Dry skin is a familiar issue for many during the colder months. Some people are heavily influenced by the continuous transition from outside cold to inside heated air, while others simply have a naturally drier skin type.

In this article, skincare industry professionals from May Lindstrom and YÜLI Skincare enlighten us with their tips on how to combat dry and dehydrated skin.
Dry skin can be a skin type in itself, caused by lack of oil production, as opposed to dehydrated skin, which is caused by a lack of water. While the causes are different, they can be interconnected and make the skin look dry, flaky, sensitive or taut. It’s not uncommon for dry or dehydrated skin to be used synonymously. Because of this, some of the tips outlined below can be helpful for both dehydrated and dry skin.
In search for some expert advice, I talked to skin care professionals Guy from Yüli skincare and May Lindstrom herself.

May tells us directly about what causes dry skin:
“The underlining reason for dryness and dehydration are often related to both internal imbalances and lifestyle factors. Whether it’s hormonal fluxes, thyroid issues, allergies, nutritional deficiencies, stress, genetics, or diet, alcohol, caffeine, exposure to irritants or the dramas of life. They all influence this imbalance in the skin.”

Important role of the diet

For dry skin, both May and Guy agree that a diet rich in healthy fats is very important.
May’s advice: “I recommend eating lots of avocados, olive oil, raw coconut oil, walnuts, flax, and fish oils, and be sure to continue consuming a plenitude of water even in cooler weather. But sometimes this is not enough because of the strong gut/skin connection, and we need to do our best to take care of all our inner workings and gut flora.”

Tip: Keeping ourselves well hydrated internally does help tremendously with alleviating symptoms of dry and dehydrated skin.

General tips for dry and dehydrated skin

There are many ways to manage both dry and dehydrated skin. Guy from Yüli shares the following tips:
“For dehydrated skin, drinking water and consuming foods that are rich in moisture content is important. This may not be enough for some people, especially those who live in cold climates and are constantly exposed to central heating and brisk winds that sap moisture from skin. In these cases, I highly recommend simple fixes, such as adding a humidifier in your room or office. Here at Yüli, we keep one in our office in New York and diffuse it with organic essential oils. Not only does this aid in keeping skin supple, but there is an added aromatherapy benefit as well.”

Guy recommends checking to see if your water source is connected to hard water (hard water contains a higher mineral content), because this can leave traces of elements that can cause dehydration. There are water filters and softeners that can be easily attached to shower heads or faucets to solve this problem. He also adds during wintertime, you should try to avoid the temptation to take a steaming hot shower, as it can deplete the healthy oils on the surface of the skin. If you can’t resist that steamy temptation, be sure to replenish your skin afterwards with a product that topically restores a healthy oil content and feeds the skin while sealing in hydration after cleansing.

May’s advice to combat dryness is to incorporate dry skin brushing to your daily beauty routine, followed with coconut oil head to toe, then step into the shower. The oils feed, nourish and protect your skin during your shower. Afterwards, follow up with a body oil, massaging it into still wet skin. This allows for the deepest penetration possible for the ingredients, your skin absorbing them straight to where it is needed most.

Tip: For extreme cases, May suggest an all over rub with buttermilk. The lactic acid can be especially helpful for managing severely uncomfortable skin that suffers from both dryness and dehydration.

How to find the right products for dry and dehydrated skin

Guy explains that the outer layer of skin provides a moisture barrier and is made up of skin cells and natural sebum (oils). He strongly recommends avoiding cleansers that contain soap or alcohol bases, as those can tear the skins protective layer.
Instead, he suggests to go for hydro-based products that will help to restore trans-epidermal water loss. Products with quality ingredients that you should look for should include staples such as glycerin, a natural lipid and hydraluronic acid, which is moisture retaining.
For something you can count on, Yüli Skincare provides a whole range of elixirs that are hydro-based and are excellent for dehydrated skin. Next to that, there are their oil-based serums which are ideal for dry skin. But it’s the combination of the two that create a synergistic concoction and addresses dryness and dehydration.
Tip: Always apply moisturizing products within 3 minutes of cleansing, as that is when skin is most responsive.

Learning what we have, it is important to keep in mind that changes to the diet will trigger moisture to the skin from within. Additionally, we should always steer clear of products with alcohol, soaps and harsh detergents, such as sulfates, as they only cause the skin to increase in dryness. And lastly, it’s always helpful to use nourishing oils that feed the skin and keep moisture in.