Dry Skin on Your Face: Top Tips To Take Care of It
Everyone wants perfectly smooth, supple-looking skin, but not many people are that blessed. There are many different skin types, from oily to dry and everything in between. Some skin types are easier to take care of than others. For many, dryness can be a source of frustration.
Whether you have dry skin for one season or all year, it can be challenging to know what to do and what not to do. It can look flakey, red, and rough. Dry skin on your face can also make applying makeup difficult. Issues such as eczema, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and irritation can make your skin drier.
We are going to tell you everything you need to know about dry skin. You'll find out the causes, how to hydrate your skin barrier, and how to cover it so you can't even tell it's an issue!
Dry Skin Causes
Everyone's skin contains oil glands that make sebum. It's a natural moisturizer that is essential to keep your skin hydrated and protected. However, too much sebum can lead to acne, and not enough can lead to your skin feeling like a desert.
When your body doesn't replenish the skin with sebum fast enough, you can end up with all those dry skin symptoms. Your skin may appear dull and even have red patches where it is especially dry.
These are some of the things that lead to dry skin:
- Cold Weather: If the wind is blowing on your face on a cold winter day, you can wave goodbye to your skin's natural surface lipids. The water on your skin also evaporates, leaving dry skin behind. Try using a humidifier in your room to add humidity and hydrate your skin.
- Harsh Products: Harsh chemicals in skin care products, soaps, and body washes can strip your skin of its natural oils. When it comes to having a dry scalp, hot showers and shampoo may be to blame. Similarly, fragrances can cause dryness. Consider using fragrance-free products.
- Washing Excessively: Every time you wash your face, you wash away the top layer of sebum. Your skin can get severely dehydrated if you wash it multiple times a day. Use a face wash with ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin, or humectants to retain moisture.
- Unbalanced pH: Your skin's pH being off-balance could be the answer to many skin issues you may be having.
- Skin Condition: A particular skin condition could be causing dry skin like atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Dryness is a side effect of these issues and medications used to treat them.
- Excess Sun Exposure: The sun can quickly dry out unprotected skin and diminish your skin's supply of sebum. Always use SPF and apply aloe vera after too much sun exposure.
These are just a few causes of dry skin. You may want to see a dermatologist in order to get to the bottom of your dry skin issues since everyone's skin is different.
Tips for Dealing With Dry Skin
If you want glowing and healthy-looking skin and don't see how that can be possible, don’t worry; there are several things you can do to help your dry skin heal.
Moisturize Everyday
This tip is probably an obvious one, but moisturize your skin every day, twice a day. Since your skin isn't producing enough sebum, you need to give it an extra boost by adding a moisturizer to hydrate your parched skin. Moisturize when you wake up and when you go to sleep. While you sleep, your body works to heal, and adding moisturizer can give it an extra boost.
If you have dehydrated skin, reach for a cream or an ointment instead of a lotion since they can be more moisturizing. These products can help improve your skin's natural barrier by encouraging water retention.
There are many different products with beneficial ingredients you can look out for, like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and colloidal oatmeal. Avoid products with ingredients such as alcohol, dioxane, and petrolatum, as they can dry out your skin even more.
Remove Dead Skin
Your skin is constantly making new skin cells and shedding old ones. When you have dry skin, dead skin cells can become stuck on the surface, creating dry patches and clogged pores. Exfoliating your skin will help improve the texture of your skin.
You can use exfoliate mechanically or by using a chemical exfoliant. Mechanical exfoliators are those products and tools that you rub onto your skin yourself. You can use a facial brush, washcloth, or face scrub to exfoliate. Make small circles all over your face to buff away the dead skin cells.
Chemical exfoliators are products that can dissolve dead skin cells without any rubbing. They include alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids. Both of these ingredients promote cellular turnover to help keep your skin soft.
While exfoliating is good, you don't want to overdo it since it can make your dry skin worse. Also, remember to moisturize after exfoliating to hydrate the skin.
Medication
There are topical ointments that a dermatologist can prescribe you if your skin isn't responding to other moisturizers. Some steroids can also help keep the skin hydrated. The type of medication will vary from person to person, depending on their skin.
How To Apply Makeup When You Have Dry Skin
Applying makeup can be hard enough, but having dry skin can make it especially difficult. Makeup products don't sit nicely on rough surfaces. However, if you can find the right routine to suit your skin's needs, it doesn't have to feel like an uphill battle every time you do your makeup.
Prep Your Skin
When you have dry skin, your makeup routine should start before ever picking up a cosmetic. Preparing your face is essential if you want to have flawless-looking skin. Start with a face scrub to remove any dead skin.
Next, hydrate with a moisturizer and allow it to soak into your skin before moving on. Finally, apply a primer to create a smooth canvas for your makeup application.
Foundation and Concealer
When it comes to foundation and concealer for dry skin, liquid formulas work best. Firmer formulations can make any patchiness stand out since they don't offer as much hydration. HIDE Premium Foundation can help you achieve an even complexion, while Hide Premium Concealer can cover any imperfection without drying your skin out even more.
Setting Spray
If you want to set your makeup, stay away from powders, which can make you look cakey. The powder can also accentuate any dry patches. Instead, opt for a setting spray that can lock your makeup in place while adding an extra boost of hydration.
How To Prevent Dry Skin
You can prevent making your dry skin worse by following a few simple tips. First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and wear sunscreen every day. A gentle face wash won't completely strip your skin of its natural oils, and SPF will prevent the sun from causing damage. Avoid using hot water when cleansing your face because it can suck the moisture right out of your skin.
Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. It doesn't just benefit your insides; it can also lead to more hydrated-looking skin. You may also want to limit your caffeine intake since it can be dehydrating. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it makes you have to urinate and release more water.
There are many other ways you can prevent dry skin. Talk to your dermatologist to see what you can do to protect your skin.
In Summary
You don't just have to accept your dry skin the way it is and move on. There are several things you can do to fix and prevent it. Implementing a good skincare routine can go a long way. You also want to use hydrating makeup products to get an even-looking finish. HIDE premium products won't dry out your skin and offer exceptional coverage.
Sources:
Skin Conditions: Understanding Your Skin | Web MD
Dry skin on the face: Causes and 6 ways to treat it | Medical News Today