Real culprits: Low humidity outdoors…and dry, heated air indoors, which draws moisture out of the inner layers of skin. In addition, normal shedding of skin cells slows with age because cells become less active—so you end up with visible layers of dead, scaly skin. What helps…
Shorten your shower. Though it seems counterintuitive, excess water dries out skin by breaking down its natural oils. The hotter the water, the worse it is.
Best: Use lukewarm water, and limit showers to no more than five minutes.
Take an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salts contain magnesium, which helps slough off dead skin cells. Once or twice a week, add one to two cups of Epsom salts to a tubful of lukewarm water and soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
Use cleansing lotion, not soap. Soap is alkaline and can strip skin of moisture.
For face and body: Try Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash.
Exfoliate—gently. Use a loofah in the shower or bath to manually remove dead skin cells from your body. Allow the loofah to dry completely after each use to minimize bacteria. On your face, use a mildly abrasive facial exfoliating cream, such as Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (310-900-4000, www.dermalogica.com). I recommend exfoliating no more than twice weekly to avoid irritating the skin.
Slather on a body moisturizer with a high oil-to-water ratio. Choose a brand that feels rich and slick, such as Éminence Honeydew Body Lotion (888-747-6342, www.eminenceorganics.com). Apply liberally while skin is still damp from your shower or bath. Reapply at least once more per day, first dampening skin with a wet washcloth.
Spritz your face with water. Do this before applying makeup and again before bed. Follow with moisturizer, such as Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer.
Avoid irritating laundry products. Use detergent that has no bleach or fragrances, such as All Free or Cheer Free. Never use dryer sheets—even the unscented ones leave tiny irritating fibers on clothes.
