If you’ve noticed your skin feeling dry and looking dull (perhaps even a little lifeless), you’re not alone: ‘isolation skin’ really does exist.
Spending more time indoors means less time in the sun soaking up essential vitamin D (while wearing a high protection SPF sunscreen, of course) and more time in front of screens and immersed in dry, stale air; all of which can lead to a less-than-ideal change in your skin’s health and appearance.
Here, we investigate why your skin may be feeling and looking dryer than usual, and how to help hydration, so your skin feels soft and smooth
1. Air-conditioning
With all of us doing our part and staying indoors most of the day, chances are that your air-conditioning and heating is getting a serious workout – especially as the cooler weather sets in. And while you’re probably loving the direct control over optimal air temp, your skin definitely isn’t.
Indoor heating and cooling actually removes moisture from the air, leaving your skin feeling dry and dehydrated. A nourishing skincare routine can help put the moisture back into your dry skin. We love the family-friendly Dermeze line that offers a simplified range of products, grouped in five levels of ‘Moisture Intensity’ to meet your skin’s changing needs no matter what the season.
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Each product is paraben, fragrance and SLS-free, so it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin – babies included. The Dermeze Moisturising Lotion is the perfect way to help keep your skin nourished and hydrated throughout the day.
It’s free from fragrances and other common irritants, and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. The non-greasy formula absorbs easily and is light enough to be worn under makeup, helping to replenish the natural moisture barrier of your skin to help keep it hydrated throughout the day.
Dermeze Moisturising Lotion 1L $23.99 RRP; 500g, $13.99 RRP; available from most pharmacies, including Chemist Warehouse.
2. Repeated hand washing
Soap up, scrub, scrub a little more and rinse off the suds. We’re all washing our hands more than ever right now (and for good reason!) but this can result in dry skin. With every wash, however, you are stripping your skin of essential oils and moisture which makes your skin feel drier and tighter.
If you have very sensitive skin, Dermeze Moisturising Soap Free Wash could be a good option, as it is pH-balanced and doesn’t contain any plant-based irritants. It’s also a good idea to follow every wash with moisturising hand lotion for an extra shot of hydration.
3. Cooler weather
Although you can suffer from dry skin at any time of the year, the cooler weather seems to bring with it an onslaught of dry, flaky skin.
Start by adding a humidifier to your home to boost moisture levels. You’ll also want to add a heavier, targeted cream to your nightly routine to help hydrate dry skin and replenish the skin’s moisture barrier.
We love the Dermeze Treatment Cream to target really dry skin. The Aussie-made cream is a rich, intensive moisturiser that works to replace lost moisture in the skin.
It can be used all over the body or to target specific areas of dry skin, where intense hydration is needed most.
Dermeze Treatment Cream 500g $17.99 RRP; 100g, $8.49 RRP; available from most pharmacies, including Priceline and Chemist Warehouse.
4. Over-exfoliation
Exfoliation is an essential step in any skincare routine, and is the first step towards a brighter complexion. But there is such a thing as exfoliating too much, resulting in the stripping away of skin’s natural oils that are needed to maintain optimum moisture.
For best results, you should be exfoliating with a gentle scrub or chemical exfoliant. This can actually help to remove dead skin cells and unveil a refreshed complexion – just be careful to not over-do it!
