What Causes Dry Skin and How Can I Soothe It?

What Causes Dry Skin and How Can I Soothe It?

Fall is coming and so is dry skin. That’s inevitable. What isn’t inevitable is your preparation, and baebody has natural products that are ready to help you tackle dehydration. 

Dry skin is caused by an assortment of factors like cooler weather, stress, lack of sleep, flying and not drinking enough water. You’ll recognize that a majority of items on this list are caused by things you can control like mindset, wellness (both emotional and physical!) and discipline. So first and foremost, self-care. Listen to your mind and body and take care of yourself. Start your day off with an extra boost of hydration. Lay a cooling towel on your face on your lunch break...or whenever. Watch 13 Going on 30 for the fifth night in a row. Do you.

While it’d be nice to tell you that one simple moisturizer or mask will lather your flaky skin and cause all dryness to go away, that’s not the truth. At baebody, we stand by putting self-care first and that looks different for everybody. But Lord knows we still need a good moisturizer, and it can be daunting (and expensive) to find the right match.

While we might not be going through the efforts of Cleopatra’s skincare regimen by bathing in milk baths made out of sour milk (yes, you read that right,) – she knew a thing or two about the importance of skincare upkeep and the beauty of younger looking skin. But, things have evolved a bit since Cleopatra, and we’d recommend these natural ingredients found in good moisturizers.

Best Natural Ingredients in Good Moisturizers

Like with all skincare products, there are good and bad moisturizers that heavily market this ingredient and that. But we’re begging you, please do not buy a moisturizer based on the packaging or fragrance (experts say you should avoid irritating ingredients like perfumes!) When it comes down to the best ingredients, here’s what to look for.

• Hyaluronic acid. This acid is a sugar found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it hydrated and plump throughout the day. Its main function is to retain water to keep skin well lubricated. Hyaluronic acid decreases in our body as we get older, so it needs to be replaced.
• Also known as glycerol, glycerin is a type of moisturizing agent that helps attract water to our skin. Benefits of using glycerin include hydrating the outer layer of the skin, improving skin barrier function and skin mechanical properties, providing protection against skin irritants and accelerating wound-healing processes.
• Collagen or Vitamin C. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It provides strength and cushioning for bones, skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It’s responsible for skin strength and elasticity and what keeps our skin from sagging. The older we get, the less collagen we produce. On the bright side, vitamin C can reverse the inflammation that causes damage to the collagen in our skin because it aids in our skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps our body repair damaged skin cells.
• Green tea. Containing a powerful anti-oxidant called EGCC, green tea not only fights skin cancer by promoting DNA repair, it also serves as a potent anti-aging ingredient. By helping the skin look fresh and healthy due to its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea reduces irritation, redness and swelling.

Because these ingredients physically function to provide moisture, strength and anti-aging properties, always look for moisturizers that prioritize them. Baebody’s Collagen Moisturizer and Hyaluronic Serum are great products with these moisturizing ingredients!

Why Is Moisturizing Important?

 Skin is the body’s largest organ and requires regular attention to stay young and healthy. Therefore, daily moisturizing is vital. Some people think that moisturizing can create acne or make oily skin worse, but that’s a myth. Your skin needs a certain amount of sebum (oil) to keep it balanced, healthy and soft. Excess sebum can sometimes be the body’s response to skin that is imbalanced or dehydrated, so you can see why it’s important to moisturize on a daily basis while also drinking enough water, getting enough sleep and so on.

The skin on your face, ears neck and chest are the most frequent areas of the body known to develop skin cancer because they are the most exposed areas to the sun. These areas of skin also shed cells more rapidly than other parts of the body and need moisture to repair. By moisturizing these areas with the proper ingredients, you can keep your skin looking younger and protected from harmful UV rays. Moisturizing can also reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness...and *cue Jon Snow voice* winter is coming. Skin = dry.

Moisturizing will help you look and feel younger, soften skin, increase elasticity and replenish dryness. Think of a moisturizer as habitual as brushing your teeth. Every morning you wake up, wash your face and put on moisturizer to rebuild that barrier that protects your skin.

How Do I Know If I’m Using the Right Moisturizer?

 Not all skin types are the same. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to skin. Here are common skin complications and the tools to help you find the correct moisturizer.

• More breakouts are caused by comedogenic ingredients that clog pores. If a moisturizer is causing you to break out, throw it out. Seek out oil-free ingredients like glycerin, and look for key words like ‘non-comedogenic’ on the label description.
  • baebody reco: Collagen Moisturizer
• Oily, greasy skin stems from oil-based formulas. If your moisturizer is making you look super shiny or if you have an oily skin type, skip oil-based formulas and use a moisturizer that is lightweight and water based.
  • baebody reco: Retinol Moisturizer
• Dry and flaky skin results from lack of proper moisturization. In case you haven’t heard us preach enough,seek out moisturizers that hold, attract and seal in moisture.
  • baebody reco: Hyaluronic Serum
• Redness or irritation is produced from fragrances and mineral oils. If you have sensitive skin, stay clear of using essential oils, glycolic acid and mineral oils. Look for moisturizers that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, in addition to containing soothing agents like green tea.
  • baebody reco: Vitamin C Moisturizer

Conclusion

Bottom line: moisturize. The skin is the largest organ and it needs to be well taken care of – with self-care and the correct moisturizer for your skin type. With the right product, you’ll have that fresh face glow with younger, fresher and healthier skin each and every day. 

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/glycerin-for-face

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/best-natural-ingredients-for-skin#1