customer and thought I would answer it here for all to see:

"I have really dry skin and with the change in the weather it is getting worse.  What can I do to soothe it?"

Here are some tips to soothe your dry skin:

1. Use cool/lukewarm water when you shower.  Hot water tends to dry out your skin even more, so using lukewarm water or even cool water will be better for your skin.
2. Use moisturizer.  This one seems like a no brainer, but it's easy to forget.  Everyone needs to use moisturizer, but especially those with dry skin.  Moisturizer should be applied right after you get out of the shower, in order to seal in the moisture from the shower.  You should never rub your skin to dry it, only lightly pat it dry and then apply that moisturizer.  
   (Try one of our awesome natural body lotions!)
3. Exfoliate!  Regular exfoliation is great for dry skin.  Exfoliation will help get rid of that thick, callused, dead skin that is covering up the healthy skin.  Make sure to moisturize after exfoliation.
4. Treat your skin gently.  For those with dry skin, get rid of those drying bar soaps.  Try something a little more soothing like our Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel.  It is soap free and has Lavender extract to help soothe skin.  
5. Remember the sunscreen.  Now that summer is over, you think you can ditch that sunscreen?  Wrong!  Sunscreen not only protects your skin from sun damage, it also offers moisturizing qualities.  Try a moisturizer that has a built in sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) that you can wear every day.
6. Protect your skin in the cold weather.  The extreme outdoor weather (hot or cold) will suck the moisture right out of your skin.  Remember to wear masks, scarves, gloves in the winter.  Hot, humid climates also take a toll on your skin, so you need to remember to stay moisturized (and hydrated).
7. Use a humidifier.  If the air in your home is just as dry as the air outside, use a humidifier.  It will help put the moisture back in the air of your home.  
8. Cut back on bathing.  I know this one sounds gross, but a good way to preserve moisture in your skin is to skip a shower if you can get away with it.  If you can skip a full bath or shower once in a while and just use a washcloth with a gentle soap to wash all the important parts, you will be preserving the moisture in your skin. 
9. See a dermatologist.  If you think that your dry skin is more then just "dry skin" then see a dermatologist.  It could be something more serious suck as; excema or psorisas.  Those conditions need to be checked out by a doctor and sometimes perscribed a topical ointment. 

Visit me at www.naturalskinbeautyhair.com for more great beauty tips and natural products!