Winter is here and there is no doubt the indoor heating systems are suddenly wreaking havoc and causing dry tight skin.

Skin dryness can be a frustrating problem for many people, but there are some simple things you can do to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling. In this blog post, we will discuss dry skin vs dehydrated skin and give you some tips on how to manage it. Dry skin and dehydrated skin are different, so let's discuss the differences.

Dehydrated skin has less water in the epidermis than normal, while dry skin lacks oil or natural moisturizing factors. 

Dry skin is the loss of lipids or lack of oil glands from within or on top of skin cells. Dry skin can be caused by several factors including aging, UV exposure, freezing temperatures for extended periods, dry air indoors--especially if heating is dry--or an inappropriate moisturizer is used. If you lack oil glands then you are born with this skin type and cannot change it. Dry skin will often flake and sometimes even crust.

Dehydrated skin, which is dry skin's twin, is the loss of water in the epidermix. It looks dull but can also be oily. It can come and go depending on humidity, water intake, or topicals moisturizers. Over exfoliating, chemical peeling, acids can all dehydrate skin.

What Steps Can You Take To Fix Dry Skin Or Dehydrated Skin

Dry Skin

- Avoid hot water and dry air as much as possible. Keep showers short and avoid drying soaps with harsh sulfates. Use a humidifier indoors and dry climates, especially during winter time when heating tends to dry out the air even more than usual.

- Exfoliate dead cells with an exfoliator that gently removes them without any harsh scrubbing. This will prevent a build-up of flakes that can make your skin white and scaly. Our whipped body polishes are gentle enough to use daily. After exfoliating, use a lipid-based body butter like our whipped body butter. Apply a generous layer over damp skin and massage into the skin. You can also apply oils like the Miracle Facial Oil and Radiant Hydrating Facial Oil to create an occlusive layer. 

Dehydrated skin

- Drink plenty of water every day to keep yourself properly hydrated and avoid dehydrating topicals like glycolic acid or retinoids that can be very drying on the skin.

- Use a gentle cleanser or cream that will not dry out your skin like the Soothing Cream Cleanser

- Use humectants that attract water from humid air like our 3D Dew Drops so they bind moisture to your cells and draw it deeper into the deeper layers of the skin.

- Make sure you're using the right amount of moisturizer for dry/dehydrated skin types! You don't want something too rich or oily--but make sure it's not so light that prevents it from being absorbed into the epidermis. The Vital C Cream provides the perfect amount of hydration for dehydrated skin.

- Apply an oil rich in omega fatty acids like the Miracle Facial Oil and Radiant Hydrating Facial Oil to lock in hydration and to create an occlusive layer preventing transepidermal water loss.

You should see improvements within one week! If after using these tips dry/dehydrated skin is still present then I recommend consulting with a dermatologist.

We would love to know what tips and tricks you have used to ensure your skin remains supple during the harsh winter months. Comment Below!!