9 Ways To Hydrate The Skin
Winter really does take it out of your skin. Battling your way through freezing winds strips the skin of any moisture, while staying indoors unfortunately isn’t the answer due to central heating further adding to the problem by taking moisture out of the air and from your skin too. Dry skin is not only uncomfortable, it can also start cracking and bleeding, making the colder months even harder to tackle.
Keeping the moisture levels in your skin is a bit of a challenge, but not impossible during these chilly days, additional moisture being the desired idea, this is where we share with you 9 ways of hydrating your skin this winter and keeping chapped, sore skin at bay!
1) Drink
Keeping yourself hydrated through winter is something everyone doesn’t pay any attention to. With the temperatures dropping meaning we reach more for hot drinks, such as tea or hot chocolates. If the idea of drinking cold water sends shivers down your already chilly spine, try instead warm water and lemon. Surprisingly refreshing and deeply hydrating, you can even try adding a teaspoon of honey for a helping hand at keeping those sniffles and coughs away!
2) Exfoliate
Exfoliation is admittedly associated more to the warmer months with the bid of buffing away leftover fake tan or remaining debris left over from sunscreen. During the winter we seem to miss out exfoliation during a time we need it most of all, with a build-up of dead skin cells making it difficult for moisturiser to penetrate through to the skin. Using a body wash with added exfoliates is a quick and easy way of helping the skin and can be used every day.
3) Luke warm water
You dash your way home through the icy downpour dreaming about sinking into a hot bubble bath. Yes, it feels likes absolute heaven, but isn’t the best decision for your skin. With the temperature of your bathing causing your skin to be stripped from it’s oils, therefore resulting in your skin becoming very dry and tight. Try instead to use Luke warm water in your showers and even when washing your hands to keep your skin comfortable.
4) Choosing your products
Keeping the skin moisturised daily is a great way of hydrating the skin and stopping it from drying out. However, choosing your products wisely will also benefit you in the long run as some moisturisers include a number of ingredients that over time dry out the skin. The best formula to choose is full of natural and nourishing ingredients. Oil based products instead of water are another aspect to consider due to the oil hydrating the skin more effectively then say, a water based moisturiser. You may also want to consider a hydrating sheet mask packed full of serum.
5) Moisturise daily and often
Your skin needs moisture right away after you have showered before your skin starts to dry out. One easy way of ensuring your skin stays hydrated is by applying moisturiser whilst skin is still damp, doing this will seal in that dampness.
6) Protect
We protect our skin from the cold by wearing gloves, hats and scarfs, but we always forget a sunscreen. Even though the sun doesn’t seem to be around much during the winter, it is still there and as strong as ever. Even on an overcast day it is best to apply a sunscreen or use a moisturiser with added SPF protection. This will not only help protect us against potential sun damage, but also the skin becoming dry and maybe cracking.
7) Overnight moisturising
It isn’t just your face that need extra help with moisturising throughout the colder months. Areas such as your hands, feet, elbows and knees become dry quicker due to the fact the skin is thinner in these areas. Slathering a thick moisturiser onto them will help enormously and for extra help try wearing cotton gloves and socks to wear whilst you sleep and you’ll wake up with perfectly hydrated skin!
8) Hydrate from the inside
Hydrating the skin from the inside is easier than you would imagine, eating food that is high in water, such as cucumber, watermelon etc will help with hydrating the skin from the inside out. Other food such as oily fish and avocado which naturally have high fatty acid content will also benefit your skin and add to the moisture and appearance of your skin, giving you a healthy glow.
9) DIY
This last idea is the most time consuming, mainly because of having to follow a recipe and making homemade face masks, but definitely worth it. Combining together ingredients high in natural moisturising properties, such as honey, yogurt, avocado, bananas and aloe and apply the mixture onto your skin for 10-30 minutes will give your skin a shot of hydration and leave it feeling very comfortable and moisturised ready to tackle the daily frost!
It is important to keep your skin happy and hydrated this winter and by following these nine tips you will have enough options to choose from to maintain a healthy, balanced skin. Before you know it, it’ll be spring!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
