We want to put the focus on your dry skin - not just on your face, but also on your body.
What is dry skin and why do you get it? Does it have an effect on how your skin ages? How can you treat your dry skin? And will that make you look younger?
We aim to answer these questions and more… and to introduce you to an amazing new range that is so natural it’s actually edible(!) and we are proud to be the first in the UK to stock it!
Let’s start by looking at a bit of science. Your skin is an organ - in fact it’s the largest organ in your body. So it needs some protection. The epidermis, that’s the outer layers of the your skin, is protected by a barrier on top. This is often called the lipid barrier. It’s a bit like a brick wall - with loose skin cells (that are effectively dead already) as the bricks, held together by lipids (oil) that act as cement. Lipids are naturally found in the sebum (oil) that your sebaceous glands in your follicles produces.
The lipid barrier is there:
- to keep the good stuff - like natural oils and water - in, and
- to keep the bad stuff - like irritants, pollutants, dirt and bacteria - out.
When you don’t have enough lipids, either because your sebaceous glands don’t produce enough oil or because you are using products that strip oils, your lipid barrier starts to break down. This also means that the barrier is weakened or damaged, allowing access to irritants and pollutants and also allowing water to leave the skin.
This is what causes dry skin - a weak or damaged lipid barrier. Dry, flaky patches are those loose cells without lipids to hold them together and irritation, sensitivity and redness come from those irritants and bacteria getting into the deeper layers.
The short answer is… research says yes and no! Let’s look at the no first. Dry skin doesn’t cause wrinkles. That’s a fact. Everyone gets fine lines and wrinkles - they are a natural part of the ageing process. Dryness isn’t the reason your skin ages.
However, research also says that dry skin does have an effect, particularly prematurely ageing your skin. As you age, your cell renewal rate naturally slows - you don’t produce as much collagen and elastin. That’s what that keeps your face plump and taut. When you have dry concerns, this leaves the deeper layers open to free radicals that attack the collagen levels and also sun damage from UV rays. At the same time, dry skin can lead to transepidermal water loss - that’s the name given when the water in those deeper layers is able to escape, leaving the skin dehydrated.
The results of transepidermal water loss and sun damage and free radicals damage from a weakened barrier can be deepening lines and wrinkles, sagging, hollow looking skin and even age spots from sun damage. Whilst ageing is natural, dryness can cause your skin to prematurely age. Luckily, you can start to make a difference today to your skin, by treating dryness and rebuilding goodness.
Not to confuse things but it is important to mention that dry skin can affect us more as we age. This can be down to changes in hormone levels, which reduce sebum production and slow cell turnover. Many women find they have dry concerns for the first time during menopause.
When it comes to treating dry skin, you should be working towards rebuilding the lipid barrier and also replacing moisture and goodness that has been lost. It can be tempting to avoid cleansing when your skin is sensitive but actually it’s really important to get rid of those irritants and bacteria that have got into the pores and deeper layers.
You should have a regular skincare routine that you follow every day, using products that aren’t too harsh. Another tip is that they call it ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason - your skin repairs itself as you sleep so make sure you use a good moisturiser at night.
Your skin on your body works in the same way as your face - the dry patches are a sign of an impaired barrier and so you need to work to rebuild the lipids and also to replace moisture and goodness. Try using products to do this during and immediately you bathe or shower as this is when the most moisture can be lost. Hot water can irritate dry skin so try turning down the temperature when you shower as well.
To treat dryness, we need to do five things:
This will help to treat deepening lines and wrinkles, dullness, irritation, redness and flaky patches, leaving your skin feeling and looking brighter.
When you have an impaired barrier, it often means you also experience sensitivity. There are some natural ingredients that are great for addressing dry skin concerns. In fact we want to introduce you to an amazing new company that we are the first in the UK to stock whose products are so natural they’re actually edible (not that we recommend that!)
Founded by an amazing woman in America, Jill, who made the switch to natural ingredients and wanted to share that goodness with the world! CocoRoo is pretty amazing because it only has four main ingredients across the range, each of them ideal for dry skin.
1. Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil- if you haven’t come across coconut oil, then you have no idea what you’re missing out on! This amazing natural ingredient has anti-oxidant, skin nourishing properties. It helps to rehydrate and also to seal in moisture, both on your face and body. Cold pressed oil is the best way to preserve the natural goodness without adding anything. Coconut oil is the base ingredient for:
2. Organic Arabica Coffee Beans - you may be used to reaching for that morning cup to start the day but did you know that ground coffee is the best natural exfoliator? It is great for targeting cellulite and tightening the skin. It increases circulation and blood flow. Coffee beans are the exfoliant ingredient for:
3. Cold-pressed almond oil - this is the main oil used in the Coffee Bean scrub and is a great antioxidant. It is also great for dry skin as it is a natural ingredient to protect against UV damage.
*** It’s really important to just point out that CocoRoo aren’t suitable for those of you with nut allergies***
4. Cold-pressed macadamia nut oil - this natural ingredient is one of the closest matches to sebum so is great for repairing the lipid barrier. It’s really light and easily absorbed so won’t feel heavy or thick when applied. It also has phytosterols which help to reduce irritation and redness. Macadamia nut oil is in all of the CocoRoo range, including these extra Lavender and mint moisturising options:
As we’ve already said, these products are made from natural ingredients. If you’ve seen coconut oil in the shops, it’s normally in a jar and pretty solid. That’s because it needs heat to liquify. As CocoRoo refuse to add unnecessary chemicals, their formulas are different depending on temperature. You can use it as a solid balm, a lotion at room temperature or as a liquid after the shower. Best of all, the guys at CocoRoo have created the ideal packaging - a handy tube that stops leakages however you use the products.
We are proud to be the first in the UK to stock CocoRoo products. Shop here:
