Today’s myth-busting topic: dry skin. Yes, it is something that you can be naturally prone to, but it also can be managed with the right know-how. For example, if you have dry skin, you might have read that you should avoid exfoliating altogether, but in reality, that’s categorically false. Never fear, we’re here to set the record straight on five common dry skin myths.
MYTH #1: If your skin is dry, that means it’s also dehydrated
We’ve dispelled this myth before, but it bears repeating: dry skin and dehydrated skin are not one and the same. Dehydrated skin can happen to anyone when skin is lacking water. It can be caused by a variety of different lifestyle and environmental factors—a trip to the desert, showering in hot water temperatures, and unprotected UV exposure (wear sunscreen!). Dry skin, on the other hand, is a skin type—people with this type of complexion produce a very low amount of oil naturally. And a skin type, for those who need a refresher, is something you are naturally born with, just like oily or combination skin. That said, no matter what skin type you have, you should avoid the aforementioned lifestyle triggers that can strip your skin of its natural oils and cause dehydration, which might feel tight or irritated.
MYTH #2: You shouldn’t exfoliate dry skin
You might think that dry skin needs extra hydration and moisture, and you’d be absolutely right. But for moisturizing topicals to effectively penetrate and work their magic, the top layer of dry, dead skin cells must be sufficiently sloughed off. This is why exfoliation is so important for all skin types, dry skin included. When you properly remove the surface layer of dead skin cells and build-up that we all have, the active ingredients in your skincare products can reach the skin cells that can use it and therefore perform more effectively. That doesn’t mean you have to go overboard, though; stick to a nourishing exfoliator, such as the Kombucha + AHA 11% Power Toner, and start at one application per week, increasing as necessary once your skin becomes accustomed to it.
MYTH #3: Dry skin only happens during the colder months of the year
Again, dry skin is a skin type—meaning that those who are prone to having dry skin can, and do, experience it all year round, even in rainy or humid seasons. Although the colder outdoor temperatures and increased artificial indoor heating during fall and winter can definitely worsen dry and dehydrated skin symptoms, dry skin types often still have to protect and hydrate skin in the summer months.
MYTH #4: The thicker the moisturizer, the better
It’s really all about the ingredients, because you want a moisturizer to penetrate deeply and get to work. Look for ingredients such as hydrating reishi mushroom, squalane, and shea butter—all of which are found in the Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream—which mimic your skin’s natural oils in order to increase hydration without risking clogged pores.
MYTH #5: If you have dry skin, you’re not drinking enough water
Yes, adequate internal hydration is essential to maintaining healthy, hydrated skin, but addressing dry skin from the inside out is a bit more complicated than this. It’s always a smart idea to keep track of your daily water intake and make sure that it’s sufficient, but tackling dry skin is also a topical issue. In addition to monitoring your daily sips, incorporate humectants such as hyaluronic acid into your routine—a molecule that’s naturally found in the body and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. For dry skin, try applying the Superfood Firm + Brighten Serum onto damp, freshly-cleansed skin, topped with the Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream and Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil to lock that hydration and moisture in.
