I am a combination skin girl and because of a certain medication, I’ve recently taken a walk on the other side. My skin is dry and flaky all through the year. From this, I can definitely tell you this: Dry skin is the worst. How do you deal with dry skin when the weather is sweltering and anything you put on your skin begins to melt off? I’ve found some pretty amazing hacks to tackle dry skin, summer through winter and thought I’d share them with you today.
Rule Number 1: Hydrate
You obviously have to keep your skin hydrated, inside and out. Drink *LOTS* of water, even if that means peeing every hour. It really does help. Here’s why. And obviously, don’t skip your moisturiser – sorry but that’s non-negotiable. The good news here is that there are some really amazing skincare hacks that will hydrate and nourish your skin without leaving you feeling like a hot melting mess in the summer. Check em out!
1. Start the day with a lightweight moisturiser or serum
A lightweight gel-based moisturiser is ideal for summers. Some of my personal favourites are The Face Shop Fresh Jeju Lotus Soothing Gel (Rs 490) – I store it in the fridge and use it on my face and body on days when it’s so hot that I just want to sit inside the refrigerator. Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate (Rs 2,550) layered with Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator (Rs 1,550) packs a punch to bad skin without making you feel like a hot sweaty mess. Add in some night-treatments creams too so you can wake up looking gorgeous!
2. Use a hydrating face mist
One of my favourite ways to refresh myself on the go is to mist my skin with a soothing face mist. You can use the good ol’ trusty Dabur Gulabari Premium Rose Water (Rs 68). I simply pour this into a spray bottle and toss it into my bag. On days when my skin feels EXTRA dry, I put in a dollop of aloe vera gel into this bottle and give it a good shake. This makes the rose water extra hydrating! I also store a bottle in my fridge for those hot summer nights when I need a quick pick me up. Alternatively, if you are lazy and I am too! Buy a face mist that has skin healing benefits like the Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water (Rs 250) or The Face Shop Chia Seed Soothing Mist Toner (Rs 1,290).
3. Carry a bottle of water wherever you go
You cannot have gorgeous skin unless you hydrate. Keep sipping water through the day, you could download one of those apps that remind you to drink water every hour. Or just get yourself a cute bottle of water that encourages you to drink more water. I am a fan of infused water, I always carry an infusion bottle (Rs 249) with me. Throw in some wedges of lime, mint leaves and ginger for ‘Detox water’ or put in some fruits for sweeter water. This is a great way to make sure you drink more water. Starting the day with coconut water also has a host of health benefits!
4. Use a gentle cleanser
Use a cleanser that’s not too harsh and drying on your skin, but at the same time will cleanse away dirt, pollution and oil trapped in your pores. I love the Avene Cleanance Gel (Rs 1,290) it works well with my acne prone skin and The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam (Rs 590) on days my skin is feeling super congested.
5. Exfoliate weekly
Sometimes a build up of dead skin cells causes your skin to appear dry and flaky and don’t let your moisturiser penetrate through effectively. Avoid this by exfoliating once a week with a gentle scrub like the Kama Ayurveda Kumkumadi brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub (1,195)
And when you feel like indulging yourself in a little extra TLC, throw on a sheet mask and Netflix and chill! I love the It’s Skin Snail Moisture Mask Sheet (Rs 150) for instant hydration.
