All Anti-Aging

Improving the appearance of dry skin can make your skin look younger.

As skin ages it tends to become drier and flakier which causes the skin surface to look dull. This can enhance any pre-existing wrinkles and skin imperfections giving the skin an aged appearance. As the weather changes and temperatures become cooler, dry skin can become even more pronounced. To restore moisture balance a treatment is needed to help maintain the skin’s moisture balance by preventing further loss of moisture as well as improve the skin’s texture. When it comes to selecting a dry skin treatment, there is a confusing array of products available. How do you know which one to select? Here are four ingredients that help with the symptoms of dry skin. Look for these four key ingredients on the label the next time you’re shopping for a dry skin cream:

Hydroxy acids

The hydroxyl acids have a dual role in treating dry skin. They act as exfoliators causing the dead skin cells on the skin’s surface to be shed more rapidly. This helps to relieve some of the dullness associated with dry skin and gives the skin a subtle glow. Hydroxy acids also act as humectants, drawing moisture from the environment and depositing it onto the surface of the skin. The combination of these two factors gives dry skin a softer, smoother appearance. Two of the most common hydroxy acids are lactic and glycolic acids. These ingredients are found in a variety of skin care products. They can be quite effective at moisturizing and improving the appearance of dry, dull skin.

Glycerin

Glycerin is another ingredient that serves as a humectant. By drawing moisture from the ambient air, it causes a slight swelling of the skin layer known as the stratum corneum which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s found in some moisturizing creams as well as a variety of soaps used for dry skin treatment.

Lanolin

Lanolin is an occlusive type moisturizing agent extracted from the secretions of sheep sebaceous glands. It’s designated as an occlusive because it helps to prevent moisture loss from the deeper skin layers. It’s also one of the main ingredients in a popular skin lotion, Oil of Olay. While this moisturizing agent is effective, a certain portion of the population will experience sensitivity to it and should look for creams and lotions that are labeled lanolin-free.

Petrolatum

Petrolatum is another occlusive type of moisturizing agent. This ingredient is usually found in conjunction with other ingredients for treating dry skin since it’s quite oily when used on its own. It’s the active ingredient in the commonly used lubricant, Vaseline.

Look for these four ingredients when you’re shopping for a moisturizing treatment for dry skin. These ingredients can often be found in products that are quite reasonable in price. Expensive is not always better when it comes to dry skin care treatment. Sometimes simple is best.