I have dry skin; itchy, uncomfortable, dry skin, and these skin issues only escalate in the winter. The weather where I live is not actual winter weather and yet my skin is a mess in the cooler months. Not only do I have dry itchy skin but I also get really bad eczema around my eyes. When I have an eczema flare up it’s so painful and makes it impossible for a flawless face of makeup.
My skin is so dry and sensitive so I am always on the hunt for new products. While hunting for new skincare products I target products that are fragrance-free, help dry skin and prevent all signs of aging on my face. I try to do a lot of preventive skincare in hopes of minimizing my reactive skincare. In fact, I have been using preventative skin care products since I was 15! A few preventative steps I take: I use sunscreen every day, drink tons of water and never, ever, ever sleep with makeup on.
In the spirit of being completely transparent, I have not yet had any injectables. I always said when I hit 30 I was going to start botox and well I just hit 30, so a trip to the dermatologist is in the near future. Once I jump on the botox train, I will document every aspect of it. I only mention this because a lot of bloggers began botox around 23 so even with a great skincare routine, our skin looks very different.
Skin Care Routine For Dry Skin
I constantly get asked on Instagram my skincare routine so its time I share my exact skincare products and routine. I am ALWAYS on the hunt for skin care products that are affordable and help with dry skin and eczema. My skincare routine is pretty locked down right now so I wanted to share the exact steps I take. After tons of trial and error, I have finally discovered a skincare routine that works for my dry, sensitive skin.
Daily Skin Care
Face Wash – Using Baby Shampoo for face wash is a very new addition to my life but I swear by it. If you are struggling with overly sensitive skin or eczema then you need to incorporate baby shampoo into your skincare routine. I’ve started washing my face with baby shampoo and it has transformed my skin. I talked about my eczema issues on my Instagram stories and a dermatologist reached out and suggested Baby Shampoo as my face wash and WHOA! life has been changed. Not only is it great for sensitive skin but it’s also a really great makeup remover.
Okay, this these next steps are super important; once I wash my face I layer these products on from heaviest to lightest. I start with my daily face moisturizer, hydrating serum then rosehip oil. Layering the products like this helps lock in the moisture for the entire day. I repeat the face wash and layering steps morning and night, the only difference is in the evening I use a heavier face cream better suited for overnight repair.
I still get eczema flare-ups on my face and when I do I use the Aveeno Maximum Strength Formula Anti Itch Cream. To effectively use any sort of eczema cream you must put it on as soon as you get out of the shower, in order to really absorb the benefits of the cream, your skin must be damp.
Weekly Skin Care
On top of my daily products, I always map out at least one night a week to incorporate a much more intense skincare routine. You will need about 30 minutes to complete this and I would suggest doing this close to bedtime.
I start by washing all of my make up off and then follow all of the steps of the Smooth and Radiant Face Peels. When I am done with that I put the Aveda hydrating mask on and then top that mask with an additional sheet mask. I always have a stash of sheet masks, I like to use moisturizing sheet masks that contain hyaluronic acid. I leave the sheet mask on for the recommended time normally around 15 – 20 minutes, once I remove the sheet mask I rub the Aveda mask into my skin as much as possible and sleep like that.
DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE SMOOTH & RADIANT
This is the holy grail of products. I am not kidding, ask anyone who has used it and they will agree. It’s a bit on the pricey side but oh so worth it!!!! It legitimately erases fine lines in front of your eyes. If that sounds too good to be true, its absolutely true. The directions say to use this product every day, I can’t afford that so I use it once a week. This sounds like this is sponsored and boy do I wish it was, this stuff is my all time favorite skin care product. The best thing about these peels is they are suitable for all skin types.
Aveda Hydrating Mask– This mask is a necessity in the winter. Not only is it super moisturizing but also very brightening. I wear it before bed and then in the morning I wake up and my skin is glowing.
Sheet Masks That I Love
A very important note for anyone with dry, sensitive skin – never, ever use products with any added fragrance. I know that sounds ridiculous but products with added scent really aggravate sensitive skin.
Now that I shared my go-to beauty products and routine I would love to hear what you are doing to help your skin get through these winter months. Are there any must-have products that I need to try?
I definitely have to try your routine! My skin is so dry and patchy. The winters only make it worse. Thanks for sharing!