You should make it a habit to wash your face at least twice a day, once in the morning and at night before going to bed. You want to avoid cleansers that will dry you out even more. An oil based cleanser is best for your skin type. When cleaning the skin, make sure you’re gentle. The skin is very sensitive and rubbing too harsh could cause irritation to the area. When washing make sure you use warm water. This helps to open the pores.

Even though a nice long bath may feel great, it’s not great for your dry skin especially if you’re bathing or showering in hot water. The water dries your skin out even more. Try to limit your baths to five to ten minutes and only once a day. If at all possible you should avoid using tap water. The deposits found in tap water dries the skin out even more. Mineral water would be best. When choosing a soap make sure you get one that’s good for dry skin and only use where it’s absolutely necessary like your underarms and your groin. For more moisture you can also add a few tablespoons of olive oil to your water. Baby oil is also a good skin moisturizer. When drying off make sure you pat your skin dry versus rubbing it. Rubbing strips the skin of the essential oil it needs for moisture. When you can allow your skin to air dry instead of towel drying.

Adding moisture is a must when it comes to dry skin. Whenever possible try to moisturize when the skin is damp. When it comes to moisturizers it’s important to know which one is good for your skin. Look at the label and try to find one that contains glycerin. Glycerin is a binder that will help to pull moisture up to the skin. You should also look for moisturizers which contain petroleum. Petroleum is a barrier which helps the keep the moisture on the skin. Finding the right product isn’t hard, but if you find that nothing is working then it’s best to seek help from a dermatologist.

Good skin care is essential to graceful aging. Babies have smooth, soft skin that is wrinkle free and moist. Over time harsh elements in the environment wear on the skin making is dryer and tougher. With age comes wrinkles and sagging in the skin. Good skin care can slow down the harmful effects of time and the environment.

Before good skin care can be attempted, it is important to have a thorough understanding of how the skin operates. Skin consists of three layers. The inner most layer is the subcutaneous tissue. The tissue in the subcutaneous layer contains fat cells, which insulate the body. The middle layer is the dermis. The dermis contains the connective tissues. The outermost layer of skin is called the epidermis. The purpose of the epidermis is to protect the inner skin from environmental contaminants. Cells in the epidermis continuously travel from the inner most part of the epidermis to the surface, flaking off once they reach the top. The cells in the epidermis become thinner over time. Less collagen is produced causing skin to lose its elasticity.

Cleansing is essential to remove dirt and dead skin cells. It helps to prevent pimples or acne. Cleansing, however, can dry out the skin. Cleansing removes the oil on the skin, which retains moisture. As a result moisturizers are needed to restore water to the skin and protect the skin. Special liquid cleaners are recommended over using traditional bar soap. Liquid cleansers can be made with moisturizer to combat the drying agents in the cleansers. The type of cleaner chosen depends on the skin type of the person using it. Vitamin E is often included in good skin care products as it helps moisturize the skin. It also maintains elasticity. The type of moisturizer used is important as well. A heavier moisturizer should be used at night while a thinner, lighter moisturizer is recommended for daytime use.

A regime of cleaning and moisturizing should be followed everyday in order to be effective. Avoiding exposure to the sun and tanning is ideal to prevent the harmful effects of radiation. Application of sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 is helpful as well. Smoking should be avoided. A healthy diet is beneficial in improving the elasticity of the skin. Drinking water is essential to good skin care. Water helps the body function better. It also cleans the pores from the inside. It re-hydrates the skin, which helps the skin stay moist. Keeping good habits in addition to good skin care will help the skin age gracefully and beautifully.