Taking Care of Your Dry Skin

If you are like most people, you have dry skin in some areas of your face and on the rest of your body. You may have a combination of dry, normal and oily skin, sometimes all in approximately the same area. It doesn't seem possible, but you can have oily skin around your nose, as well as fine lines from dry skin radiating from your nose and mouth, for instance. This type of combination skin presents its own set of problems, because you don't want to irritate your already dry skin with tough astringents meant for oily skin. Similarly, you don't want to use too much moisturizer near your oily skin. Fortunately there are products on the market that allow you to treat both dry skin and other skin types simultaneously.

It's especially crucial to begin taking care of your dry skin as early in life as possible, even before you notice your skin is dry. Certainly you don't want to wait until you already have fine lines or even wrinkles before you think about starting a regimen of daily moisturizing.

When you were a child, your mom probably nagged you on a daily basis to wash frequently with soap and water. She wasn't satisfied unless you scrubbed your face until it shined with a pink glow. But when you get a little older, you realize that kind of cleaning regimen is the last thing your skin needs. Even your hands will suffer if you use harsh soaps too often.

It's at this stage that you begin to realize the importance of using a moisturizer. Instead of scouring your face with a soapy washcloth, your routine should involve generous applications of moisturizer after a gentle cleansing with warm, not scalding, water, and a gentle cleansing cream.

There are products made just for your face, or some that you can use all over your body. With so many products available, it's just a matter of trial and error to find the right one for you.

Of course you can avoid costly mistakes by doing some research first. Ask friends and family what products have worked best for them. Remember though that your own skin is unique. You might check online for product reviews, and you can certainly comparison shop easily from the comfort of your armchair on the internet.