Looking For Some Dry Skin Relief

 Many of us struggle with dry skin in the cooler months, but when you have sensitive skin the struggle to find the right products can be a bit more challenging. So paying special attention to ingredient lists is essential. Avoiding ingredients that you know irritate your own skin and those ingredients that are well known to irritate.  Some of those well known irritants include fragrances. parabens, sulfates, alcohols, preservatives, lanolin, acids like AHA, BHA, and retinol. Essential oils like citrus oils, tea tree, lavender, mint, and lemongrass are also known to cause irritation.

There are several great products and product lines for sensitive skin. Brands such as Avene, La Roche-Posay, Clinique, Vichy, Eucerin, Marcelle, CeraVe, The Ordinary and even Burt's Bee.  I've also found that simple organic products like organic Cocoa & Shea butter are also really good options. I especially love them for body, hands and lips.

The Canadian Dermatology Associations website has a helpful list of sensitive skin products if you would like to check it out.  

Beautypedia.com  is another helpful source for skin and makeup reviews by experts and consumers.  They have an impressive list of products and although this a US site and may not have all the products available in Canada or vis versa it can still be extremally helpful.

One important thing to remember is that when you try a new product always do a patch test. The last thing you want to happen is to have an all over skin reaction.
Because I am so sensitive I do a more extensive skin test. I do an initial patch test on my arm first for a couple of days (somewhere typically I can easily hide if there's a reaction). Depending on if it's a body moisturizer or a facial moisturizer I can continue testing in two different ways. If it's a body lotion I try it out a few times on my legs and if that goes well I can continue from there. If it's for my face I will do a small patch test on my face for several days. Then if that goes well I will begin applying it to the rest of my face. Generally, if I can make it past two to three weeks of continuous use without a reaction I should be able to continue using the product. Although, that said there have been times where I've made it just past two weeks only to have an irritation develop. Everyone is different on how and when they may have a reaction but usually being cautious will save you a whole lot of discomfort in the long run.

Here are just a few more tips that you can do to help sooth dry skin.

- Avoid hot showers (Yes, I know this is a hard one for me too) and washing your hair in hot water.  Try washing your hair in luke warm water and rinsing in cool water. This will be less drying for both your hair and scalp.  And yes you can add moisturizer to your scalp to help with dry skin.

- Apply moisturizer right out of the bath or shower while you skin is still moist.

- Apply moisturizers before you go to bed.

- Try to remember to keep reapplying throughout the day if needed. 

- If you live in a dry climate a humidifier in your home can help. We don't have this problem where I live but most sources I found suggest levels anywhere between 30%-60%. 

- Try to avoid extreme temperature changes if and whenever possible.

Source:

womenshealthmag.com/beauty/g37398058/best-products-for-sensitive-skin/

realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/dermatologist-skincare-routine

paulaschoice-eu.com/

healthline.com/health/winter-dry-skin#dry-skin-prevention-tips

dermnetnz.org/topics/allergic-contact-dermatitis-to-essential-oils

saveonenergy.ca

indoortemp.com/resources/ideal-home-humidity-level-control