Why Is My Skin So Dry Even When I Moisturize?
Why Is My Skin So Dry Even When I Moisturize?
We all crave the radiance of healthy, hydrated skin. However, achieving this hydrated appearance can sometimes feel elusive—especially when our skin looks perpetually dry, flaky, and dull despite diligent moisturizing routines.Â
We’re here to shed light on this common skincare challenge, explore potential reasons behind persistent dry skin, and offer solutions to help you create a balanced, youthful-looking hydration.
How Does Skin Hydration Work?
Skin hydration is fundamental to maintaining a healthy, vibrant-looking complexion. It refers to the skin's ability to retain water, which is key to its proper functioning and appearance.Â
Properly hydrated skin is generally more plump, resilient, and less prone to irritations and blemishes.Â
It’s important to note that skin hydration is not synonymous with moisturizing. Hydration pertains to the amount of water in the skin, while moisturization is the act of reducing water loss by forming an occlusive barrier on the skin's surface.
The Role of the Stratum Corneum
The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin, acting as the skin's primary barrier. It plays a pivotal role in skin hydration, protecting the underlying skin layers from environmental aggressors while preventing water loss from the body.Â
A healthy stratum corneum is important for maintaining the skin's water content and ensuring a smoother, more youthful appearance. If this barrier is compromised, it can lead to increased water loss and subsequently, dry, dehydrated skin.
What Causes Persistent Dry Skin?
In order to address dryness with your beauty routine, it’s essential to understand the various underlying reasons that can lead to persistent dry skin. Armed with knowledge, you can make mindful choices to support your skin’s health.
Environmental Factors
Our surroundings significantly influence our skin's appearance. For instance, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can lead to premature aging and sunburn. Air pollution can clog pores and contribute to acne and skin irritation, while harsh weather conditions, like extreme cold or dryness, can cause dryness, redness, and flakiness. Additionally, exposure to allergens and irritants, such as certain chemicals or plants, can lead to redness, itching, and swelling.Â
Harsh Skincare Products
Harsh skincare ingredients can have adverse effects on skin health. Strong acids, if not formulated properly, can also exacerbate blemishes, dryness, and irritation. Prolonged use of harsh ingredients can disrupt the skin’s natural functions, ultimately leading to dryness, redness, and increased vulnerability to external aggressors.
Over-Exfoliation
Over-exfoliation can significantly impact skin health. When the skin is subjected to excessive exfoliation, whether through physical scrubs or chemical peels, it can disrupt the skin's natural protective barrier. This disruption can lead to increased sensitivity, redness, and a higher risk of irritation.
Over time, the continual removal of the skin's topmost layer can result in thinning of the skin, making it more vulnerable to environmental damage. This can accelerate signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, over-exfoliation can strip the skin of its natural oils and trigger an overproduction of sebum in an attempt to compensate, potentially leading to clogged pores and breakouts.
Age-Related Changes
Age-related changes in the skin can lead to increased dryness, often attributed to several factors. As individuals age, the skin naturally undergoes alterations that affect its ability to retain moisture. Some of these causes include:
- Decreased Oil Production: As we age, the sebaceous glands produce less oil, resulting in reduced natural skin lubrication. This can lead to drier, more fragile skin.
- Thinning of the Epidermis: The outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis, thins with age. A thinner epidermis is less effective at retaining water and more prone to moisture loss.
- Slower Skin Cell Turnover: Skin cell turnover slows down, causing dead skin cells to accumulate on the skin's surface. This can inhibit the absorption of moisturizers and hinder the skin's ability to naturally shed dead cells.
- Reduced Hyaluronic Acid: Aging leads to a decline in hyaluronic acid production, a molecule responsible for skin hydration.Â
- Environmental Factors: Cumulative exposure to environmental stressors, like UV radiation and pollution, can contribute to skin damage and exacerbate dryness.
What Are the Best Solutions for Persistent Dry Skin?
The journey to radiant, hydrated-looking skin involves solutions that work with your skin’s unique rhythm and needs. Below are nurturing skincare solutions to support the innate beauty and vitality of your skin.
Embrace a Balanced Diet
The foods you choose to eat are the building blocks of your skin’s health and vibrancy. Opt for a balanced, nutrient-rich diet that’s abundant in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and proteins to nurture your skin’s inherent beauty. Such nourishment can help maintain the skin's natural elasticity and radiance, keeping it looking plump and youthful for days to come.
Choose Gentle, Nourishing Skincare Products
Choose products that complement your skin’s natural balance and rhythm. Gentle hydrating cleansers, moisturizers, and serums can support your skin’s hydration levels, encouraging a glowing appearance without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Honor your skin by selecting products that uplift and nourish, and avoid harsh chemicals that can disrupt its natural harmony.
For instance, The BARRIER Bioactive Treatment uses bioactive marine ingredients to support the skin’s natural renewal processes and bolster the skin’s essential moisture barrier. The result is luminous, radiant-looking skin that feels hydrated, smooth, and strong.
Meanwhile, The MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash is a futuristic formula that deeply cleanses your skin without stripping it of its natural oils. Our formula removes dirt, makeup, sweat, and other impurities without disrupting your skin’s moisture barrier and its acid mantle.
Upon application, this oil-balm emulsifies into a moisturizing milk that gently nourishes the skin as it melts away the debris of the day. It also supports the skin’s microbiome and pH, helping to bolster natural defenses against impurities.
Develop a Mindful Skincare Routine
Incorporate practices such as gentle cleansing, regular moisturization, and balanced exfoliation to support your skin’s natural radiance. Make sure you are mindful of your skin and its needs. If your skin is feeling extra dry, you may want to focus on using a long lasting skin moisturizer, like The SUPER Hydrator, for sustained skin hydration.Â
This product is designed to provide deep and lasting hydration, offering five unique sizes of hyaluronic acid to drench your skin with moisture. By using ingredients like shea butter, sweet almond oil, vitamins C and E, and beeswax, our formula creates a 3D shield designed to lock in moisture for up to 48 hours.
Protect Your Skin from the Elements
As mentioned, the environment can significantly impact your skin’s appearance and health. Protecting your skin from harsh weather conditions, UV rays, and pollutants is essential for maintaining its natural vibrancy. Opt for protective clothing, accessories, and sunscreen to help defend your skin.
To help with this, you can use our Multimodal Defender Broad Spectrum SPF 30. This formula features zinc oxide for protection against UVA, UVB, infrared, and blue light rays; vitamins C and E for added antioxidant defense; and hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil to soothe irritation and encourage a hydrated appearance.
Regular, Gentle Exfoliation
Regular exfoliation is crucial to help remove dead skin cells and reveal the radiant skin beneath. However, it’s essential to choose gentle exfoliating products and methods to avoid disrupting your skin’s natural balance.
For this, our Resurfacing Compound is the ideal choice. Featuring ingredients such as retinol, multi-hydroxy acids, vitamins C and E, and hyaluronic acid, this resurfacing serum both tones and smoothens the appearance of your skin to encourage a radiant glow.
Plus, because it’s made using our double patent-pending SIREN Capsule Technology (just like all of our products), it’s safe even for those with sensitive skin. In fact, you can use this serum morning and evening and still not have to worry about over-exfoliation.
Embracing RadianceÂ
Understanding the innate rhythm and processes of our skin is the first step when it comes to designing a skincare routine that truly supports your skin from the inside out.Â
Welcoming solutions that resonate with our skin and choosing thoughtfully-formulated products, like those in our skincare lineup, is an ideal method to treat our skin with luxurious care. To learn more about science-backed skincare and the way it supports radiant and youthful-looking complexion, visit our blog today.
Sources:Â
Histology, Stratum Corneum | National Library of Medicine
Skin Care and Aging | National Institute on Aging
How Can I Eat More Nutrient-Dense Foods? | American Heart Association
