7 Tips for Keeping Dry Skin Healthy and Soft

I've mentioned here in the past that I have some seriously dry skin. It doesn't matter where I've lived - which has been pretty much every climate from Colorado's intensely dry air to Oregon's perpetual wetness to the midwest's extreme variation of temperatures - my skin has been consistently dry. And as those of you with dry skin can likely relate, I've tried countless things in an effort to remedy the situation over the years. Dry skin isn't only visually unappealing (flat, flaky, etc.), it's also pretty freaking uncomfortable (so much itching). This time of year, when the weather is transitioning, is usually the worst for me.

Thankfully, I'm actually at a really good place right now in terms of my skin's condition - but it wasn't without a lot of trial and error. A lot of things haven't worked, but a few have. And because we're all in this together, fellow dry skin sisters, I kind of want to shout the things that have worked from the rooftops. So today I'm partnering with Dove to share with you some of my favorite tips for keeping my dry skin healthy and soft, as well as telling you about my personal experience with the New Dove Dry Oil Collection featuring their Dove Dry Oil Beauty Bar and Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash (the best you guys!). Read on for all the details.

1. Eat the right foods. Certain foods have been shown to essentially help heal dry skin from the inside out. For me, I've found that consuming lots of avocados (healthy fats and oils), almonds (Vitamin E and omega 3s), and coconut oil seems to make a difference in how moisturized my skin feels. Salmon is also supposed to be beneficial.

2. Use a humidifier in your bedroom. I sleep with a humidifier on in my room, pointed right at me, every single night in the fall and winter - and often the rest of the year too. It makes a major difference in the dryness level of my skin. (And as a bonus, humidifiers help relieve cold and flu symptoms and stuffy sinuses as well.) I recommend choosing a cool mist humidifier over a warm water version.

3. Drink plenty of water. Truth be told, there actually isn't proof that drinking a lot of water will make a difference with skin hydration - but it can't hurt, and at least for me, I've noticed that my skin is softer and more moisturized in general when I'm drinking plenty of water on a regular basis. This could very well be because I'm healthier in general when I'm consuming enough water, so my skin just naturally looks healthier as well. Either way, I've noticed a difference, so I'm sticking to it. If plain water doesn't do it for you, try adding some fresh squeezed lemon or lime.

4. Take warm (not hot!) showers. I used to take some seriously long, hot, steamy showers. They were relaxing and felt great, but I noticed how badly the hot water stripped my skin of all of its natural oils.  Now I try to limited my showers to 10 minutes (which honestly feels like a luxury when you have two little kids anyway), and I opt for comfortably warm water rather than hot.

5. Use the right products. I've tried all sorts of products on my skin, and the majority either tend to make the dryness situation worse, or go majorly overboard and leave my skin feeling greasy. This is why I'm so thankful for the new Dove Dry Oil collection, which has become my recent must-have for my daily dry skin beauty routine. Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash maintains and nourishes skin's protective layer during cleansing, and replenishes 12 times (yes, 12 times) more natural nutrients than competitors. Apparently 9 in 10 women are, just like me, concerned about having dry skin, so Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash goes beyond basic moisturizing to help women nourish and protect their skin. I also use the Dove Dry Oil Beauty Bar, which contains ¼ moisturizing cream and Moroccan Argan Oil (my fave) to gently cleanse and care for my skin, leaving it soft and smooth. I legitimately feel like I am showering away dry skin every time I use them. I also love that I don't have to spend time I don't have incorporating a ridiculous amount of different washes, sponges/loofahs, creams, lotions, and oils into my routine, which used to be the case. I use my Dove Dry Oil products and I'm good to go. I also love that, unlike a lot of products I've used in the past, they're incredibly affordable. The Dove Dry Oil collection is the winner for this lady's dry skin, hands down.

6. Protect from the elements. In the winter, I try to limit how much skin is exported to the air by wearing gloves, scarves, etc. And in the summer, I try to keep out of direct sunlight and to protect my skin when I am in the sun. These are both surefire ways to help prevent dryness (or at least to keep my dry skin from getting worse.)

7. Get enough sleep. I am actually laughing loudly as I type this because it has been a long, long time since I've had a full night of sleep. However, before I had my babies, I noticed that when I was getting adequate sleep on a regular basis, my skin seemed less dry. Apparently sleep actually helps hydrate your skin, along with all of its other health benefits. And I do find that on the rare occasion I get a semi-decent night's sleep, my skin really does look and feel better. I've found that keeping my bedroom really dark (by wearing a sleep mask and using black out curtains) and limiting screen time at night makes a big difference in getting quality sleep when quantity isn't an option.

Who else has naturally dry skin? What do you do to keep it soft and healthy? Have you tried the new Dove Dry Oil collection?

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Dove, but all my opinions are my own. #DoveDifference #ShowerAwayDrySkin #DovePartner http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

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