Dear Reader,
Greetings from the Rju stables! Welcome to this edition of the Rju Water Wisdom Blog, where we share some skincare tips and tricks to help you move closer to your ideal skincare goals!
With winter just around the corner, you must be completely bombarded with multiple communications about the best products to use, the most effective hacks to use, the best lifestyle to follow for skincare and so on. But most of these usually don’t have enough backing by science or adequate skincare expertise. So be careful whose advice you decide to act upon!
Keeping in mind the dry winter months, this edition of the Rju Water Wisdom Blog, brings to you one such topic pertaining to how one can overcome the challenge of maintaining skin health during this challenging time. Dry and cold air can make your skin red, irritated, flaky or itchy. Read on for some expert tips on how to combat the dry winter months and retain your skin's natural moisture.
Why does your skin become dry during the winter?
Every season brings along its share of skin problems and winter is no different. It is more common to have dry skin in winter than in the warmer months. The changes in humidity and temperature during the cold winter months can irritate the skin, as it is the organ that is directly in touch with the cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels in the atmosphere.
The outermost layer of the skin is called the epidermis and the thin outer surface of the epidermis is known as the skin barrier. A combination of lipids and dying or dead skin cells constitute the skin barrier and form a layer of protection that prevents harmful toxins from entering the body. When the skin barrier undergoes damage, the skin seems dry or irritated. For the skin barrier to perform optimally, moisture is vital. Studies have shown that there is less moisture in the skin during winter than in summer, which further leads to lower lipid levels in the skin barrier. These factors combine to cause skin dryness and irritation during the cold season.
During extremely cold winters, people also tend to use indoor heating. This further reduces the humidity and moisture levels in the indoor environment, impacting the amount of moisture that is available to the skin. At the same time, the cold weather, rains or sleet, and gusty winds can deplete the skin of its inherent, moisturizing oils. And so, whether indoors, or outdoors, the skin is constantly under stress with lower moisture levels and external aggressors.
While the amount of moisture in the skin is related to and varies with age, gender and ethnicity, medical conditions also play a role. These conditions also tend to get exacerbated in extremely cold and dry weather, causing a compounding effect on already distressed skin.
Dryness that occurs due to damage to the skin barrier manifests in the most common ways as follows:
- Flaking
- Rough patches
- Cracks
- Redness
- Itching
- Stinging
- A raw, sensitive-to-the-touch feeling
It is important to replenish dry and damaged skin with external hydration and moisture. The right skincare products can help to ensure that the above symptoms are taken care of, and don’t recur irrespective of the weather.
A good moisturiser is the first step to an efficient winter skincare regimen. Opt for moisturisers with a high hydrating quotient. For irritated skin, use thick and greasy moisturizers without fragrances so that they don’t further irritate the skin.
Always remember to moisturise right after cleansing, and after baths, as skin is stripped of its natural oils in the cleansing process, leaving it vulnerable to further damage by the cold. In addition, change your cleanser itself for winter months and switch to a gentler and more nourishing cleanser which doesn’t make your skin feel stretched out or dry after washing and drying. Check out Rju’s Nile range of skincare products, which are deeply hydrating and gentle on the skin and are specially formulated for dry, flaky, and ageing skin.
Even if you are used to lighter textures and products during summer months, try to explore heavier formulations that help seal in moisture levels in the skin more effectively in the winter. Wash your face less often and exfoliate only 1-2 times a week, depending on the need. Remember to switch your exfoliant to a milder version to avoid giving micro abrasions to your skin.
Remember to amp up your night skincare ritual. Practice the power of layering with serums plus creams, that help to seal in moisture and nourishment better. Also explore heavier cream textures for better hydration as your indoor environment is also drier, thanks to indoor heating. One way of solving this particular problem could also be the use of a humidifier, to ensure the air indoors does not dry out completely, but do check with your healthcare representative before trying this.
Resist the temptation to take hot baths as the high water temperature also strips skin of its essential oils and weakens the skin barrier. In addition, remember to cover exposed parts of your skin with appropriate clothing, which helps to mitigate moisture loss to some extent.
Don’t forget to use sunscreen, even though the sun may not be evidently visible. It is a myth that just because it's cold outside, the sun wont affect your skin. The ozone layer is at its thinnest during the cold winter months. This means that the ozone layer will absorb less ultraviolet (UV) rays during winter season and increase the risk of UV exposure considerably. A high SPF sunscreen is your best bet against exposure to UV rays during winter.
Keep an eye on your products’ ingredient list. If your skin is feeling dry during winter, it is useful to check the ingredient of the products you are using to ensure they don’t contain any harsh or stripping ingredients such as alcohol or sulphates. At Rju we ensure that we keep such nasties out of our formulations to give you optimum hydration levels.
Finally, consume a lot of seasonal fruits and veggies – they have skin benefits too! Berries are an amazing source of vitamins and antioxidants and help keep your skin healthy during the cold winter months – strawberries, mulberries, grapes, blueberries, raspberries – take your pick! In addition, remember to drink plenty of fluids to replenish the hydration levels in the body internally. The skin absorbs water from our bodies to maintain its health.
How Rju helps with Skincare
Rju is a beauty brand that believes in providing skincare products that are pure, rejuvenating, and authentic in every form. Every product created at Rju is carefully researched and sourced from different exotic water-based eco-systems of the world.
Hydration is the core principle of the brand and all its products and every Rju SKU is designed to provide skin with the healthy dose of hydration that it needs.
Being a consumer-centric brand, safety has always been our top priority. All our products are researched and thoroughly tested before they reach our consumers.
To know more, reach us at 18008890458 or write to us at rjucare@riverinebodycare.com
