HOW TO TREAT
DRY SKIN
What are the main causes of dry skin on the face and how can you help keep it protected and moisturised?
Check out our top dry skin tips and find your perfect routine for dry skin with our caring, soothing and hydrating essentials.
WHAT IS DRY SKIN?
Dry skin is a very common skin condition caused by not having enough moisture in the most superficial, outer layer of your skin – the epidermis. This is the body’s first line of defence against the elements, including water and weather. Dry skin can develop on any part of your body. When skin is dry, it can begin to feel rough, tight and itchy and can even start to redden and become more sensitive.
“When skin dries out it stops functioning at its optimum. Dry skin can crack and become irritated, rough itchy, flaky, less flexible and more prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles. […] Hydration is a universal requirement. No matter your age, stage, gender, ethnicity or skin type, to have healthy skin, you need to keep it hydrated by drinking plenty of water and using the right skincare products.” – Jennifer Hirsch, Beauty Botanist for The Body Shop.
The skin on your face is more exposed to the elements and the environment than skin on your body, so it’s important to find your perfect skin routine for dry skin, using gentle, hydrating formulas that won’t strip away its natural moisture.
WHY DO I GET DRY SKIN?
Dry skin can be caused by a number of factors. While some people are born with naturally dry skin, external triggers like cold and windy weather, water hardness, hormonal changes, harsh soaps, certain fabrics, long showers that are too hot, and not drinking enough water throughout the day can all contribute to dry skin.
Dry skin can affect anybody. Even when your skin is naturally oily, you can still develop dry skin from time to time. Dry skin is also more common with in people with a history of eczema. You’re more likely to experience eczema or allergic contact dermatitis if you or your family have a history of conditions like these.
WHAT ARE THE TOP CAUSES OF DRY SKIN?
WEATHER CONDITIONS & UVA/UVB RAYS
Dry skin is more common in colder months and drier climates and during the autumn and winter months when humidity levels are relatively lower. During warmer summer months, higher levels of humidity help stop your skin from drying out and losing its moisture.
Humidity and temperature levels indoors can affect your skin’s ability to retain moisture too. When cold, dry air is heated inside it causes the water in your skin to evaporate, which can lead to skin dryness.
It’s also important to keep skin protected from everyday sun damage. UVA rays including long UVA rays, reach deep into the skin and can accelerate the signs of photoageing, while UVB rays trigger sunburn and damage your skin’s top layers.
DIET & DEHYDRATION
Eating healthy foods can help keep skin hydrated as well as nourished (just like the rest of your body). Flaxseeds, walnuts and fish like salmon high in omega-3 fatty acids, asparagus and avocado rich in vitamin E, sweet potato (eaten with the skin on!) packed with vitamin A and beta-carotene, cucumber high in water and vitamin C, and cooking with olive oil or coconut oil can all benefit your skin.
When your body is dehydrated, it means skin can get dehydrated too, especially when you sweat more during exercise and warm weather. To keep you and your skin hydrated, try drinking 2L of water every day. Herbal teas are also great for staying refreshed and hydrated.
HARSH SOAPS & VERY HOT WATER
Harsh facial cleansers made with fragranced oils can cause skin to dry out. Swap your soap for our Aloe Calming Foaming Wash or Vitamin E Cream Cleanser. Both lathering cleaners are suited to sensitive skin.
Taking too many baths and showers with very hot water can also raise the risk of developing dry skin. To avoid this, try turning down the heat or cutting down your shower time to one epic song each day – your skin will love you for it and so will the planet for saving water and energy!
How To Treat Dry Skin
CHECK THE INGREDIENTS
Skin feeling tight and dry to the touch? Fret not. Help quench it with the most deeply nourishing products in our range. Dry skin is notoriously sensitive, so try not to irritate it further. Look for products that help lock in moisture, hydrate and keep skin happy.
Calm things down and gently remove make-up with our Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter and Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover. Cleanse away impurities with our Oils of LifeTM Intensely Revitalising Cleansing Oil-In-Gel. Wake-up to quenched, comforted skin when you slather on a layer of our new Hemp Overnight Face Mask.
WHAT ARE THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR DRY SKIN?
HEMP
Our Hemp range has been vigorously hydrating skin for over two decades. Hemp seed oil is known to help restore the skin’s barrier and lock in moisture.
COCONUT
Dry skin driving you nuts? Opt for Coconut. Enriched with coconut oil or extracts, our range will leave skin feeling softer and smelling sweeter.
SHEA butter
Shea Butter is also known for its intensely nourishing effect. Help cocoon yourself in moisture and slather on Shea after (or during) a shower.
CAMOMILE
And because dry skin loves a softly-softly approach, wash away your day with our gentle Camomile range.
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
Regular rituals and routines help set us up for better days. And having a dedicated day and night skincare routine can help prevent dry skin.
Start your day with a tall drink of water and an intensely nourishing moisturiser. Our bestselling Vitamin E Moisture Cream locks in moisture for all-day hydration and absorbs easily, so you can get ready faster.
DAY TIME ROUTINE FOR DRY SKIN
CLEANSE
Cleanse away grime after a good night’s sleep with our Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Melt away eye make-up around the eyes. Our Camomile eye make-up remover gently cleanses, leaving the skin smooth and clean.
TONE
Tone dry skin with our hydrating Vitamin E Hydrating Toner. Enriched with vitamin E and moisturising wheatgerm a quick swipe will leave skin feeling clean, supple, hydrated and ready for your next round of moisturiser. Use as part of your everyday routine to really see results.
MOISTURISE
While a healthy dose of daily H20 will help keep skin hydrated, a good moisturiser will really give dry skin a drink. Our Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream is made for dry skin. Made with Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana, this stuff will help leave skin feeling silky smooth.
LIP CARE
Let’s not forget your lips! Windy weather and central heating can make lips feel dry and a bit unhealthy. Pay them lip service and give them some love with our moisturising and protective Vitamin E Lip Care SPF 15. Infused with Community Fair Trade coconut oil from Samoa and olive oil from Italy.
NIGHT TIME ROUTINE FOR DRY SKIN
As tempting as it is to just roll into bed after a long day, the beauty gurus are right – cleansing and moisturising your skin will help things feel better in the morning. Night time is when skin regenerates and repairs itself. Give it a helping hand with a solid skin recovery routine.
REMOVE MAKE-UP
The most satisfying feeling? Clean skin at the end of the day. Remove stubborn make-up (and prevent morning panda eyes) with our Camomile Waterproof Lip&Eye Makeup Remover. It will leave you feeling clean and soft.
CLEANSE
Before sleep, it’s good to wash away the day’s dirt with a hydrating skincare routine. Use our Camomile Fresh Micellar Cleansing Water to remove leftover make-up or try our bestselling Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash for a non-drying, refreshingly clean experience.
CREAM
While we might not always wake up ready to take on the day, mornings are better when you’re sporting feel-good skin. Our Vitamin E Night Cream will nourish skin and help you look nice and rested even when you still feel super sleepy.
MASK
Put dry skin to bed by slathering on a layer of our Hemp Overnight Face Mask. You’ll wake up to quenched skin that feels comforted for up to 72hrs. And you don’t need to mask every night to see the effects. Apply every now and then to reap the benefits.
BODY CARE FOR DRY SKIN
When dry skin season descends, give skin some extra TLC with a hydrating body moisturiser. Keep things simple with an uncomplicated routine you can rely on.
STEP ONE: EXFOLIATE DRY SKIN
After cleansing, gently buff away dead skin and leave dry skin feeling refined and smoother with our lightly textured Shea Exfoliating Cream Scrub. For dry, sensitive skin, use our Almond Milk & Honey Gently Exfoliating Cream Scrub.
STEP TWO: CLEANSE DRY SKIN
Lather up with our Almond Milk & Honey Soothing & Caring Shower Cream or Shea Shower Cream . These gently cleansing formulas leave dry skin feeling softer and refreshed.
STEP THREE: MOISTURISE DRY SKIN
Moisturise dry, sensitive skin all over your body with a dollop of creamy Almond Milk & Honey Body Lotion. For dry skin, try our Shea Body Lotion, which is now made with three times as much Community Fair Trade shea butter. Find your perfect Body Butter for dry skin below.
To intensely nourish dry skin on your face, body and lips, apply our multi-purpose Shea Butter. It’s packed with the butter of 192 shea nuts.
STEP FOUR: MOISTURISE DRY HANDS
Keep hard-grating hands feeling soft, smooth and protected with our hydrating Hemp Hand Protector or Shea Hand Cream. For dry, sensitive skin, use Almond Milk & Honey Hand Cream. Our hand creams are lightweight and non-greasy so you can just smooth them on and rub your hands together whenever you feel like they need some quick hydration.
STEP FIVE: PROTECT DRY LIPS
To help keep dry lips protected, smooth on our nourishing, multi-purpose Shea Butter.
“Apply the Shea Butter onto your lips and massage in using circular motions. Repeat when needed. It’s perfect for dry skin,” says Vanda Serrador, Facial & Body Care Expert for The Body Shop.
“You can also exfoliate your lips by mixing one teaspoon of sugar with one teaspoon of Shea Butter until it becomes a paste. Again, gently exfoliate the lips and lip line. When you’ve finished exfoliating, apply pure Shea Butter all over lips.”