By Graydon Moffat, Founder of Graydon Skincare
As someone whose skin is on the drier side, this is a topic that I’m personally invested in. If you also have dry skin, you probably know how much worse it can get in the cold weather. Relief from dry, itchy, flakey skin is something that all of us dry skin sufferers are looking for.
Before we look at solutions, let’s quickly touch on the cause of our discomfort. It’s pretty simple. Dry air equals dry skin.
During the colder months, the humidity level in the atmosphere decreases. In addition, indoor heating further decreases the humidity level. All of this dry air causes the water in our skin to evaporate more quickly, leaving our skin feeling tighter and drier than it does in the warmer months when humidity levels are higher.
It really isn’t more complicated than that!
So now that we know our skin is drier in the winter because it lacks water, what do we do about it? Well, we increase the water in our skin as much as possible. There are a few ways to do this.
Start by adding extra moisture to your skin with water-based products, such as our Face Food Mineral Mist. This multi-purpose spray can be used as a toner after cleansing and as a midday skin refresher.
To use as a toner, spray Face Food Mineral Mist onto a reusable cotton pad and swipe across your damp, freshly cleansed face. To give your skin a boost throughout the day, simply spritz your face whenever your skin feels like it needs some extra hydration.
The next step in managing dry skin in the winter is using skin care products with humectants. Humectants are ingredients that attract water to your skin. These include glycerin and hyaluronic acid.
At Graydon Skincare, we use a vegan version of hyaluronic acid (derived from senna) in our Fullmoon Serum. This ingredient attracts water to the skin and helps the skin retain that moisture for improved firmness and suppleness. Oh, and Fullmoon Serum is also a water-based product!
While adding more water to your skin is a great start, it isn’t quite enough to keep winter dryness at bay. You see, all that water will just evaporate unless you seal it in with an occlusive product.
Occlusives are ingredients that play an important role in keeping the skin hydrated. These ingredients are usually found in face oils and thicker creams. They act as a physical layer that prevents the water in your skin from evaporating into the air.
Whether you use an oil or a cream is totally up to you. Personally, I use both.
After applying Face Food Mineral Mist and Fullmoon Serum, I go in with our Moon Boost Serum. Perfect for thirsty skin, this velvety-smooth serum is formulated with non-comedogenic, nutrient-dense superfood oils and extracts and infused with seven vitamins. It’s perfect for locking in moisture and protecting your skin barrier function.
To top it all off, I use Face Glow. Not only can Face Glow be used alone as a tinted moisturizer, but it also works as a skin primer before you apply your foundation.
It has a subtle shimmery glow from sustainably sourced mica that leaves your skin highlighted. Not to mention, it’s formulated with raspberry seed oil which acts as an occlusive and helps brighten your complexion.
And there you have it!
Manage dry skin in the winter using water-based products and humectants to help add moisture to your skin. Then trap that moisture in with an occlusive product (or two).
With these tips, your skin will feel hydrated, soft and ready to face winter with a healthy glow!
