Weather changes affect our skin in more ways than we realize. In India, summers bring sun damage, excessive sweating, acne, and breakouts. The humid monsoons follow with sticky, oily skin and limp hair. And then autumn and winter come with their moisture sucking dryness that lead to itchiness, flaky, cracked skin, and dehydrated skin. A healthy diet that keeps you hydrated and the use of the best skincare products can reduce dehydration of skin to a large extent.
Some of us, though, face the problem of skin dryness irrespective of the climate. Dryness of skin is characterized by a lack of inherent moisture and suppleness. Dryness in itself is not a serious medical condition, but it troubles with itchiness, roughness, flaky and cracked skin, and in severe cases may lead to skin eczema.
How do I know if my skin needs hydration or moisture?
Dry skin is a skin type, whereas dehydration can affect all types of skin. Dehydrated skin requires hydration, as opposed to dry skin that requires regular, heavy moisturizing, and application of external emollients.
Allure.com specifies “Dry skin lacks oil because it produces less sebum than normal skin, the lack of sebum meaning the skin is without the lipids it needs to retain moisture…or build a strong barrier to protect against external aggressors”
You can determine your skin type by these pointers:
1. Dehydrated skin is otherwise oily or combination skin that feels dry and taut in extreme weather conditions like severe winters or harsh summers.
2. Dehydration of skin can also be a result of your body lacking sufficient water intake, or due to a faulty diet or excessive caffeine intake.
3. Dry skin tends to be uncomfortable and flaky throughout, and rubbing the skin feels painful. Dry skin also sheds easily.
4. Hydration, through a facial mist or a face mask, provides relief to dehydrated skin and can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Dry skin needs continued moisturizing through face serums, face moisturizers for dry skin (with Hyaluronic Acid), and night time creams with Squalane.
Best Skincare Products for Moisturizing Your Dry Skin
An antioxidant face serum for dry skin that is infused with botanical oils like Ginger Root, Sunflower, and Tamanu, can be used for day time application. It revives skin vitality and supplies essential moisture for dry skin, while protecting against pollution and free radicals.
Now you know dry skin needs deep moisturizing and emollients to reduce dryness. Remember to use a natural face cleanser that is lightweight, and combines the goodness of the magical ingredient Squalane with Lavender and Evening Primrose oils. You can use this excellent cleansing oil at night, to remove all traces of make-up and impurities without over-drying the skin.
How do I hydrate my skin?
Give essential hydration to your skin with a natural sunscreen that also protects the skin from early signs of aging. A non-comedogenic sunscreen that provides all-day hydration to skin with Vitamin E and Baicalin, would be ideal for protecting dehydrated skin from antioxidants and sun damage.
An excellent face moisturizer for dry skin that your dehydrated skin can use, is a facial cream with Squalane and Glacial Glycoprotein. This combination has been proven effective for providing all-day moisture in the driest of climatic conditions. It deeply hydrates, retains skin’s moisture and prevents water loss.
Pamper your skin overnight with a blend of Fountain plant, Glacial Glycoprotein, and Desert plant extracts in an overnight face mask that replenishes skin moisture and leaves skin looking smoother and refreshed by morning. Fountain plant is known for its ability to fill the skin’s “hydration reservoir”, so effective it is in combination with the other ingredients.
Now that you know your skin type, select the best skincare products from the house of Kiehl’s to nourish your skin. Log on to Kiehl’s India and, select the product that suits your skin, and start a regular skincare routine.
You can be assured of the compliments pouring in later!
