Winter is almost upon us and along with beautiful snowy days and crisp clear mornings comes an unwanted, yet frequent condition: that of dry skin.
There are a number of reasons why skin gets dry. Oil found naturally in the body is a great moisturizer, but for some people, this oil is produced in smaller quantities. Age also effects production as does harsh climate changes.
While regular moisturizing may help, the trick lies in selecting the right moisturizer for your particular kind of skin. Your selection should also be based on the frequency with which you need to use it. Moisturizers contain humectants (a substance that attracts moisture such as glycerine), occlusives (emollients consisting of oils of non-human origin, either in pure form or mixed with varying amounts of water, such as hydroxy acids) and emollients (emollients soften skin and add moisture), all of which are required to smooth rough skin surfaces and lock moisture in. Moisturizers can also contain acids like lactic acid which encourage exfoliation.
To make a selection as to the kind of moisturizer you require, you’ll need to understand the difference between ointments, lotions and creams. Ointments contain water mixed in oils such as lanolin or petroleum. They can be used sparingly, but produce great results due to their intensive consistency. Examples of an excellent ointment which works well is Eucerin’s Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy.
Lotions and creams are also emollients which put moisture back into the skin. Your choice is essentially then based on how dry and sensitive your skin is and the areas which require moisturizing. For example, elbows, knees and the heels of your feet will be rougher, drier and require more intensive moisturizing. Your hands too, especially if frequently in water may require greater care. In this instance, creams may prove to be a better alternative. Creams are a combination of water and oil and are thicker in consistency than lotions, yet usually smooth enough to be absorbed. Creams use more water than oil making repeated applications necessary. Lotions use similar ingredients as creams but are thinner and lighter in consistency, making them perfect for the face and neck and sensitive skin. Lotions also have a high water consistency making them less greasy to the feel, but requiring frequent applications.
Nowadays, body soaps like dove also have moisturizing lotion in them, which helps reduce dryness. To get the maximum benefit from these soaps, use them sparingly. Pat your body dry (as opposed to rubbing it and follow through with a fast-absorbing cream or lotion). When selecting a soap, consider your options well, including super fatted soaps, soapless soaps and dry-skin cleansers like Cetaphil. All these are wonderful in providing your skin with much needed moisture.
Natural based products are gaining popularity in skin care products and this holds true for creams, lotions and moisturizers. Some examples of pure, botanical based ingredients include almond oil, olive oil, juniper and coconut oil. Avocado and oatmeal are also excellent skin softeners and moisturizers. Vitamin E is another ingredient to consider in your moisturizer.
If possible, avoid products with alcohol listed in them and they can prove to be drying if not immediately, then in the long run. The two major kinds of alcohol are harsh alcohol and fatty alcohol. The former includes rubbing alcohol and tends to evaporate quickly, leaving behind dry and irritated skin. The latter is included in many skin care products (including those which say "no alcohol" in them) and includes propylene glycol and panthenon which act as humectants and bind the moisture to the skin. It may also include cetearyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.
Parabens is another ingredient which should be steered clear of. While research is inconclusive, many say that parabens can cause cancer if used regularly.
Your best bet then would be to stick to creams, lotions and moisturizers which use natural plant based ingredients. In addition, a good nutritional diet, exfoliating the skin regularly, and avoiding harsh soaps, hot water and rough towelling will go a long way in keeping your skin soft and supple throughout the year.
Some natural moisturizing face masks you can whip up at home include the following:
Oatmeal Mask - Oatmeal has excellent healing properties and you can make your own mask by combining the following: 1 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp mashed banana and enough oatmeal. Apply generously on face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse well with tepid water.
Banana-Honey Skin Mask - Mix 2 tbsp honey , 1tbsp mashed banana and 1 tbsp plain white yogurt. Apply it gently to the skin and wait 20 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water.
Strawberry-Yogurt Skin Mask - Mix 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp mashed strawberries and 1 tbsp plain white yogurt. Apply liberally to face avoiding eye area. Wait 20 minutes and rinse off with tepid water.
Recipes courtesy of Busy Made Easy.
