With the weather getting cooler day by day, you may find your skin becoming dry. When you visit the cosmetic shop looking for a suitable moisturizer, you find numerous vials, jars and bottles, all claiming to effectively heal dry skin. Choosing one in such a scenario becomes difficult, isn’t it?

However, if you know the right way to proceed, choosing the right moisturizer for winter would be easy. The first thing you need to know is how severe is your dry skin problem, and the causes behind it. When you look at a product, check out whether it has ingredients that address dry skin. There are 4 main types of dry skin moisturizers – serums and lotions, creams and oils.

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GENERAL GUIDELINES ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOISTURIZER FOR YOUR SKIN ISSUES:

Assess your skin issues

Do you have all over dry skin, or only in patches? Is the dryness mild, moderate or severe? Severe dry skin appears chapped, flaky and red, and may need a doctor’s or skin care specialist’s attention. Many people face dry skin issues seasonally, and may require more moisturizer during the winter months, or due to sun exposure. Mild to moderate dry skin is quite common, and you can find several products to treat it.

Find out the cause of dry skin

A number of factors can cause dry skin like genetics, dehydration, sun exposure, aging, psoriasis or eczema. If you know the cause behind your dry skin issues, choosing the right moisturizer for winter would be easier.

Choose oil-based or petroleum items for severe dry skin

Shea butter or petroleum jelly lock in moisture and soothe flaky skin quite fast. It is best to use these items at night, since they may soak through your clothes, leaving your body greasy. If your face has severe dry skin, go for items containing natural oils like lanolin or grape seed. A natural and relatively cheap product to heal dry skin is olive oil, and you can use it anywhere on your body.

TIPS TO CHOOSE CREAMS, LOTIONS AND SERUMS:

Creams:

• For severe to moderate dry skin, go for creams having hyaluronic acid, shea butter, collagen and glycerin.

• For use at night time, choose heavy creams, labeled as night creams. Night creams are quite effective, if they are allowed to pass into the skin without any environmental disturbances.

• Choose creams containing humectants like glycerin as well as emollients like lanolin.

• Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is one of the important skin components, and the epidermis must contain it for cell repair. For dry, wrinkled or damaged skin, go for creams having hyaluronic acid.

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Lotions:

• You can choose a lotion for mildly dry or combination skin, or can use it during day time. Go for lotions with SPF 15 or more, since exposure to UV increases dry skin issues.

• Go for lotions having glycolic acid, jojoba, stone crop or aloe.

• Test the lotion by applying some on your skin. A good lotion soaks in the skin after a few minutes, but leaves the skin hydrated and soft. Choose some other lotion, if the lotion disappears instantly, and you feel that more lotion is needed.

Serums:

Your skin care regimen should include a serum. Serums address specific dry skin issues.

• In case, you have red and dry skin, go for a serum consisting of chamomile, lavender or green tea as main ingredient.

• If you are looking for an anti-aging product, go for serums having vitamin E, vitamin A and grape seed.

• If you wish to cure dry skin resulting from laser treatments, waxing or sun burn, choose a serum having aloe, vitamin or tomato seed.

So, go ahead and choose the right moisturizer for winter to heal your dry skin effectively. With these guidelines and tips, you can keep your skin moisturized and glowing this winter.