Dry, flaky skin is an unfortunately common issue to run into during the winter months, and sometimes even the most hydrating products don’t seem to make a difference on your sensitive, tight complexion. But while the quality of the ingredients you’re using is essential to improving your skin, the other aspects of your daily routine, including showering, can have just as much of an impact on your body. If you often find that your skin is significantly drier after the shower with seemingly no explanation, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD is here to break down the common mistake you could be making that’s leaving your parched skin even worse than before.
Not Moisturizing Immediately
If you’re stepping out of the shower and getting dressed or doing your hair before tending to your skin, that could be a fatal mistake when suffering from a flaky complexion this winter. Even if you’re washing your face with a hydrating cleanser in the shower, it’s important to apply a heavy moisturizer before your skin has entirely dried out to lock in moisture without the cold weather zapping it away. “By not moisturizing the skin after the shower, the water on the surface from showering can evaporate and leave the skin feeling dry,” warns Garshick.
This applies not just to the skin of your face, but your entire body as well, and you may notice that failing to moisturize right away can lead to an itchy body throughout the day as your skin fights for hydration. “The best time to apply moisturizer is when you get out of the shower and it is best to apply to damp skin,” suggests Garshick. “By applying moisturizer to the skin soon after stepping out of the shower it helps to lock moisture in and reduce the potential for dryness.” While this may be common sense to some, it can be easy to get carried away with other tasks immediately after the shower, but your skincare routine should be bumped to priority number one.
To maintain hydration of the skin even in the shower, Garshick suggests looking for a facial cleanser and body wash specifically tailored to moisturize your body. “While you’re in the shower, it is best to use a gentle cleanser such as Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash that not only works to cleanse the skin, but also contains ingredients such as the Moisture Renew Blend to help replenish moisture to prevent dryness of the skin,” she notes. In fact, there are certain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin that can be particularly beneficial to the skin and therefore should appear in your hydrating products as a guide. Garshicks suggests keeping an eye out for “soothing ingredients such as aloe vera and colloidal oatmeal” as well.
As for ingredients to avoid in the shower or within your skincare routine when working to fight off flaking skin, while exfoliants and scrubs may remove dead skin from your face, it can also leave your body more prone to becoming cracked and dry. “Harsh soaps and abrasive scrubs can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to microtears and injuries in the skin barrier which can leave the skin susceptible to redness, dryness and irritation,” warns Garshick. Taking care of your skin in and out of the shower will offer you the most success when it comes to banishing dry and flaking skin, so keep an eye out for ingredients that may aggravate the issue and make sure to hydrate your complexion immediately after rinsing off for the best results.
