Agony Al: How Do I Keep Dry, Flaky Skin at Bay?

Make it stand out

YOU ASKED: How do I keep dry, flaky skin at bay? 

Autumn is in full swing which means it’s getting colder, pumpkin spice is being forced down our throats, baby faced freshers have me questioning my own mortality and, the spookiest thing of all, my skin gets really, really, REALLY dry. I guess my body is really invested in Halloween, cos when the weather changes I blend right in with the decorations: I’m pale, dry and rotting like a cadaver. 

The cooler months bring with them a shit load of drying elements: cold air reduces sebum production, harsh wind ravages what little oil remains on your skin, and then to top it off, the steps you take to battle the frost prune you up too; hot baths and dry central heating MASSIVELY dehydrate your skin! Is it any wonder seasonal depression exists? 

While changes to the weather are inevitable, dry skin doesn’t have to be; if you make changes to ya skin care routine, use the right products and lay off the hot baths (Halloween bath bombs are still cute in water that isn’t boiling hot, promise) you may be able to keep your skin looking soft, smooth, and … alive … til the sun comes back out. 

___STEADY_PAYWALL___

Body Care: 

I didn’t think I could relate to a Lorde song more than Liability, but when she dropped Solar Power, it felt like she plucked the lyrics straight from my soul. I REALLY fucking hate the winter, ABSOLUTELY can't stand the cold and DEFINITLEY tend to cancel my plans.

To combat autumn winter blues, I loved to cut out the world and wallow in a hot bath (of bubbles AND self pity), until I learned that for dry skin, hot water is kryptonite. Hot water disrupts the skin’s balance of moisture, stripping it of the natural oils, fats and proteins that keep it healthy. The best type of bath is one run with lukewarm water, filled with hydrating products. 

When looking for something to wash your body or put in your bath, I recommend using an oil based product or, at the very least, something free of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and fragrances. In the summer my body can cope with my usual 99p, grapefruit scented shower gel, but at this time of year I opt for products that boast hydration, being SLS free and using natural ingredients. 

On the recommendation of my doctor, in my baths I use E45 Emollient Bath Oil. It’s not very glamorous, but it doesn’t leave my skin feeling like paper after I’ve had a long soak. 

Serious hats off to Only Fans legends that take soapy bod pics on the regular, because this was HARD. I don’t have the luxury of my girlfriend’s bath this week, but here’s me demonstrating that with the help of a loofah or other scrubby tool (I use a Korean bath towel, which is basically a strip of loofah fabric) you can actually get a good, bubbly shower out of this hydrating product.

Caring for a dry bod doesn’t stop after it’s clean either. Once you’re out of your bath or shower, pat your skin semi-dry and it’s time to moisturise. Applying moisturiser to damp skin means the product can trap and absorb the water that’s left on your body, which is super necessary when it’s autumn or winter and the air around is dry. 

I’m an extra person with extra dry skin, so before I cream I apply this hyaluronic acid based serum to the most dry areas of my body like my elbows, knees and feet, but you can always go straight in with your moisturiser.

Currently using Aveeno because it was on special offer - this time of year I use so much lotion that I have to keep things cheap so I don’t max out my overdraft. 

When it’s cold out, I go HEAVY on the hydration, always using a lotion that’s thick and occlusive to ensure its hydrating ingredients are locked in. I recommend Nivea’s Body Lotion, Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion or anything by Aveeno. 

I really thought I was going to have a JLO glow in this picture but you can barely tell I’ve bloody moisturised because my bod is so dry it DRINKS the cream.

 … I have the same amount of /cream on my body as I do my face! Is this a joke? HOW IS MY BODY SO THIRSTY

Facial Skincare:

The second September hits, I switch up my skincare to keep my face happy when the weather is sad. When it’s cold outside, your visage is often the only exposed body part so it needs extra loving. While you can’t completely wrap your mush in jumpers, trousers, fluffy socks and a coat, you can layer skincare for extra loving. Layers for ya wardrobe ~and~ face. 

I have dry skin so I use a hydrating cleanser year round, but if you’re using a foam cleanser then this time of year might be the time to switch to a creamier formula.

Once my face is clean, I whip out my hydrating toners/essences and ready them for battle against the dry, autumnal air. This extra layer before your usual cream makes up for the dryness in the air, making it so that humectant (moisture grabbing) ingredients in your products actually have something to grab. After cleansing, on a damp face, I tap a small amount of hydrating toner onto my face until it absorbs, then go in with a different hydrating toner and repeat the process. Korean beauty experts do up to seven layers, but I’m povvo and impatient, so I make do with one to two layers of each of my products. 

My hydrating toners. I’m like the Octomom but for toners. You absolutely DO NOT need this many products, but I have fallen prey to the insidiousness of our capitalist society. 

At the moment I use a combo of these two and justify it cos the hyaluronic acid in Hada Labo draws in moisture, which makes the hydrating properties of the Laneige more effective… or maybe late stage capitalism has made me a decadent consumerist, who’s to say?

Unfortunately cold weather skin doesn't stop my spots, wrinkles and sebaceous filaments, so I still want to use retinol. Using actives of any kind - vitamin c, acids etc. - can feel very unappealing when your skin is already aggravated, but I promise, you don’t have to lock away your AHA, BHA or retinols ‘til next summer. 

I recommend dropping down usage of actives to a few times a week and, my favourite technique: an active and moisturiser sandwich. For this method, cleanse as normal then apply your hydrating steps like toners and moisturiser,  wait til they dry and go in with your active ingredients, then wait for that to dry and apply moisturiser over the top! 

I use my Dermatica prescription retinol after my toners, before my night cream

For moisturiser, I also work in layers when my skin feels uncomfortably dry. I’ll start with a gel moisturiser, then add a THICK balm over the top, often with a few drops of oil mixed in. If you don’t want to buy new products, you can always just sleep with a generous amount of Vaseline over the top of your bog standard moisturiser - it’s SO good at locking moisture in. 

My gel moisturiser is Hada Labo’s confusingly named moisturising cream (it’s DEFFO a gel), then I use my beloved La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm.

Lips: 

My lips are constantly dry, but in the cooler months they become unbearably cracked and sore; I look like an incel on Halloween cos my mouth cracks and bleeds in a Joker-esque Chelsea Smile. When I was away filming Glow Up, the camera crew often had to stop rolling because the cold outside, combined with central heating and the artificial warmth of studio lighting meant I ruined the show’s family friendly vibes with my mouth full of blood every thirty seconds. 

Thankfully, I was introduced to Homeoplasmine by Nic, my Glow Up sister, and my life changed forever. Homeoplasmine is a multi purpose healing balm that works a treat on all dry skin ailments thanks to its antibacterial properties and ultra emollient, vaseline base. A layer of this speeds up the healing on cracked, dry lips and keeps ‘em plump even when the elements are against you. 

Makeup artists love this because it dries matte, so won’t affect the look of any lip product placed on top. 

When I want a glossier lip, or something that feel a bit more luxe, I reach for my Laneige lip mask. You can use this product as an overnight mask as intended, but its beautiful natural gloss finish means I often wear it on winter days in lieu of my usual products. The lip mask is available in a range of scents (my favourites are Berry and Grapefruit) and has a gorgeous formula chock full of humectants ( moisturising agents), occlusives (ingredients that lock moisture in) and antioxidants (protect the skin against environmental aggressors). 

This is expenny, but I feel very validated (heh) in repurchasing it because I saw it in queen Val Garland’s kit. 

A budget option that’s just as effective for banishing crusty lips is good old oil and Vaseline. A few drops of your favourite oil sealed with a heavy layer of petroleum jelly and left overnight will have you waking up with a kissable pair of lips. 

As the driest person alive, I could talk tips for DAYS so keep your eyes peeled for part 2: makeup appliction.  Got any other beauty questions? I’m always listening! Ask away by emailing hello@polyesterzine.com with subject line AGONY AL, or DMing @lipglosslezza on Instagram.

XOXO, Agony Al.