10 Ways You're Drying Out Your Skin

Dry skin can be a real drag. It might feel like every few hours you’re slathering on body cream or hand lotion, but even after all your efforts, you’re still suffering from pesky, repetitive dry skin. Skin dryness can happen at any time of year, and to anyone. We’re breaking down the top reasons how you could be drying out your skin, and a few might surprise you!

Learn how to properly combat your dry skin, and familiarize yourself with the crucial difference between lack of moisture and dehydration. Keep reading and we’ll teach you how to banish dry skin for good!

1. Weather

   Dry skin can be more common in the fall and winter seasons. When the humidity levels drop and stay low, our skin tends to dry out faster. If your dry skin is feeling tight and flakey, swap in a heavy hitter like Blood Orange Cleansing Balm to moisturize while cleansing. The trifecta of avocado, coconut, and olive oil help deeply clean your dry skin while naturally moisturizing oils leave behind soft, silky skin.

2. Water Temperature

   We feel you. A long, steamy hot shower with Vanilla Bean Shower Gel is the ultimate stress reliever. So how could we ask you to give up this quality “me” time?! Well, you’re taking away from other quality “me” time if you’re too busy dipping your full body in a vat of body lotion to ward off extra dry skin caused by that muscle relaxing, steaming hot water.

   We’re not telling you what you want to hear, but it’s the truth – so listen up! Hot water is ruining your skin (and hair). When the temperature is turned up, you’re stripping your skin of essential natural oils, which is the main problem behind dry skin. We aren’t asking you to join the Wim Hof method with extra cold showers. We’re just saying that lowering your shower temperature to lukewarm (versus hot) output could change your beauty game… forever. You could notice reduced or even completely halted dry skin symptoms with this little change. You’re welcome!

   

3. Chemical Additives

   Drying ingredients like alcohol in your facial toner are exacerbating your dry skin problems. Cheap, toxic fillers can also result in overall dry, irritated skin. When looking for a toner, look for skin hydrating ingredients like chia seed water, algae, and sea kelp. They’re all found in our Restorative Sea Culture Hydrating Toner, working together to plump, intensely hydrate, and soften skin.

4. Aging

   We grow older and our skin changes – and that’s just the way it goes. With wisdom comes dry skin, but armed with the proper knowledge we can ditch the latter. As we age, we’re more likely to develop dry skin because our pores are producing less oil. Our luxurious Multi Vitamin Antioxidants Ultra Riché PM Treatment features anti-aging powerhouse vitamins in a moisturizing base of avocado oil and shea butter. This ultra-rich night cream helps combat dry skin, while replenishing skin with a youthful glow.

5. Skin Conditions and Medications

   This is a two-for because of its tricky nature. Dry skin can be the unfortunate result of genetics, but can also be caused by medication side effects. Both of these are a tad more difficult to completely eradicate the resulting dry skin, but there are ways to get dry skin under control. Extremely drying medication ingredients, especially traditional acne programs, can cause dry skin as well as simply having a family history of skin conditions like eczema. We’d recommend trying a single ingredient moisturizer like Argan Oil. This natural oil is rich with skin nourishing properties like healing vitamin E, carotenes, squalene, and essential fatty acids that can help deeply moisturize sensitive or sensitized dry skin.

6. A pH Imbalance

   A quick chemistry lesson: skin care that has too high or too low pH is not helping your dry skin. You’re looking for the Goldilocks of pH, which would be right in the middle. When a skin care product’s pH is out of whack, it can cause dry skin, inflammation, or acne. Swap in a pH-balanced product like the Restorative Sea Culture Replenishing Serum, which uses the power of seaweed polysaccharides to saturate dry, thirsty skin with intense hydration.

   PRO TIP: Not sure about the pH balance of your skin care products? Take a trip down memory lane, to your high school chemistry class – and buy some pH test strips. You’re looking for something between 5.5 and a neutral 7, but you can always ask your dermatologist what’s right for your specific skin type.

   

7. Dehydration

   When dry skin is caused by dehydration, it’s a lack of water within the skin. Dry skin can be caused by the lack of drinking enough hydrating fluids or via evaporation: TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss). Dehydrated skin can cause a loss of elasticity and enhanced appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. To help hydrate dry skin topically, try incorporating a Deep Hydration Mask or the hydrogel Green Tea Water Bomb Mask. Both sheet and hydrogel facial masks are intensely hydrating, and a quick fix for dry skin. Replenish your skin’s natural hydration with soothing aloe, cucumber, and hyaluronic acid to refresh and revive thirsty skin.

8. Excessive Washing

   While we appreciate a good cleansing session, especially after a long day or a heart-pumping gym visit, there IS such a thing as over-cleansing. When we are excessively washing our faces (or hands for that matter) multiple times throughout the day, we’re messing with the natural barrier (aka skin) directly causing dry skin. Our skin is made up of NMF (natural moisturizer factor), oil, and water: three key factors to keeping our skin functioning properly. Using conventional, harsh soaps and cleansers strip your skin of its natural hydration. Opt for natural cleansers, like the Coconut Oil Cleansing Milk or Argan Oil Creamy Cleanser: both are loaded with skin hydrating ingredients that will gently cleanse without causing dry skin.

9. Excessive Exfoliation

   Exfoliation is critical to any well-rounded skin care routine. Once or twice a week is the maximum need for an exfoliator like the Acai Pulp Facial Scrub. When you overdo exfoliating, you’re stripping your skin of precious lipids and moisture which causes symptoms of dry skin to flare up. If you’re looking for a daily gentle exfoliator, we’d recommend using a natural facial cleanser with a Konjac Sponge. Made from konjac and bamboo charcoal, our natural sponge is able to gently draw out dirt and oil while gently buffing away dead skin cells and dry skin patches.

10. Using the Wrong Moisturizer

    We now know a few solutions for ample hydration, but did you know that you could be using the wrong skin care product to re-moisturize your dry skin? There’s a key point to remember when selecting the correct facial moisturizer for dry skin: you’ll need both ample oil (moisture) and ample hydration (water) to get the job done.

    Essentially, a moisturizer is designed to add oil to your skin, while helping to repair and reinstall a lipid barrier. Some moisturizers are higher in water versus oil, so you’re not giving your skin the deep oil-based moisturization it’s craving. Our Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme was formulated with shea and bacurri seed butters to seal in precious water, while drenching your skin in nutrient-rich minerals and hydrating sea and land botanicals. It’s the best of both worlds!

Now that you've learned the top ten reasons you could have dry skin, you'll be able to squash that flakey, scaly skin in its tracks. Knowing the difference between moisture and hydration is more than half the battle. Both are critical for healthy, soft skin. If you’re still having trouble selecting the perfect skincare product to help your dry skin, we’d love to help! Reach out to our estheticians or visit one in a store near you for a one-on-one skin consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Skin

What are the main causes of dry skin?

Dry skin can be caused by a variety of factors, many of which are related to environmental conditions, lifestyle choices, and skincare habits. Common culprits include weather changes, particularly in fall and winter when humidity levels drop, leading to faster moisture loss from the skin. Hot water exposure, such as taking long, steamy showers, can strip the skin of its natural oils, exacerbating dryness. Chemical additives in skincare products, especially those containing alcohol, can dry out the skin. Aging naturally reduces the skin's oil production, increasing dryness. Skin conditions like eczema or medications, particularly those for acne, can also lead to dry skin. Additionally, a pH imbalance in skincare products, dehydration from inadequate water intake, excessive washing or exfoliation, and using the wrong moisturizer can all contribute to dry skin.

How can I prevent my skin from drying out due to hot showers?

Hot showers, though relaxing, can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness. To prevent this, consider lowering the temperature of your showers to lukewarm rather than hot. This small change can significantly reduce dry skin symptoms by preserving the essential oils that keep your skin moisturized. Additionally, incorporating a moisturizing cleanser, such as the Blood Orange Cleansing Balm, which contains avocado, coconut, and olive oils, can help replenish moisture while you cleanse. Using a hydrating body wash like Vanilla Bean Shower Gel can also add an extra layer of moisture, further combating the drying effects of hot water.

What ingredients should I look for in a facial toner to avoid dry skin?

When selecting a facial toner to avoid dry skin, it is crucial to avoid products with drying ingredients like alcohol. Instead, look for toners that contain hydrating ingredients such as chia seed water, algae, and sea kelp. These ingredients are known for their ability to plump, intensely hydrate, and soften the skin. For instance, the Restorative Sea Culture Hydrating Toner by 100% PURE® is formulated with these components, making it an excellent choice for maintaining moisture balance and preventing dryness. Always check the ingredient list and opt for natural, hydrating elements to ensure your skin remains well-moisturized and healthy.

How does aging affect skin dryness, and what can I do about it?

As we age, our skin naturally produces less oil, which is essential for maintaining moisture and preventing dryness. This reduction in oil production can lead to drier, more fragile skin. To combat the effects of aging on skin dryness, it is important to use rich, moisturizing products that provide both hydration and nourishment. A good example is the Multi Vitamin Antioxidants Ultra Riché PM Treatment, which combines anti-aging vitamins with moisturizing avocado oil and shea butter. This night cream helps replenish lost moisture, restore a youthful glow, and strengthen the skin's barrier, making it more resilient to dryness.

How can dehydration contribute to dry skin, and what steps can I take to address it?

Dehydration can significantly contribute to dry skin by reducing the amount of water within the skin, leading to a loss of elasticity and the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. This can occur due to insufficient water intake or excessive water loss through processes like transepidermal water loss (TEWL). To address dehydration, it is essential to increase your water consumption and use topical hydrating treatments. Products like the Deep Hydration Mask or the Green Tea Water Bomb Mask can provide intense hydration, helping to replenish and retain moisture in the skin. These masks contain soothing ingredients like aloe, cucumber, and hyaluronic acid, which work together to refresh and revive dehydrated skin. Integrating these hydrating treatments into your skincare routine can help alleviate dryness and improve overall skin health.