Answer: the skin needs both water and oil, but there are important rules to follow.
The rigors of winter make life hard for our skin, and with age our sebum (small natural protective oils) decreases. So we must adapt to the skin’s real needs and change some habits — but what a reward when the skin on our legs no longer feels tight!
The 4 main culprits of dry skin
1. Heating our homes. Our epidermis has a protective layer based on water and oil (hydrolipidic film). Heating makes ambient humidity vary; dry air draws water from our skin like a sponge. Solution: a humidifier can be wise, and lowering the room temperature a little.
2. Showering or bathing too often, with water that’s too hot and unsuitable formulas. Avoid very hot water, which strips our natural oils, and overly alkaline soap bars (pH up to 8-9) that raise the skin’s pH and make it more sensitive. Solution: you don’t need to wash the whole body every day — on the contrary, it protects the microbiota. Use a cleansing formula at pH 5.5 or a very mild “superfatted” soap that leaves a light oily film.
3. Not using moisturizing formulas optimally. Solution: always apply body oils to damp skin, without waiting after showering, then blot lightly. The oil traps more moisture and leaves a non-greasy protective lipid film. Body oils are generally far more effective than lotions or creams, which contain lots of water and few lipids. 100% botanical, water-free, with no unnecessary ingredients or preservatives, they spread better on the body and are more economical.
4. Not exfoliating regularly. Gentle body exfoliation is needed at least once a week, otherwise dead cells accumulate and hinder the penetration of actives. Solution: mix brown sugar or fine sea salt in your palm with our Beauté Divine cleansing oil, then massage in circular motions (arms, back, legs, feet, focusing on knees, elbows and heels). On contact with water, the oil turns into a gentle, fully rinsable exfoliating milk… simply DIVINE!