MINDFUL MOISTURIZING

By Amelie Harding

A Louisiana "winter" is upon us, and with the cooler temperatures this time of year can come not-so-cool skin annoyances.

Dry skin (xerosis) is skin that lacks moisture in its outer layer. When severely dry skin is untreated, it can crack and become painful and bothersome. Staying on top of dry skin and properly preventing it from worsening can really make your life much easier.

We’ve all tried the usual lotions, balms, and ointments in an attempt to tackle our dry, flaky skin, but remedying this common issue isn’t just about what you put on it, but rather how you can avoid it. So let’s discuss a few things you can do to prevent it from ever reaching that point.

Apply ointments, creams, and lotions immediately after bathing. These products work by trapping existing moisture in your skin and in order for this to happen, you need to apply a moisturizer as soon as your skin has dried after cleansing.

Use gentle, unscented body care products and avoid synthetic fragrances and harsh ingredients. These can really worsen dry, irritated, sensitive skin. Try to avoid deodorized soaps and cleansers that contain alcohol, fragrance, retinoids, or alpha-hydroxy acids. It's best to use cleansing creams, gentle skin cleansers, and bath products that contain added oils and fats.

For your face, consider a cleanser that contains ceramides, which are fatty molecules that make up the outer barrier of your skin and help skin hold moisture.

Look for treatments and products that contain hyaluronic acid. This magical ingredient helps attract and retain moisture, which leaves our skin with an overall healthier appearance.

Try using a thicker moisturizer at night so it can work it’s magic while you sleep. You can also look for cosmetics that contain moisturizers. If your skin is extremely dry, you may want to apply an oil such as Vitamin E or Argan oil. (Personally, I don’t recommend using coconut oil on the face as it can really clog pores and cause congestion and blemishes.)

Don’t forget your kisser! Keep your lips exfoliated and hydrated with a good sugar scrub followed by a hydrating ointment.

Drinking lots of water every day will also help to prevent your lips from drying out and feeling rough and dry.

Peace and Healthy Skin, y'all!

Amelie Harding is a medical aesthetician, owning and operating Amelie Aesthetics Studio in Youngsville, LA where she offers a wide variety of customized facial treatments, along with threading, waxing, and eyelash services. Amelie was born and raised in Lafayette and is a proud single mother to two children, Zoe (17) and Henry (8).