Tired of dry, flaky skin? Here’s what you should be doing to keep it hydrated.
You wake up and take a good, hard look at your skin in the mirror. As you brush your teeth, you shake your head and wonder why you’re skin just refuses to cooperate. It constantly feels dry and itchy and you’re getting really tired of seeing those little microscopic flakes of dead skin on your clothing.
While it’s easy to think you’re simply cursed with uncooperative skin, the truth could be literally staring you in the face. Here’s the deal: Your skin is overreacting to something. You could accuse it of being a Drama Queen, but it’s really just trying to get your attention. So, what’s the message it so desperately wants to convey?
If you’ve got dry, flaky skin that’s driving you crazy, then that’s a sign that something needs to shift in your skincare routine. Like a depressed houseplant that you just can’t seem to figure out, your skin is trying to send you a message. Decoding that message might seem tricky at first. But when you break it down and take a more holistic approach, you can get some real clarity. And, most importantly, better-behaved skin.
WHAT CAUSES DRY SKIN?
If you have dry skin, the first step is to find out whether or not you could be suffering from a skin condition. Find a dermatologist you trust and talk to them about the symptoms you’re experiencing. Consider whether these symptoms could coincide with a new medication or another recent medical diagnosis.
Our bodies are made of a lot of different moving parts, and one issue could certainly be throwing off the balance of your microbiome. So, it’s worth asking a dermatologist if your skin issues could be related to other ailments.
Here’s a checklist of potential health and medical-related culprits:
- Medications like retinoids, beta-blockers, diuretics, or birth control
- Skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis
- Underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, pregnancy, or menopause
3 PRO TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR SKIN HYDRATED
If the dry skin culprit isn’t related to a broader skin condition, then there are a few simple ways to approach a cranky complexion. Good skin is not about magic formulas or false promises, so beware of flashy labels that promise perfection. The key to uplifting moody skin is taking a more holistic approach, keeping ingredients simple, and timing your moisturizer right. Here’s how to do just that.
#1: Take an Inside-Out Approach
Remember that your microbiome is a holistic machine, meaning that whatever’s going on inside is reflected in what you see outside. The most direct relationship we have with our bodies on a daily basis is through what we put on our plates. Diet plays a huge role in our skin and overall microbiome health, so if you’re not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals your body needs, it could be manifesting as dry skin.
Make sure you’re getting enough of these essential vitamins and minerals to help prevent dry skin:
- Vitamin A: Found in sweet potatoes, leafy greens, tomatoes
- Vitamin C: Found in red pepper, kiwi, oranges
- Vitamin D: Found in tuna, salmon, fortified juices/milks/plant milks
- Vitamin E: Found in almonds, sunflower seeds, nut butter, plant-based oils
- Zinc: Found in oysters, lobster, crab, beef, beans,
- Selenium: Found in Brazil nuts, tuna, shrimp, cottage cheese, brown rice
Supporting your skin with a whole-food diet is step #1. But science also has a trick up her sleeve that can maximize your skin's ability to hold moisture. Up to 40% of your outer skin layer is made up of ceramides. These are natural fats that make up one of the critical building blocks of healthy skin cells. Not only do they help your skin retain moisture, but they also help protect your body from germs by creating an impenetrable barrier. Germs can’t get in, and moisture doesn’t escape.
Our Daily Glow Probiotic Supplements contain Ceramide Oil Extract along with a proprietary blend of five clinically-proven probiotic strains. These skin-friendly allies support your barrier function and enhance collagen strength and production. The result is renewed skin that feels healthy, hydrated, and looks radiant from the inside out.
#2 Simplify Your Routine
In a world of tightly packed skincare shelves and not-always-delivered promises, you’ve probably built up a healthy skepticism about what skincare can actually do to help you. The reality is that your skin already knows how to support itself. What it really needs from products that it comes into contact with is ingredients that help it perform optimally. Skin wants the best of nature and science, but without the fluff and fillers.
Holding on to hydration means using gentler products that don’t strip away good bacteria. A gentle, non-acidic cleanser that removes makeup and impurities and a moisturizer that increases the presence of microflora are a great start. Cleanse with our Balancing Milky Cleanser to rebalance your skin pH, and finish with our Immunity Moisturizer to top off your simplified routine. Together, this duo will leave your skin feeling soft, ultra-hydrated, and always fresh.
#3 Timing is Everything
When it comes to moisture, water is your friend. But when you wash your face, water gets towel dried off and the remaining remnants of moisture quickly evaporate. Applying moisturizer is great, but you can even further maximize the amount of moisture your skin holds if you do two things:
- Apply a moisturizing serum immediately after you get out of the bath or shower. Your pores are more open because of the heat, and that gentle mist stays with your skin. The concentrated ingredients in serums, like the probiotics and hydrating plant extracts in our Renewing Probiotic Serum, are able to penetrate deeper into the skin for better results.
- Always finish with an occlusive moisturizer. This is what creates the barrier between your skin and the outside world. That post-shower or face-washing moisture gets secured underneath, as well as the hydrating ingredients from serums.
Hydrated skin isn’t a mystery. It’s a simple combination of the twin powers of science and nature. When you harness the protective, healing, and moisturizing benefits of non-disruptive skincare products that focus on microbiome health, you’ll see results. By maintaining a good diet, focusing on your gut-skin connection, and taking advantage of these hydrating skin hacks, you could be saying goodbye to dry skin forever.