Dry skin is a problem that affects many people at some stage of their lives. Aside from the negative aesthetics associated with dry skin, people experiencing it may also find their skin feeling sore and irritated which can be soothed and nourished by having a regular professional facial and following a consistent home skin and body care routine.

Many people find that dry skin is only a temporary problem, usually caused by harsh British winter weather conditions and due to the drying effects of indoor heating. But, if you find that dry skin is a regular occurrence and you’re fed up with it, don’t worry because you’re not alone. Here is a few ways to sort the problem out:

Gloves

If you usually get skin irritation on your hands, the problem’s source might be down to chemicals you use for cleaning. For instance, many household items like washing-up liquid and cleaning fluids can play havoc with the skin on your hands.

When you work with such chemicals, it makes sense to wear protective gloves like Marigolds to form a barrier on your skin. You may also find that prolonged exposure to cold, wintry weather can result in dry skin on your hands. Again, gloves and using a rich hand cream on a regular basis can provide some protection.

Topical Creams

One of the best-known ways to treat dry skin at home is using topical creams such as face and body moisturisers. A topical cream will help provide much-needed nourishment to your skin and stop it from cracking, feeling itchy, and even bleeding in worst-case scenarios. Be sure to use a topical cream that works well for your skin type and won’t cause flare-ups of existing skin conditions. 

Collagen Supplements

You might not know it. But, collagen is a protein naturally made by your body to provide structure to your skin. As people age, the amount of collagen produced decreases, causing things like wrinkles to appear.

Collagen is responsible for keeping your skin hydrated. If you experience dry skin due to low collagen levels in your body, it makes sense to use rejuvenating collagen supplements such as those from ANCIENT + BRAVE.

Stop Smoking

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for human health and causes all kinds of medical conditions and diseases. However, what you may not know is that smoking could be the reason why you are experiencing dry skin on your body!

If you smoke more than ten times a day, you’ll significantly reduce your skin’s hydration levels. And when that happens, applying topical creams like moisturisers can be a pointless exercise.

Smoking is responsible for a few different skin problems, such as psoriasis, acne inversa, and even squamous cell carcinoma (i.e., skin cancer). Quitting the habit will help you feel healthier and help your skin to feel hydrated once again.

Reduce your bathing and hand-washing frequency

Lastly, do you have a bath or shower several times a day, or wash your hands dozens of times each day? If so, you could be unknowingly causing your dry skin problem. The answer to this problem is simple: reduce the frequency of your bathing and hand-washing each day!

Drink plenty of water

During the winter months, the drying effect of central and indoor heating appliances can take their toll on your skin.  For this reason, it is important that you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water or herbal teas.

Until next time, stay safe

Zoe

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PS Do you need help with your at home skincare routine?

Check out my Skin Care Guide - only £5 - Ebook PDF

• Identify your skin type and skincare issues
• Create a skincare routine suited to you
• Help you choose products that are suitable for your skin type and skincare issues
• Key information on common skincare issues and which products can help: acne and breakouts, dehydrated skin, dull skin, hyperpigmentation (uneven skin tone), mature skin concerns, rosacea and redness, sensitive skin.
• A to Z glossary of over 40 popular, effective skincare ingredients 

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The first signs of ageing come to everyone at some stage in life but unfortunately some people's skin ages prematurely.  This is mainly due to poor lifestyle choices such as not having a consistent skin care routine, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, having a poor diet, chronic stress and lack of protection from the damaging UV rays of the sun,  

The thing is, just because you will age one day doesn't mean that you want to look it now, and learning about the signs of ageing on your skin right now will help you to make better choices to help slow down the natural ageing process.

People may use fillers, Botox, NMN, facial peels - the works - to combat the ageing process, but the key is to take care of your overall health and to have a consistent skincare routine with products that suit your skin type. So, let's take a look at some signs of ageing that you should be aware of.

• Darker spots on the skin one of the first signs of ageing in your skin is a difference in pigmentation. Darker spots tend to show up on the areas of the skin that are exposed to the sunshine frequently. For this reason, it is important that you wear SPF suncreen (minimum SPF 15) throughout the year, even in winter and even on dull, cloudy days.  SPF will also of course also protect your skin from more serious issues such as skin cancer.

• Dull, lifeless skin - this can easily be reversed by eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, by having a twice daily routine of cleanse, tone and moisturise,  using chemical (like fruit peels) or manual (grainy) exfoliators or radiance enhancing face masks on a weekly basis and by getting a professional facial once every 4 to 6 weeks.  You can also rehydrate the skin by drinking enough water. 

• Sagging skin. the skin in the jowels and cheeks are often the first areas where you notice the loss of elasticity which happens as a result of the natural ageing process but also as mentioned, due to poor lifestyle choices and by not taking care of your skin on a regular basis. Certain types of facials such as non surgical face lift can help to boost the production of both elastin and collagen and also help to tone and lift the facial muscles.  In addition to that, certain active ingredients in skin care products such as peptides can also achieve this as well.  So it is wise to start to incorporate effective skin care products in your routine from your mid 20s onwards.

• Fine Lines and Wrinkles - again these are mainly are caused by UV exposure, chronic stress and some will just be formed from your natural facial expressions. UV light works by breaking down the connective tissues in the skin and this contributes to the wrinkles.   Again, using sunscreen on a daily basis, good diet and a consistent skin care routine is vital.

If you would like any further advice about your skincare routine, I offer free mini consultationsand also more in depth paid consultations that include a live facial class.  Please just get in touch for more details

Until next time

Take Care

Zoe

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