Rehydrate Skin
If your skin is flaky, ashy looking, feels tight after washing, or just feels dry, you need to rehydrate. Taking care of your skin is about being proactive, so the more you follow these steps, the better it will look.
Contents
Steps
Cleansing and Moisturizing
- Use a moisturizing cleanser to wash your face. Use the gentlest, cleanest, and most natural moisturizer you can get your hands on. Things like Benzoyl Peroxide will dry out your skin, leading to cracks and damage. A simple moisturizing cleanser is perfect.
- Avoid fragrances or added chemicals -- you just want to clean off.
- Use lukewarm or cool water when washing and a soft, gentle washcloth to exfoliate away skin cells.
- Pat your face dry when done. Do not rub or scrub when drying off -- it just causes skin damage. Instead, focus on lightly patting yourself dry, keeping your skin healthy and happy.
- Lightly apply a hydrating facial serum to your skin. These products, sold in beauty stores across the country, have vitamins, lipids, and enzymes needed to keep skin elastic, hydrated, and grease-free. While you may need to try 2-3 to find one that works for you, these are the secret weapon against dry skin.
- Apply a light-weight skin moisturizer to finish up. Add a light moisturizer to ensure that your skin is well hydrated throughout.
- Repeat this routine daily bed or right when you get up. You'll need some time for everything to absorb, so don't apply these right before adding makeup. Right before bed is perfect, as it helps heal your skin without being disrupted while you're asleep.
Keeping Skin Healthy and Hydrated
- Drink enough water. You don't necessarily have to drink the standard 8 glasses, but start keeping a (preferably metal) water bottle with you at all times and refilling it throughout the day. You won't see results from this right away, but in a week or so you will see and feel results.
- Pamper yourself by visiting a spa. They can help you pick a facial treatment that will heal your dry skin. If this isn't in the budget, find a facial mask you can do at home at a drugstore. Look for ones with moisturizing properties, like almond oil or vitamin E. Test some on your arm first to make sure you aren't allergic.
- Gently exfoliate skin before moisturizing to remove flakes and dead skin and help your skin absorb the moisture better.
- Start using two rich moisturizing creams: one for the day with SPF and a super rich one for night. Check out products labeled "night cream" with rehydrating properties. For day, make sure the products you are buying are not oil free. A store employee may be able to help you find the right creams.
- For body, exfoliate skin daily in the shower with a rich body wash and loofah or washcloth. Then, as soon as you step out of the shower apply a rich body lotion to wet skin and PAT dry with a towel.
- Take cooler showers. Hot water dehydrates your skin.
Tips
- Limit caffeine intake, as this dehydrates you. Stick to no more than two cups of coffee or other caffeinated drink per day, and drink extra water to make up for it.
Warnings
- You may have allergic reactions to products. Test some on an inconspicuous place such as your forearm before applying to your face or the rest of your body.
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Sources and Citations
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