Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist - Written by Sritama Dutta (Medical Science) on 04th Dec 2020
The Ultimate Guide to Chooseexcellent moisturizing ingredient the Right Moisturizer For Dry Skin!
If you have dry skin, it's evident that one of the significant concerns that occupy your mind is how you could moisturize your skin. Having dry skin is a nuisance at times, more so in extreme weather conditions.
Several factors can increase the risk of developing dry skin. Apart from advancing age, underlying medical conditions and weather changes, even your bathing or showering habits can significantly increase the risk of dry skin.
We know, if you have dry skin, you are probably worried about how you should take care of itchy, flaky skin. However, treatment of dry skin is not so difficult. A few things from Nature's basket and a carefully chosen over-the-counter moisturizer is all you might need.
Not sure which moisturizer will suit your skin? We are here to assist you with that. This article will discuss what ingredients are best for the proper moisturization of dry skin and what you can do to take care of your dry skin.
What Can Moisturizer Do For Your Skin?
Moisturization is a daily requirement for all types of skin. But individuals with dry skin need it all the more. Whether it is for aesthetic reasons or to repair the damage, moisturization can be the only solution for all your dry skin problems. Let's see how a good moisturizer can be beneficial for your skin.
- Moisturizing regularly will make the skin softer and plumper.
- It will also help promote cell growth and rejuvenate the dermal layers of your face and body skin.
- Using a good quality moisturizer will help you combat extreme dryness and a skin condition like Xeroderma. It can also help in treating certain skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis.
- Massaging your body with moisturizing lotion improves blood circulation that will boost new cell generation.
- What else? Daily moisturization can leave your skin radiant and free from spots and blemishes.
How Should You Choose the Right Moisturizer for Dry Skin?
Dry skin needs special care. Thus, choosing the right moisturizer for dry skin can be quite confusing at times. Do you feel the same? You don't have to worry anymore. Scroll down to find how to choose the perfect moisturizer for dry skin.
Look for something bulky.
While lighter moisturizers are usually recommended for oily or combination skin, people with dry skin should look for heavy moisturizers. It will keep your skin super hydrated for a longer duration and also prevent chafing.
The cream might be better than lotions for you.
Lotions are usually lighter than creams. So in case you are looking for a moisturizer for your face, always go for creams. You can also opt for body creams for better effectiveness.
A little SPF is always right!
Exposure to sun rays can cause severe damage to dry, chapped skin. Thus, a combination of SPF, along with moisturizer, is always the right choice. It will help retain the moisture in your skin and reduce the risk of premature aging of the skin and relieve itchy, flaky skin, common in dry skin individuals.
What does mother nature have in store for you?
Nature can have ingredients you never thought could help your dry skin. Whether it is hereditary or the result of advancing age or extreme weather conditions, these ingredients are effective remedies to soothe and manage dry skin.
Plant butter and natural oils are always the right choices for dry skin. They can revitalize your skin and provide the required nourishment to make your skin healthy inside out. Besides their humectant or emollient Nature, they also have antioxidant properties, which is an added benefit for your skin.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is composed of a high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids. It is extracted from shea nuts, has a creamy consistency, and spreads quickly on the skin. It is a fantastic natural emollient that can penetrate the deeper layers of skin and create a soft shield that prevents the skin's moisture from escaping.
Apart from its long-lasting moisturizing effect, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and can also act as an anti-aging ingredient. However, shea butter is more suitable for the thinner, more sensitive skin of your face than your body.
Cocoa Butter
We get Cocoa butter from the cocoa beans. It is a rich moisturizing cream with several benefits. It gets easily absorbed in our skin without leaving a greasy film on the surface. Cocoa butter can replenish the lost moisture in your skin and help maintain the skin's elasticity and tone.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil extracted from raw or dried coconut might be one of the oldest ingredients used as a moisturizer. Recommended by all grandmas, this ingredient carries with it the evidence of centuries. Coconut oil can be used every day to treat dry, flaky skin and works as an overnight moisturizer.
It increases hydration and prevents loss of existing moisture from the skin by creating a protective barrier that keeps the skin soft and supple. It also has anti-bacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut oil can even help boost collagen production, which maintains the firmness and resiliency of the skin.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is popularly known for its soothing properties, which are beneficial for dry skin. It even has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce redness and repair skin damage.
The topical application of jojoba oil will help hydrate the skin and relieve flaky and chapped skin.
Sunflower Seed Oil
Sunflower seed oil, though a little heavy on the skin, is an excellent moisturizing ingredient. It is non-comedogenic and has anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties too. The linoleic acid in sunflower seed oil maintains the skin's natural barrier and prevents loss of moisture. It also has oleic acid, which helps in faster damage repair of the skin and treats chapped skin.
Honey
Though a sticky, messy substance, Honey is an effective humectant that can be beneficial for dry skin. It gets absorbed in the skin cells and attracts environmental moisture towards the dermal layers to hydrate the skin. Honey can also help in the skin's healing process. What else? Honey can also help exfoliate the dried up, dull older skin cells from the superficial layer and promote new cell generation.
Aloe Vera Extract
Another ingredient that has been in use since ancient times is Aloe vera. The extract from this medicinal plant can help in sealing moisture into your skin. It's light gel-like consistency quickly gets absorbed in the skin and helps in hydrating the skin cells.
Though usually recommended for oily skin, aloe vera extracts can be beneficial for dry skins too. Using it after taking a shower will increase its efficacy and reduce the chapped appearance of both body and facial skin.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a natural humectant that attracts moisture to dry skin. It is loaded with various nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and other antioxidants. After a warm shower, massaging olive oil on your body can keep your skin soft and plump even in freezing weather. However, it is not generally used to moisturize facial skin as it might clog the pore on your skin and result in acne and breakouts.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is loaded with natural fatty acids and vitamins. The linoleic acid, oleic acid, and other unsaturated fatty acids help moisturize dry skin and help relieve chapped, flaky skin. Even using the raw pulp of avocado as a home remedy can be beneficial for managing dry skin.
The Right Moisturizer for Your Body and Face: What Ingredients Should it Contain?
Any good quality moisturizer for dry skin must contain a few essential ingredients in it. So while shopping for the right moisturizer for dry skin, here's what you should look for.
Humectants
Humectants are hydrophilic ingredients that attract moisture from the surroundings. They pull water to the deeper layers of skin and hydrate the skin.
- Glycerin: Glycerin is one of the most commonly used humectants in moisturizing creams and lotions. It smoothens the skin and also helps in reducing the chafed appearance of the skin.
- Propylene Glycol: Propylene Glycol is another humectant that pulls moisture and binds with it. This is a very efficient ingredient for moisturizing dry skin. But, sometimes, it can cause allergic reactions in specific individuals.
- Urea: Urea is often found in moisturizers intended for dry skin. It helps in treating various skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis. It helps in relieving itchy and flaky skin, common in individuals with dry skin.
Emollients
Emollients are capable of retaining moisture inside the cells. It helps in lubricating the skin cells and removes itchiness as well as scaly, flaky skin. Usually, the best option for dry skin is a fine blend of both humectants and emollients. It will help in drawing moisture to your skin and also prevent it from escaping. Shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil are all naturally available emollients.
Another widely used emollient is petroleum jelly, otherwise known as mineral oil. It gets absorbed in your skin layers and creates a water-repellent barrier, which prevents the moisture from escaping. Petroleum jelly also helps in smoothing the skin texture.
Beeswax, olive oil, paraffin, and other plant oils also serve as excellent emollients.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are incredible components that help in alleviating dry, flaky skin. They prevent premature aging, reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Also, antioxidants reduce the effects of photodamage and even minimize the risk of skin cancer. Here are some antioxidants that you can find in moisturizers for dry skin.
Vitamin E:
Vitamin E is known for improving collagen production, making the skin firm and resilient. It also acts as a photoprotective agent.
Lycopene:
Lycopene is an element that is often found in red fruits and vegetables. It protects the skin from sun damage and also boosts collagen synthesis.
Niacinamide:
Niacinamide is a versatile ingredient that is also found in moisturizers. It helps retain hydration in the skin and helps in strengthening the ceramic barrier of the skin.
Vitamin C, Vitamin A, green tea, Resveratol, and coffee berry are some other ingredients with antioxidants that are often incorporated in dry skin moisturizers.
The Bottom Line
If you are someone with dry skin, a little alteration in your lifestyle and an ideal moisturizer can go a long way for you. We hope this article will help you understand what's correct for the skin and how you can take care of dry skin. With these suggestions, you would never have to worry about flaky, itchy skin ever again!
