How To Soothe Dry, Dehydrated Skin

When it comes to your skin, there are very few things which are worse than having dry, flaking and itchy skin on your face. Not only does dry, dehydrated skin not look great, it is also painful and uncomfortable and can make your skin more susceptible to other skin problems, such as redness and sensitivity. 

What Causes Dry, Dehydrated Skin?

There are a number of potential culprits when it comes to dry and dehydrated skin, from the weather to makeup products. Lack of hydration in your skin can make your complexion appear dull and is more likely to happen in the winter months. Cold, wintery conditions can dehydrate your face as there is a lack of humidity and moisture in the environment, but that doesn’t mean that summer is any less likely to cause skin issues. 

Other factors which can cause dry and dehydrated skin include over-zealous exfoliating, too much cleansing (which then depletes your skin’s natural oils) and health conditions. Whilst there are different causes of dry and dehydrated skin, there are also different ways you can help to soothe your skin. 

Treating Dry Skin

By making some small lifestyle changes and choosing the right skincare products for your skin, you can help to soothe and treat any dry and flaky patches. 

Use a hydrating lotion or cream

Generally, face lotions and creams tends to be much more hydrating than serums, oils or other formulas and they can help to boost the skin’s moisture for a number of hours. Look for creams and lotions which contain humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, as these can hold onto moisture much more effectively. 

Moisturise regularly

The best way to replenish dry, dehydrated skin is to apply a topical skin, or more specifically face, moisturiser both morning and night. Consistency is key when it comes to rehydrating your skin and moisturising twice a day, rather than just when you see or feel dry skin, will help to keep your skin healthy in the long-run and prevent dehydration from happening in the first place. 

And moisturise properly

To help soothe and heal dry, dehydrated skin correctly, apply a layer of moisturiser over clear skin and over any other skin care products you have used, such as treatments or serums. Apply moisturiser to the skin using circular motions as this technique will help to push the moisturising ingredients deeper into rough patches and dry lines and will create an immediate plumping effect. 

Turn down the heat

Whilst hot, steaming water might feel great when cleansing, it can actually be harmful to your skin, as it disrupts the skin’s natural barrier which then causes further sensitivity. For a skin-friendly cleanse, use lukewarm water and do your full cleanse in the evening in order to avoid dehydrating your skin further. In the mornings, just a cold water rinse will work to refresh your skin, and you’re not stripping your skin of its natural oils before you apply cosmetics. 

Stay hydrated

Good skin also comes from the inside out, too. Keeping hydrated will help to improve your skin’s appearance, so you should be aiming to drink 6-8 glasses of water per day. Not only will your skin look and feel better, but so will you.