Skincare Routine Musts to Prevent Dry Skin
Written by Danielle Lyn
Winter is coming! First must: play the Game of Thrones theme song while reading this article and declare your house loyalty. Secondly, cold weather is right around the corner. ’Tis the time to care for your body’s largest organ: your skin!
Most of us are creatures of habit. Science has yet to agree on the exact amount of time required to form a new habit, but the consensus is the same: forming a habit requires repetition and adjustment periods. Worry not, there’s time to get into a pre-cold months skincare routine fit for you and your budget!
Here’s a list of tips, tricks and affordable products to help PREVENT dry skin:
#1 Skincare must: H2O!
Healthy, hydrated skin starts from within. The age old “pinch test” (aka, turgor test) helps check for dehydration and elasticity of your skin. Pinch the thin skin on the back of your hand. If it’s slow to bounce back, you may be dehydrated.
Generally health experts recommend daily consumption between .5 oz and 1 oz of water for each pound weighed every day. And while some people are pros at hydrating, others need motivation—if you’re one of the latter, tech can help you keep on top of it! Configure your smartphone to remind you to hydrate and mark complete throughout the day. If you have a reusable bottle or glass mason jar at home, you can DIY your bottle or jar by grabbing a ruler and a Sharpie.
Mark your morning, noon, afternoon, and end of day goals. Or purchase a reusable water bottle with interval measurement hourly goals printed on the bottle to help you manage your intake.
TIPS:
- Identify your skin type: dry, oily, sensitive, acne prone, anti-aging, or combo. Don’t know your skin type? Take this easy skin type test to discover yours and help customize your product regimen!
- Start your day with a gentle cleanser and toner to balance your skin type.
- Refrain from bathing and washing with hot water—it can lead to dry skin.
- Exfoliating gently every day helps minimize flaking.
- Moisturize when skin is still dewy. Let it soak in! As soon as you step out of the shower, moisturize from head to toe with product, advises the AAD.
- Pat to air dry—don’t rub with a towel.
- Incorporate anti-aging essentials: retinol, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin C.
- Use herbs and all-natural essentials: honey, avocado, oatmeal, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, castor oil, Vitamin E oil, jojoba seed oil, lavender oil, olive oil, calendula oil, chamomile, sugar scrub, and aloe vera.
SKIN CARE ESSENTIALS UNDER $10:
MUST FOR FACE: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid + B5 serum ($7 for 1oz from Sephora). Apply with dropper while skin is still dewy-fresh from washing your face or just stepping out of the shower. Let soak and air dry before applying any additional moisturizers, makeup primers, or oil-reducing setting sprays.
MUST FOR BODY: BioCare BodyButter anti-aging skin moisturizer with 100% Cocoa butter and Shea butter ($7 for 8oz).
MUST FOR TRAVEL: Cococare The Yellow Stick Brand’s cocoa-butter 100% natural sticks ($2). It’s safe to use on your face, lips, and body—compact multi-use.
If severe dryness and the cold weather have already taken its toll on your skin, turn to affordable, over-the-counter, dermatologist-recommended: Aquaphor healing ointment ($7 for 3.5 oz) , CeraVe moisturizing cream ($10 for 8 oz), and Cetaphil body cream ($16 for 16 oz).
Aquaphor healing ointment ($7 for 3.5 oz)
CeraVe moisturizing cream ($10 for 8 oz)
Cetaphil body cream ($16 for 16 oz)
My own skincare regimens change as my skin ages and adapts to the season of the year. I’ve picked up survival tricks from my rink days and the pro makeup artists and estheticians I’ve worked with along the way. From cold winters in Northern climates, to hot summers in Southeastern humidity, stress, hormones, makeup applied heavily on-set, and the years spent as a competitive figure skater helped develop my routines for self-care on the ice and off.
Finding the products and routine that work for your skin and your wallet takes time, so be kind to yourself while you figure it out. Don’t forget that routines, habits, and patterns are established through consistency and repetition. Be patient with your skin—skincare starts from the inside out, and self-care rituals are essential to both our physical and mental health. So, hydrate, moisturize, and bundle up to prevent dry skin while you enjoy the Westeros winter upon us!
Related Resources
Practicing Loving-Kindness & Body-Image Resilience
Most of us seek a healthy relationship with our body image—embracing the interconnectedness of heart, mind, body, and spirit. And as a society, we are witnessing more and more stories on cultivating body image resiliency: In psychology, fashion, and even via...
My “Not-So” Ordinary Skin-Care Routine
Since I was thirteen years old, I have been wearing mascara to hide my blonde eyelashes and foundation to cover up my pink, acne-prone skin. Through my 20s, I exhausted every over-the-counter cleanser, lotion, and foundation to try to find the perfect combination that...
Your Guide to Picking the Best Spring 2022 Nail Colors
Spring is here and that means it’s time to break out your favorite dresses, tank tops, and, of course, sandals. Many of us don’t bother painting our toenails during the winter months. However, once the weather starts warming up we get excited to get our friends...
