Got Dry Skin? We Know How To Fix It With These Expert-Approved Tips

Winter is a great time for feeling toasty and warm, wrapped up in cosy sweaters or blankets, or settled in front of a fire. Ahhhh. But freezing temperatures and furnace-blasted dry air can leave your skin dry, flaky, and itchy. Eww.

Skin needs a whole lot of extra care when it gets colder outside, so we’ve enlisted the help of skin expert Anna Gunning from the Laser and Skin Clinic to get some advice on keeping yours hydrated all winter long.

1. Baby your skin

It’s a bit of a catch-22. Dryness makes skin rough, but most skin-smoothing scrubs are too abrasive and strip away even more of the skin’s fragile outer layer. To gently exfoliate your face without going overboard swap your gritty scrub for a baby’s washcloth (it’s softer and gentler than a regular one). Just wet it and massage your face in small, circular motions.

2. Hydration

Anna says dehydrated skin appears dull, tired, tight and sometimes can even make fine lines and wrinkles appear more visible. She advises drinking at least four to six glasses of water per day to keep it hydrated. Also be aware that your coffee and alcohol intake can further dry out your skin. Damn.

3. No wipes

For those who dread the thought of taking a few extra minutes before bed to carefully wash off all of the make-up and grime from the day (AKA us), make-up remover wipes can seem like a godsend. However, we advise stepping away from facial wipes. Not only are they full of nasty chemicals, they’re incredibly drying.

4. Sunscreen

You don’t need SPF after the summer, right? Er, wrong, you’ll need to wear SPF daily, even if it’s cloudy and rainy. UV light is always present and will cause irreversible damage if it’s not protected against. “Protecting skin daily with sun protection will prevent and protect against environmental damage, which may be causing dehydration.” explains Anna.

5. Serum

Think of a serum like a super moisturiser that’s lightweight. By leaving out lubricants and thickening agents typically found in face creams, the active ingredients are able to penetrate the skin much faster. Use one every morning before your regular face cream. Got it?

6. Supplements

Hyaluronic Acid is a supplement dermatologists swear by. Yep, it’s actually considered more important than Collagen. “Over time cells lose their water-binding strength, but this can be improved by using ingredients like Glycolic & Retinol to attract and lock in moisture” Anna explains. We love Superfacialist Retinol Day Cream, €27.99.

By Jennifer Conway.

Tags:

• Beauty
• dehydrated
• skin