#TheSoProject: Skincare Tips for Dry Skin

You're probably wondering what #TheSoProject is. Let me introduce you! It's a new idea developed by Steph over at Stephsinsidevoice.blogspot.com to help introduce beginners to the world of beauty. Over the course of nine weeks, participating beauty bloggers will talk about their niche in the following topics: skincare, concealer, foundation, blusher, bronzer, lipstick, etc. This week the topic is Skincare. I've decided to talk about the topic that I know best- and that's Skincare for Dry Skin! This post will cover everything you need to know about dry skin and how to take care of it!

1.) Drink Plenty of Water

Dehydration is one of the most basic reasons why we have dry skin. Are you drinking enough water? To find out, this website has a Daily Hydration Calculator that you can use to find out just how much you should be drinking. Different factors such as climate, pregnancy, fever/diarrhea, exercise and weight affect the outcome. Also, if you're a big tea/coffee drinker, make sure to replace those as they contain caffeine which makes you urinate more. 

2.) Exfoliate

Since we have drier skin, it's harder for the dead skin cells to just slough themselves off. Be careful here, though, because some exfoliants may make your skin even drier. There are two types of exfoliants: Chemical and Mechanical. According to BellaSugar, "[Chemical exfoliants] use either an acid- or enzyme-based formula such as alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) such as glycolic acid or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) such as salicylic acid." Mechanical exfoliants use motion in conjunction with abrasive-type material such a beads or oats to clear up dead skin cells. This is where scrubs come in. I personally love to exfoliate with LUSH's Angels on Bare Skin. It's great because it's super gentle, doesn't feel like you're scratching your skin! 

3.) Say No to Alcohol

Oh you thought I meant alcohol in beauty products? Well I meant that too, but more importantly, if you could cut down the liquor, you'd be doing your skin some good. Remember, you are what you eat. It may not seem like anything right now, but overtime, increased alcohol consumption will dehydrate your skin even further. So yeah, next time you're having that 4th cocktail, just remember to think about your skin! 

Now that my rant is done, let's talk about alcohol found in cosmetics. You're going to find that a lot, and I mean a lot of cosmetics contain alcohol. It's almost hard not to find one that doesn't contain alcohol. That's why its important to see just how much alcohol is in the product. To do this, just look at the ingredients list. If alcohol is closer to the top of the list, then it means that most of the product is alcohol. And the same vice versa.     

4.) Ditch that Foam Cleanser

For the longest time as a preteen, I wondered why cleansers always left my face feeling super tight! I ended up not using cleansers at all until later in life. The reason was that I was using really harsh cleansers. Even "gentle foam cleansers" were just too much. Foams contain soap that strips your face of its natural oils. That's a no-no. We only want the dirt, dead skin, and makeup off - not the oils. Try to look for non-soap cleansers. (Yes, they exist!) They are things like "cleansing balms," "cleansing oils," or even "milky" products. As a cleanser and makeup remover, I use Lush's Ultrabland. It's been doing a great job of removing makeup and excess dirt without stripping my face of its natural oils. Actually, I think it's even doing a good job of returning some moisture. 

5.) Say No to Perfumed Facial Skincare

If it's facial skincare, and it smells like you just spritz yourself with some Juicy Couture, then you need a different product. Don't get me wrong, I love scented things and I don't really mind a scented face cream. But sometimes, there are just some face creams that scream "smell me, smell me please." Stay away because those probably contain a lot of alcohol as well. 

6.) Look for the Good Stuff

I'm talking about ingredients that are generally well known to help hydrate the skin. These ingredients include, but are not limited to: Coconut oil, Aloe Vera, Honey, Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, etc. They natural ingredients have been known to increase moisture on the skin, so keep a look out!    

I hope you enjoyed my post. For more posts like these, just look up #TheSoProject on Twitter! (Please note that I am not a dermatologist. If you have any concerns about your skin, please see a professional.) Anyway, tune in next Tuesday at 6pm for the next topic: Concealer!

What type of skin do you have?

What kinds of tips do you have for others with your kind of skin?

What's your favorite skincare product right now? 

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