the beauty blog
As the cooler weather is upon us, we need to amp up our skincare routine to protect against chronic dryness and flaking. As with all skin conditions, dryness needs to be addressed both internally and externally. Here's a few of my personal strategies for dry, sensitive skin and to combat seasonal dryness 🌲
🍁 Don’t over-exfoliate or use scrubs. This disrupts your lipid barrier, leaving your skin compromised and susceptible to environment damage.
Did you know that healthy barrier function is perhaps one of the most important aspects of skin health and aging?
According to medical skin experts, optimal skin health reflects the following key elements:
Healthy Barrier Function
Flexibility and Strength
Even Color
Good Circulation
Hydration
“Bounceback”
As our skin's first line of defense to the outside world, the outer layer of skin, the Stratum Corneum (CF), is a protective, waterproof shield consisting of dead, protein-rich skin cells containing Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMF) which help bind water to the cells. Surrounding these cells are lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acid. Together this protective matrix of protein, water, and oil function to prevent water evaporating from the skin and from external threats and irritants entering our skin. If our barrier has been impaired by over washing, exfoliating, harsh ingredients, excessively hot showers or neglect, we are vulnerable to invasion of pathogens, environmental pollutants including chemicals, heavy metals, EMF's and other sources of damaging particles.
