Is your skin getting drier? Don’t make these hydration and moisturizing mistakes!

Skin is the largest organ in our body. It exists not only to beautify our appearance, but also to protect us (defend against harmful microorganisms and prevent foreign bodies from invading). So skin care is not only for "looking good", but also for your health.

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As we all know, there are three basic principles for our daily skin care: cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection.

Cleansing is to remove excess sebum, sweat and dirt attached to the skin surface to keep the skin clean and fresh.

Moisturizing is to reduce the loss of water inside the skin so that the skin can metabolize normally.

Sun protection is to reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays to the skin and prevent premature aging of the skin.

In daily life, as the weather gets colder, my skin starts to tighten and peel right after I wash my face in the morning. The same happens on my legs after I take a shower at night. Although it is said that "women are made of water", the weather is getting drier and it is not a good idea to keep my skin dry. So is there something wrong with my hydration and moisturizing?

What are some ways to moisturize your skin?

1. Keep it moisturizing:

Protect the skin as much as possible and give full play to the skin's own moisturizing ability to allow this water conservancy project to operate normally.

The main principle is not to damage the skin, not to over-cleanse the skin, and to protect the health and vitality of the dermis and epidermis, so that the skin's own water retention capacity can be guaranteed (avoid the aforementioned inappropriate skin care methods, and the results will be seen quickly).

2. Apply moisturizing

A good moisturizing skin care product should contain certain humectants (moisture absorbers), oils (occlusives) and emollients in its formula, or use ingredients of the above types to work together to achieve a comprehensive moisturizing effect.

Tips: Can facial masks moisturize?

Facial masks will be washed off within a short time after use. Most facial masks use very little oil, and have a good instant hydrating effect but weak moisturizing ability. It is not advisable to rely on facial masks for moisturizing. Creams and lotions should be used for moisturizing instead.

Tips: What is the difference between large molecule and small molecule moisturizers?

Macromolecule and small molecule are not strict standard concepts. Macromolecule usually refers to a substance with a molecular weight of 5000 or 10000 or more.

Commonly used macromolecular moisturizing ingredients include:

High molecular weight sodium hyaluronate, collagen, Tremella polysaccharide or other mucopolysaccharides, polyglutamic acid (PGA), chondroitin sulfate, some cellulose and natural colloids, etc. Among them, the most commonly used is sodium hyaluronate.

3. Eat hydrating food

▲Through dietary adjustments, your skin can be better hydrated.

▲Supplementing collagen can improve the water-retaining capacity of the dermis;

▲Supplement vitamins C and E to reduce the loss of collagen;

Sun protection reduces abnormal thickening of the epidermis (which makes it difficult for the epidermal keratin to replenish water) and reduces the damage of ultraviolet rays to collagen in the dermis.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially Chinese yam, black fungus, white fungus and other foods that are said in traditional Chinese medicine to replenish yin and promote the production of body fluids

4. Live moisturizing

▲Pay attention to improving the humidity of the environment. This is especially true in dry winters and in cold northern areas with heated rooms. A humidifier should be a must; a wet towel or absorbent sponge can be placed in front of the computer; large-leaf green plants should be planted indoors;

▲ Stay up late less. Staying up late is traditionally considered in China to be "harmful to the yin" and will lead to the depletion of body fluids. The reason is currently unknown, but it does lead to dry and dull skin and chapped lips;

▲Avoid the wind. Wear a mask when going out on windy days in winter. First, Asians have more sensitive skin (including to wind). Second, the faster the air flows, the faster the moisture is lost. Wearing a mask can effectively reduce the rate at which moisture is lost from the face in the wind.

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Avoid the following 6 moisturizing pitfalls?

1. Spray for dry skin

Pure water spray has a very strong effect, and it has been recommended by various internet celebrities and stars.

However, it is not a wise move to use it as a daily hydration strategy and spray it on your face whenever you have nothing to do.

Water is water. Once it is sprayed on the face, it will evaporate quickly and cannot provide long-term moisturizing effect.

It may even take away moisture from the skin, causing it to become drier, peeling, and red.

Correct use of pure water spray

1. If your skin is allergic and nothing can be used, you can temporarily spray it to soothe and cool down. However, after spraying, you must gently dry it with a cotton pad or a clean towel, and do not wait for it to evaporate on its own.

2. If you don’t have time to apply skin care products after washing your face, you can use it to wet your face.

3. Use it to cool down when the weather is hot.

2. Don’t wash your face or apply moisturizer after applying the mask

With the exception of some sleeping masks, most sheet masks and smear-type masks do not contain oil.

If you don't wash your face or apply moisturizer, the moisturizer in the mask will start to "reverse absorb water" as the water evaporates, and your skin will become drier.

So after applying the mask, be sure to wash your face with clean water and apply lotion or cream to lock in moisture.

3. Exfoliate when your skin peels

Dry weather does cause the skin to peel, but peeling is not necessarily caused by too much dead skin cell. It may be that dead skin cell that should not fall off falls off because it is too dry.

If you exfoliate at this time, it may make your skin more sensitive.

The best way to deal with flaking caused by dryness is to apply a skin cream with good moisturizing effect to protect the flaky cuticles.

Alternatively, you can try using a lotion containing a low concentration of fruit acid (lactobionic acid, lactic acid, etc.) to gently regulate keratin metabolism.

4. Be sure to use super oily skin care products

Everyone's skin condition is different. In order to moisturize, some girls will use super oily skin care products. Although this type of skin care products has a good moisturizing effect, it may cause acne, which is harmful to the skin.

The best state after applying skin care products is neither dry and tight nor greasy and heavy.

The most popular product is not necessarily the most suitable for you. You should choose according to your own feelings.

5. The more skin care products you apply on your face, the more moisturizing it is

If your water, essence, or lotion has a light texture and does not contain high levels of oil (squalane, squalene, mineral oil, and other ingredients), applying multiple layers will not be as effective as a single layer of cream.

Instead of applying multiple layers, it’s better to use 1-2 products that work for you.

6. Steam your face with hot water to moisturize

Facial steamer is also the choice of many people in winter.

The hot steam can open the pores and increase blood circulation in the skin, but it also opens the channels for the skin to transport moisture to the outside.

If you don’t apply skin care products immediately after steaming your face, it will make your face more dry.

The article is compiled from:
①Why do we need skin care? (Zhihu)

②6 common moisturizing methods that make your skin drier and drier (Tencent Medical Dictionary She Knows)

③【Popular Science Knowledge】Secrets for skin moisturizing in winter~ (3201 Hospital Medical Cosmetology Department)

Source: Chongqing Tianji Network Co., Ltd.

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