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This article has been updated since its initial publish date to feature more expert insight.
As the weather gets colder, many of us unfortunately experience drier, patchier, and more irritated skin. This can be especially true for women over 50, since skin naturally loses moisture as we age. In order to avoid this, it’s vital to moisturize your face and neck often, and hydrate these areas with the help of a balanced diet, enough drinking water, and of course, the right skincare products. If you frequently suffer from a dry, droopy complexion, look no further!
We checked in with a board-certified dermatologist and skincare expert to learn more about one type of serum that can nourish dry skin and help create a radiant, youthful-esque glow, even in the coldest months of the year. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Dr. Claire Wolinksy, MD, New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
The Key Ingredient In A Great Anti-Aging Serum: Hyaluronic Acid
The best kind of serum to choose for naturally dry skin when combating the harsh effects of winter, Wolinsky says, is one made with two important ingredients; vitamin C (also known as L-ascorbic acid) and hyaluronic acid.
The former acid helps to prevent sun damage with its antioxidant components, she says, and it also can help even skin tone and brighten your complexion (think of how foods containing vitamin C often provide similar effects!)
When it comes to hyaluronic acid, Wolinsky notes that it can provide skin with ample hydration, as this ingredient boosts the skin's moisture levels (which is why it's often found in creams and moisturizers, apart from serums), and can relieve the irritating feeling of tight, dry skin.
Wolinsky points to the Isdin Flavo-C Ultraglican Ampoules for a specific suggestion, and details why its additions of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid make it a worthy serum to include in your winter routine to fight against dryness. "This antioxidant serum with L-ascorbic acid protects against environmental pollutants while hydrating the skin with hyaluronic acid," she explains.
Wolinksy adds that the unique "proteoglycans and pre-proteoglycans boost the skin's natural moisturization as well." She continues, "I believe that it's these proteoglycans that lead to improved skin hydration and softness with repeated daily use (meaning the hydration increases the longer you use this product)."
Wolinksy says she especially loves recommending this product for "any patient with dry or combination skin wanting to incorporate a vitamin C product into their skin regimen in the winter months when the skin is most dry." She also suggests using Isdin Flavo-C Ultraglican ampoules "once daily in the morning before sunscreen."
Additional Tips To Combat Winter Dryness
While focusing on preventing and treating dry skin this winter, Wolinsky also urges readers to invest in a great cleanser in order to remove makeup, dirt and oil from their skin (before even thinking of applying serums or any other products!)
While Wolinsky stresses that it's essential to start your skincare routine with a clean slate, she notes that it's also "important not to overwash the skin and to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils."
She suggests a new cleanser by ISDIN, specifically its Essential Cleansing Oil, which "combines sunflower seed and extra virgin oils that can be applied without water and rinsed off."
This product and others like it, she explains can make an "excellent soap-free option for anyone with dry skin as it deep cleanses away makeup and residues without harsh ingredients stripping away the skin barrier."
It's important not only to "restore the skin's natural barrier with a moisturizer," Wolinsky concludes, but to also "avoid dehydrating the skin by overuse of soaps and detergents." Noted!
