My Top 5 Strategies for Dry Skin That Anyone Can Do

Many of us struggle with chronically dry skin that is not satiated with continued use of topical moisturizers. Most moisturizers only barely penetrate the epidermis (top) layer of the skin, and therefore cannot have a long-lasting impact.

What’s the solution? In order to improve your dry skin, you need to take an inner-plus-outer approach that includes supplements and water as well as methods to encourage cell turnover. With that in mind, here are my top five strategies for dry skin that anyone can do!

Water

Over 75% of us are chronically dehydrated! Many times, we mistake thirst for hunger, and end up feeling tired and drained with no knowledge what it stems from. Water makes up 60% of the human body and is therefore key to adding hydration to its largest organ, the skin.

Even though we know we benefit from drinking water, we often struggle to drink the 64 ounces (8 cups) needed daily. How can you be sure to drink your necessary quantity of water? Try adding a few slices of lemon and cucumber to your water bottle for flavor, or drinking it hot with an herbal tea bag included.

Besides needing to run to the bathroom all day long, you will notice a huge improvement in your skin’s health, your mental sharpness, and your ability to eliminate toxins.

As a side note, drink spring water, even if it means doing the added work of buying it from a store. Taste wise, there is nothing yummier than spring water, and if you don’t like water, this alone could go a long way in making it more appetizing.

Omega 3-6-9 Oils

When I first started taking Omega oils, I noticed that my skin became more hydrated, shinier, and I actually lost weight! It’s counter intuitive that taking oils will cause weight loss, but your body desperately needs good fats to function in digestion, elimination, and so much more.

Post-menopausal women need more oils than pre-menopausal and should consider raising their intake to around two tablespoons morning and night. Having said that, I am not a natural health practitioner so please seek help if you are unsure of quantity.

In liquid form, try Nature’s Way Organic Flax oil for your Omega 3 oils. If you prefer gel tablets, try Super Omega 3-6-9 1200 mg and take two in the morning and two at night. If you are an oil superstar, take both, and wake up to a shiny face.

Induce Cell Turnover

Another counter-intuitive method to combat dry skin is to damage the surface layer of your skin through exfoliation in order to encourage cell turnover. When you do this, it tells the dermis layer of your skin to produce more cells and thus brings a new layer of skin to the surface.

Mind you, this works best if you are taking supplements like vitamin C, collagen, vitamin D, and other essential nutrients that create health in the body. Exfoliation of this type is best brought on by using AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids), micro-dermabrasion, micro-needling, peels, etc.

If you use these methods over the long term, you will notice a rapid improvement in dry skin as well as a softening of lines and wrinkles.

Internal and External Vitamin C

Our body can’t create vitamin C, so we must take it in supplemental form. It is by far the number one most important supplement we need to take for health!

“But I eat oranges,” you say. Eating oranges will not be enough, as you would need to eat 15-25 oranges every day to get the same result. Personally speaking, I think I would throw-up oranges if I ate that many! Not good.

On average, a woman over 50 should take around 4000mg of vitamin C daily, and not in a multi vitamin. My favorite brand is NOW Foods C-1000, and I take two in the morning, and two at night. If I feel poorly, I take more.

External vitamin C is important as well, but keep in mind that your skin responds to 80% internal and 20% external measures. This is why I encourage you to start on the internal vitamin C above and beyond anything external that you apply.

Having said that, not all topical vitamin Cs are equal, and they come in different forms. The less expensive form is L-ascorbic acid and can be found in most mid-range serums on the market. One of my favorites is Image Skin Care Vital C Serum. At $75, it is an affordable and reputable C-serum.

For premium vitamin C, look for ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate in the ingredient deck. Any product using this form of vitamin C will cost anywhere between $150-$350 and will potentially do wonders for your skin.

My favorite brand with 80% premium vitamin C is Truth Treatments Transdermal C Serum. At $219, it’s on the pricier side, but with only two drops per day, it will last you around a month and a half to two months of concentrated, glowing skin nutrition.

Moisturizer

Moisturizers are a dime a dozen, so look for the ingredient tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stable form of vitamin C for creams. This way, the moisturizer will sink beneath the epidermis layer and not just sit on the surface of the skin.

As with any key ingredient, you want it as close to the top of the deck as possible, as the further down the deck, the less of it in the product. For a mid-range moisturizer, check out Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer for $70 from Image Skin Care.

For a total of four items in the ingredient deck and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate in the number one position, try Transdermal C Balm. Here you’re paying for the active ingredients, not the fillers.

Needless to say, our skin becomes drier as we age, but there are many positive strategies we can employ to not only maintain a high level of hydration, but to encourage our skin to look better than ever. The healthier our skin, the less makeup is needed, and the more delicious it looks and feels. Who wouldn’t want that?

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor to get specific medical advice for your situation.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What does your skin look like? Is it too dry? Have you experimented with different products to make it look and feel healthier?