Ok, so that’s a rather dramatic title, I realize, but this is the passion I feel for anything that helps me combat dry skin. As I mentioned before, I have slight eczema and therefore, will always naturally have dry skin. If I don’t use good hydrating products, forget about patches of dry skin around the elbows, we’re talking dry, white, scaly skin on the face. Not ok.
So every winter I go on a quest for a good solution to combat winter dryness. My bar is pretty high. You’d think that given my starting point is so bad (dry, scaly skin) that I’d be satisfied with achieving normal, semi-hydrated skin. Nope. Even in the winter months, I want dewy, extremely well hydrated skin. The reason has less to do with wanting to look radiant but more to do with not wanting to have sagging features for as long as possible. You see, the problem is that lack of hydration leads to massive collagen breakdown and then sagging is accelerated. So that’s the main reason I try to keep well hydrated.
This winter was a bit tricky as it’s my first time in Seoul for a stretch of 3 months straight through 3 blizzards, up and down weather and extremely dry indoor heating systems. I found some incredible products that are simply gems (yes, we brought them back for you and you can shop them here: www.peachandlily.com) but for me, personally, given my dry-as-a-desert skin, I needed that extra drop of something to keep that baby-bum soft, supple, glowing look.
After trying a lot of different combinations, I found the ROCKSTAR pair.
Be the Skin’s power nutrition cream coupled with organic argan oil.
What’s argan oil?
It’s an oil that every person with dry skin should use, basically. It’s a plant oil that comes from the argan tree that can be found in mostly Morocco.
What does it do for you?
Traditionally, argan oil was used to treat skin diseases because of its healing properties. It’s also been used against rheumatism and healing burns.
Then, beauty innovation came onto the scene and figured out that this oil is incredibly for hydration purposes as well as its anti-aging properties from the extremely antioxidant-rich composition.
It also helps to control acne and best of all, it doesn’t clog pores.
The secret got out and exploded: In 2007, there were 2 personal care products with argan oil in the US; in 2011, there were over 100.
What’s the best way to use it?
Before or after serums, 2-3 small drops is all it takes. For me, I don’t like the way oils rub onto my face because it pulls at the skin a bit. So I mix it into my cream (you can also mix it into your serum) by placing 2-3 small drops into my palm that already has a dollop of my cream on it. I rub it altogether and pat onto the face and it really does an excellent job in keeping that just-washed dewy look. A lot of people I meet out here have been asking me what I use to stay hydrated, and I’ve been sharing my little secret and from what I hear, they love it too!
What’s my argan oil gem?
I searched pretty extensively and tried a bunch. I loved Aromatica’s argan oil the most. Ecocert certified, organic and purest form of argan oil that didn’t irritate my face in the least bit (and my skin is on the more sensitive side). A teeny tiny bottle has lasted me all winter and the bottle is still more than half full. Incredible stuff. I even use it sometimes on the tips of my hair when my hair gets extra dry.
LOVE this organic brand. For those of you with dry skin and for those who can’t seem to win with the dry weather, highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend argan oil. Let me know if you have any questions!
On that note, time to wash up and argan oil up.
-Alicia
