Do you know that roughly 15 percent of people on Earth suffer from dry skin? Dry skin is actually a very common skin condition and is usually characterized by dry, dull, flaky skin, which means when you touch your skin it feels very rough, but at the same time it feels extremely tight and itchy. So today at Spheremedium we’ll go over dry skin mistakes to avoid, which are making your dry skin even worse.
Dry skin mistakes to avoid
Using a harsh cleansers
Using a strong, powerful cleanser naturally seems like the right step to remove all the dirt and the dead skin cells from the skin. One of the core ingredients that you should definitely avoid in facewash is called SLS. SLS is a very powerful surfactant that binds to oil and strips your skin from the necessary oil, which hydrates your skin.
The other ingredient that you should definitely reduce using is salicylic acid and glycolic acid because these acids can be a little bit too strong for dry skin, stripping away and drying your skin tremendously. So if you’re suffering from dry skin, then choose cream cleansers. Look for the term “gentle cleanser” on the packaging.
Gentle cleansers are meant for sensitive skin. These cleansers will help protect your skin barrier and help preserve your natural oil, hence keeping the hydration in your skin.
Wrong moisturizer
Every day before we go out or before we go to sleep, we need to hydrate and moisturize our skin. Now one of the common mistakes that a lot of people make is using very light moisturizer. They avoid heavy moisturizers, thinking it will not absorb on skin and would just sit on top of it.
Also, it’s important to transition skin care from winter-based skin care to summer-based skin care with changing seasons, that is, heavier moisturizer in winters and light-weight moisturizer in summers. Lightweight moisturizers are formulated to penetrate your skin at a much quicker pace, but it dries up much quicker.
Dry skin people can benefit from using two different types of moisturizers. A lightweight moisturizer to absorb into your skin much faster and then a heavier set moisturizer to sit on top of the skin so that it preserves your skin’s hydration for longer periods of time. Also look for ingredients like hyaluronic acids, glycerin, peptides, and ceramides in moisturizer.
Tip: Use moisturizer on damp skin; it helps with better absorption of moisturizer.
Also, applying oil over moisturizer helps with locking hydration in the skin and prevents trans epidermal water loss.
Hot shower
Stop taking showers with hot water as it depletes skin from moisture-aggregating dryness. Switch to Luke warm water, reduce showering time, and don’t forget to put moisturizer on damp skin.
Improper exfoliation
Exfoliation is an important process in your skincare routine because it removes the dead skin cells hence pushing your skin to renew itself at a much quicker pace so the quicker your skin exfoliates the more healthier skin is actually pushed to the surface so if you’re someone suffering from dry skin do not be afraid to exfoliate your skin once to twice a week. However choose a more gentle exfoliator, something like witch hazel extract or even very mild lactic acid exfoliators and always remember after exfoliation should always hydrate your skin.Now a quick tip if you’re suffering from dry skin should always avoid physical scrubs because physical scrubs can actually over damage your skin .
Using alcohol-based skin care
So a lot of makeup removers and exfoliating toner still contain alcohol. Now alcohol’s main function is actually to remove excessive makeup, excessive dead skin cells, and to dry the sebum from your skin, especially if you’re suffering from oily skin; however, if you are suffering from dry skin, alcohol would actually overexfoliate your skin, irritating your skin much further and hence causing your dry skin to become worse.
Instead, choose something that is an oil-based makeup remover so that way it doesn’t over strip your skin’s natural sebum, and at the same time, if you’re looking for toner, avoid exfoliating toners instead choose hydrating toners or calming toners. The calming toners are something that consists of something like ceramide, snail mucin, or even Centella asiatica, so remember to avoid those alchol-based skin care products.
Sleeping with make up on
Makeup is unnatural for your skin; hence, the longer you put the makeup on, the more it irritates your skin, leading to skin irritation and prolonged inflammation.
Skin irritation will disrupt your skin’s natural barrier, so once your skin’s barrier is disrupted, you’re going to get further dehydration of skin, leading to even drier skin, so never sleep with your makeup on; instead, just use a makeup remover to remove your makeup on a nightly basis, even if you’re wearing a very thin layer of foundation.
A mistake people often make is confusing dry skin with dehydrated skin. The biggest difference among the two is that dry skin lacks oil, whereas dehydrated skin lacks water. To know more about it, read “Is your skin dry or dehydrated? What’s the difference? at Spheremedium.
So there we have it, guys, and dry skin mistakes to avoid. Comment below which other skincare mistakes that you or potentially your friends are doing which is making their skin even drier.
FAQs
Wash your face and let it air dry. As your skin starts to dry down, does it feel tight, itchy, or uncomfortable? Does it get flaky? If yes, then you have dry skin.
Yes, because exfoliation sloughs off dead skin cells, making it easier for your product or moisturizer to penetrate better.
There can be multiple factors like genetics, weather, using harsh soap, and hot showers.
Once or twice a week with gentle exfoliation
I am a dentist, baker, and fitness and health enthusiast with a passion for living life to the fullest. I am foodie and explorer, always seeking new adventures and flavors. Currently working on my own skincare brand.
