Roughly 44.6% of adults suffer from sensitive skin.
Regardless of the reason, many sensitive skin conditions come with a similar symptom — dry skin. The itchy, flaky feeling that comes with dry skin is enough to irritate any individual.
Unfortunately, the solution to dry skin isn’t as easy as just staying clean. The secret to beating the annoying condition is establishing a skincare routine that works for your skin type.
You need products that work for your specific skin — preferably with natural ingredients.
What’s a skin type? Generally, most people’s skin type falls into three different categories: dry, oily, or combination. People with dry skin may do better with heavier moisturizers and a hydration focus. Individuals with oily skin may require clarifying products and oil-free lighter moisturizers. If you have a combination of oily and dry skin, then you need to find a balance between different products.
Regardless of your skin type, cold, dry weather and age can cause your skin to become dryer.
The secret to handling dry skin lies in proper hydration. So how do you get your skin to retain moisture? In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about skin hydration products and how to deal with dry skin. Let’s get started!
Why Is Skin Hydration Important?
Dry skin isn’t does not always mean a medical issue — but it can be itchy and uncomfortable either way. Regardless of the reason for your dry skin, proper hydration is often the solution for smooth and full skin.
Proper hydration can improve your appearance by replacing dry, tight skin with full, plump skin. Combining a good hydration routine with the right skincare products can make all the difference when it comes to skin hydration and moisture. Although when looking for skincare products you should be wary of “fountain of youth claims” that have no scientific backing. But science does show that a proper skincare routine may reduce signs of skin aging when done properly.
Certain types of ingredients found in skin hydration products and moisturizers can act as exfoliants. The buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin can trap dirt and oils leading to blemishes, oily skin, or irritation.
What Causes Dry Skin?
Dry skin can occur for a variety of reasons. In many cases, it’s simply the type of skin a person has — part of a genetic structure that’s unavoidable. Some people are born with naturally drier skin, others develop it later on in life, and others have only seasonally dry skin.
Age can also contribute to dry skin. When we grow older our bodies naturally slow down the production of important skin agents called ceramides.
Ceramides help protect our skin from water loss and by creating a waxy barrier that prevents evaporation from the inner layers of the skin. Without the barrier this creates, we are more prone to dry skin and wrinkles. Dry skin isn’t based solely on internal and genetic factors. External factors can also cause someone’s skin to feel dry and tight.
Things like not drinking enough water, hot or cold weather and a low moisture environment can all cause dry skin. However, you also need to pay attention to which skin hydration trends you choose to follow.
Certain products contain harsh chemicals that work disastrously with certain skin types. These types of skin applicants can often strip away healthy skin. The secret to reducing skin dryness and increasing hydration lies in the skin barrier and ceramides.
If the barrier is functioning properly, then it will prevent things like bacteria, dirt, and allergens from getting in and prevent water from getting out.
Do Moisturizers Work?
When it comes to the most moisturizing skin care product, you should be wary of unbacked marketing claims. Some products may not be able to hold up their clams to bring back the skin of your youth. But, as their name suggests, they can draw water to your skin and hold it there.
Different ingredients do different things when it comes to skincare — some specialize in drawing moisture, while others soothe irritation, or stimulate the skin in one way or another.
However, it’s important to realize that skin hydration vitamins and ingredients aren’t the only way to combat dry skin. Drinking enough water and eating skin-healthy foods like avocados and almonds are just as important. Generally, when looking for a skincare product to go alongside your healthy diet, you should utilize ingredients that promote collagen and hyaluronic acid.
As research states, you can also turn down your house’s temperature, take warm baths instead of hot baths, wear loose-fitting clothing and use a humidifier in your room to take it a step further.
What Is the Difference Between Moisturizing and Hydrating Products?
When you read the label of most skin hydration products you will likely come across two popular terms: ‘moisturizing’ and ‘hydrating’. Often companies use these terms interchangeably because they both help combat dry skin conditions.
However, there is an important difference between the two types of products. Products that hydrate add water to your skin. Skin without a lot of water content can appear tight and rough.
This function differs from moisturizers — which work to prevent water loss. Water is naturally drawn out of our skin, but people with dry skin lose it quickly because they have a weak epidermal barrier. Moisturizers build up this barrier which prevents future water loss.
What Are Some Hydrating Ingredients?
Now that you know the difference between moisturizing and hydrating products, you are probably wondering what to look for to increase the water content of your skin. These five ingredients all help restore dehydrated skin to its healthier hydrated state.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in our skin. Its main function is to hold on to water to keep skin hydrated and plump. Unfortunately, we naturally produce less of it as we get older.
As such, incorporating it into your skincare routine can offset the body’s natural decline in production. Hyaluronic acid as a skincare product could help draw water to the surface of the skin and keep it there.
The result is plump looking skin that feels almost instantly moisturized. This type of ingredient is ideal for people with naturally dry skin or for older individuals.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are a combination of plant and animal serums that are often used in skincare products. There are seven main types of alpha-hydroxy acids. They include:
- Citric acid
- Glycolic acid
- Hydroxycaproic acid
- Hydroxycaprylic acid
- Lactic acid
- Malic acid
- Tartaric acid
Often one of the causes of wrinkles and dry skin is the build-up of dead skin cells. These dead cells block a new generation of skin cells from properly functioning. One solution is an exfoliant, which any of the alpha hydroxy acids will provide.
They can also help promote the development of collagen and promote clear skin. As such, it’s a good fit for people with an oily complexion.
Astrion™
Astrion™ is a patented ingredient that utilizes traditional medicine in a modern skincare ingredient. The primary ingredients in the cosmetic ingredient includes specialized extracts of Astragalus membranaceus, or Huáng Qí, and Centella asiatica, or Gotu Kola.
Both of these ingredients have long been used to help skin irritation. Astrion™ also helps the body to naturally develop collagen and hyaluronic acid. The result is skin that not only feels less dry but also looks and feels radiant and youthful.
Aloe
The natural soothing power of aloe has made it a go-to solution for skin irritation and sunburn for thousands of years. However, the ingredient can also be an effective moisturizer. The plant is rich in water so when you apply it to your skin you are both hydrating and locking in the moisture.
Mucopolysaccharides are the active component in aloe that helps with this hydration retention. This ingredient is ideal for any type of condition that leaves the skin red, puffy, and itchy. As such aloe is commonly recommended for people with dry itchy skin.
Glycerin
Glycerin is a product that occurs when triglycerides react with sodium or potassium hydroxide.
This process of saponification transforms those fats into another effective humectant that pulls water to the surface of your skin and keeps it there for hydration.
The ingredient is also non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog your pores. You will often see this ingredient in age serums since it helps nourish and smooth the skin.
Curious About Cutting Edge Skin Hydration Products? Check Out NuLiv Science
If you’ve tried all the skin hydration products and still can’t find relief for your dry skin, then it may be time to seek out alternative means.
NuLiv Science is at the forefront of producing dietary and cosmetic products that address a wide range of wellness concerns, including dry skin. Our latest patented ingredient Astrion™ is already helping to revolutionize skin health.
What sets our products apart?
NuLiv Science’s research incorporates both elements of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Western medicine to discover products not available at pharmacies.
As such, if you’ve tried everything and nothing works, then be on the lookout for our new innovative ingredients in your skincare products. If you want to learn more about our research or ingredients, then make sure to contact us through this page here.