Understanding Dry Skin: Causes, Signs and Simple Solutions
Dry skin has a way of creeping up on us.
Perhaps your skin feels tighter after cleansing than it once did. Maybe your moisturiser no longer seems to keep your skin comfortable throughout the day. Or perhaps your skin simply feels less supple, less radiant or more sensitive than before.
Dry skin one of the skincare concerns I’m asked about most, particularly by women with mature skin.
The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to completely overhaul your routine. Sometimes your skin is simply asking for a little more nourishment and protection than it needed before.
Why does skin become drier as we age?
As we get older, our skin naturally produces less oil. These oils help keep the skin soft and reduce moisture loss, so when production slows, the skin can become drier, rougher and less comfortable.
Hormonal changes can also play a part. Many women notice increased dryness during perimenopause and menopause, even if dry skin was never an issue before.
Add cooler weather, wind, central heating and hot showers, and it’s easy to see why dryness often becomes more noticeable at this time of year.
Dry or dehydrated? These two terms are often confused.
Dry skin is lacking in oil, while dehydrated skin is lacking in water. You can have oily or combination skin and still be dehydrated. Dry skin, on the other hand, will often feel rough, tight, uncomfortable or flaky and usually benefits from more nourishing oils and balms.
Start with your cleanser
If your skin feels tight or stripped immediately after cleansing, that’s worth paying attention to. Cleansing should leave your skin feeling clean, but still comfortable.
For dry and mature skin, I recommend an oil or balm-based cleanser. Our Rejuvenate Cleansing Balm was formulated for exactly this reason. It cleanses without leaving the skin feeling stripped and helps maintain that soft, comfortable feeling afterwards.
One of the simplest changes: switch to a balm
At this time of year, this is probably the change I recommend most often.
A balm helps form a protective layer over the skin, reducing moisture loss and supporting the skin barrier. You don’t need to apply a thick layer either. A small amount warmed between your fingertips and gently pressed into the skin is usually enough.
Our Rejuvenate Face Balm is the one I most often recommend for dry and mature skin. It works beautifully as the final step in an evening routine and can also be useful during the day when the weather is particularly cold or windy.
If your skin has become noticeably drier during perimenopause or menopause, our Menopause Face Balm was formulated specifically with those changes in mind.
Don’t be afraid of facial oils
I sometimes hear from women who are reluctant to use facial oils because they worry they’ll feel greasy or sit heavily on the skin. Used properly, they shouldn’t.
Facial oils can be particularly helpful when your skin’s own oil production has started to decline. A few drops of our Rejuvenate Facial Oil pressed into slightly damp skin can be enough to leave the skin feeling nourished and comfortable.
You can use it on its own during the day or follow with a face balm if your skin is particularly dry.
I often think of the two as doing slightly different jobs: the facial oil replenishes nourishing oils, while the balm helps create that protective layer that reduces moisture loss.
You don’t necessarily need both morning and evening. Listen to your skin and adjust depending on how it feels.
You don’t necessarily need to overhaul your whole routine. Sometimes just one small seasonal change can make a noticeable difference to how comfortable and nourished your skin feels.
Dry/mature skin
100% plant-based
Complete skincare
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Size: Full-size 5-piece kit
Dry/mature skin
100% plant-based
Intense hydration
A luxurious, nourishing face balm formulated with 100% plant-based ingredients to rejuvenate and deeply hydrate dry, mature skin. Infused with Shea Butter and natural oils, it delivers intense hydration and leaves your skin soft, supple, and radiant.
Size: 60ml | 2 fl.oz
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