Women's Dry Skincare | Moisturizing Cream and Lotion Ingredients: AHAs, Humectants

Dry Skincare for Women and Men

Everybody has had the sensation at some point. They just would like to take off their skin. Not only that, but it feels scaly and rough, not soft and supple. It may also be sensitive to the touch, almost raw. And to top it off, it looks awful, all dull, lifeless and flaky. Dry skin is no fun.

Causes of dry skin

Oil helps hold water in the skin. As we get older, we are more likely to suffer from dry skin because we produce less oil for our skin to hold water in. You may also find you have seasonal dry skin that happens in summer and winter. It may also be itchy as well as dry.

Dry air often means dry skin. That's why during the winter months, when there is lower humidity because of heating, many people develop winter dry skin.

Moisturizers for dry skin

There are many skin care products and lotions for the face and body that can help. Moisturizers come in many forms and they all work in a slightly different way to moisturize dry skin:

• Dry skin ointments - these are mixtures of water in oil, usually lanolin or petrolatum.
• Dry skin creams - these are mostly water with oil. Creams have a higher water content, and as a result must be applied more frequently than ointments in order to do the job.
• Dry skin lotions - these contain powder crystals which are dissolved in water. Water is the main ingredient in lotions. Because of this, they may feel cool on the skin. The high water content means they also don't leave skin feeling greasy. Lotions are easy to apply, but they don't have the same protective qualities as ointments and creams, and you may need to apply them more often to get good results.

Moisturizers contain humectants (which help preserve the water content of the skin), occlusives (which help protect the skin) and emollients (which soften and smooth the skin). Examples of ingredients you'll find in moisturizers include glycerin, oils, cocoa butter and lanolin. Moisturizers can also contain alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acid which will encourage exfoliation and let the dry skin slough off.

Soaps for dry skin and cleansers for dry skin

You need to avoid harsh soaps when your skin is dry. There are many soaps that are designed for dry skin:

• Super fatted soaps - Some dry skin soaps contain extra fats and oils, in other words super fatted soaps.
• Soapless soaps - You may also find soaps that are made from petroleum products, or what is called soapless soaps.
• Dry skin cleansers - A group of products called lipid cleansers, such as Cetaphil, will leave a film to help keep the skin moist. These products usually contain some sort of oil, water creams, cetyl alcohol and other emollients and emulsifying ointments.

After you use one of these products, and while your skin is still moist, is the best time to apply any moisturizer. This will help seal the moisture in the skin.

Dry skin relief

In addition to the above, there are other treatments that can help dry skin:

Hydration - It's important to stay hydrated. The amount of water you drink can have an impact on how your skin looks and feels.

Exfoliation - Exfoliation may be a dry skin solution for some. Normally, your skin renews itself by pushing dead cells to the surface. When these dead cells start to build up, the result is flaky skin. A dry skin brush can help to clear away the flakes. Just remember to be gentle, using a gentle cream or cleanser, and a gently motion and soft pressure. You can also find creams and lotions with exfoliating materials in them. Again, make sure you use these products gently, and don't forget to moisturize afterwards with a non-irritating moisturizer.

Dry skin around/under the eyes - If you have dry skin under the eyes or around them, you might want to try eye creams. There's really no fatty tissue around the eyes, which makes the skin appear thin, and very vulnerable to dryness and wrinkling. Special eye creams may contain ingredients that lubricate this area. Make sure you avoid products that can irritate this sensitive skin, and avoid getting anything so close to the eye itself that if might get inside the eye.

Make up for dry skin - If you use make-up, look for products that are designed for dry skin. You'll want to avoid powders, or anything with harsh ingredients. Use moisturizer before applying foundation, making sure that the moisturizer has dried before using the foundation. Look for foundations that go on smoothly. Lighter textured foundations tend to go more easily. At the end of the day, when it's time to remove make up, use a moisturizing cleanser or cream, and avoid scrubbing the skin too hard.

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Updated June 2009

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