Why is skin dry and what truly helps? A natural approach to moisturizing and cleansing the skin

Dry skin is not just an aesthetic problem. A tight feeling after a shower, flakiness, roughness, or a constant need to reapply cream often indicates that the skin's natural protective barrier has been damaged. Very often, we seek a solution in a "stronger" moisturizer, but the real problem lies in how we cleanse our skin and how we treat it daily.

Skin doesn't just need moisture. Skin needs protection, fatty acids, and balance. To understand this phenomenon, it's essential to look at the skin's natural defense mechanisms and the effect of water contact. Various factors, such as hot water, long showers, and harsh cleansing agents, can affect the skin's natural balance.

MaiWistik's natural cosmetics philosophy is based on the understanding that oils and plant-based ingredients support the skin's natural functions much more deeply than aggressive cleansers or water-based products.

 

Why does skin become dry in the first place?

Regardless of the season, the outermost layer of our body is a lipid layer that protects the skin. This means that we ourselves are naturally composed of oils. Lipids, which are natural fats, prevent sun damage, promote moisture retention in cells, and repair skin that needs healing from scratches or wounds. However, our daily habits only eliminate necessary sebum. Frequent hand washing, sanitizing, using alcohol-based products on the face, using soap, and pleasant, long shower and bath procedures in warm water. Hot water removes natural oils from our bodies, and the longer we soak, the worse condition our skin gets into. This is where the "tight" feeling of the skin after washing, which is surely familiar to you, comes from. Dry skin can occur for various reasons, and often there are several reasons at once.

1. Over-cleansing

One of the biggest causes is over-washing the skin. Ordinary soaps, shower gels, and foaming cleansers remove the skin's natural oil layer, whose job is to keep moisture in the skin.

Harsh soaps and body washes damage your skin because they contain strong chemicals that disrupt the skin's natural protective layer and contribute to dry skin. Cleansers often contain abrasive surfactants and chemicals like sulfates, parabens, and fragrances, which upset the delicate balance of the skin.

• Disrupting acidic pH balance: The skin's natural pH balance is slightly acidic, which helps maintain a healthy barrier function. Harsh soaps, especially those with a high pH level, disrupt this delicate balance and weaken the skin's ability to retain moisture.

• Irritation and inflammation: Harsh chemicals often cause irritation and inflammation, which in turn damages the skin's protective barrier. This can lead to redness, itching, and increased susceptibility to dryness.

• Damage to the lipid barrier: The nature of harsh cleansing agents causes micro-damage to the stratum corneum, weakening its integrity. This damage reduces the barrier's ability to retain moisture, leading to moisture loss and dryness.

If this protective layer is damaged:

• skin becomes tight and dry,
• flakiness occurs,
• skin may start producing more sebum,
• sensitivity and irritation increase.

Avoiding soap and harsh cleansers helps maintain the skin's natural balance.

2. Hot showers and dry indoor climate

A long hot shower can feel pleasant, but it removes essential lipids from the skin. Especially in winter, dry air, cold temperatures, and heating exacerbate the situation.

If you enjoy long showers, a complex interplay occurs, with potentially negative effects on your skin.

• Lipid barrier disruption: Prolonged contact with water destroys the protective stratum corneum barrier, resulting in the loss of lipids and oils essential for moisture retention. When these vital components are washed away, your skin becomes increasingly susceptible to dryness and dehydration.
• Excessive moisture removal: Although water is essential for skin hydration, prolonged water exposure can paradoxically lead to moisture loss. Extended time under water causes the removal of the skin's natural moisturizing factors, such as amino acids and proteins. As a result, your skin's natural ability to retain moisture decreases, leaving it dry.
• Humid air: Additionally, the steamy and humid atmosphere of a shower room encourages your skin to hold water, swelling the outer layer of the skin. However, when you step out of the humid environment, the absorbed water evaporates, causing the skin to contract. This cyclical expansion and contraction directly affect skin elasticity and lead to dryness and discomfort.

Skin starts losing moisture faster than it can replenish it.

3. Aging and slowed skin renewal

With age, the epidermis thins, and the skin's natural moisture-retention capacity decreases. At the same time, cell renewal slows down, which can make dryness progressively worse.

• Hormones play a significant role in regulating various bodily functions, including skin oil production. As we age, hormone levels decrease, especially estrogen and testosterone, leading to reduced oil production. Estrogen helps maintain skin moisture balance and elasticity. As its level declines, the skin may experience decreased sebum secretion.
• Sebaceous glands are responsible for producing the skin's natural oil. With age, the activity of these glands decreases, leading to reduced sebum production.
• The outermost layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, also changes with aging. It becomes thinner and more fragile, which can affect its ability to retain moisture and create a barrier against external factors.
• As we age, the natural renewal of skin cells slows down. This can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells, which can further exacerbate dryness, as proper hydration is not achieved.

4. Incorrect moisturizing

Many people mainly use water-based creams or lotions for moisturizing. The problem is that in addition to water, the skin also needs fatty acids and a protective layer.

Not using a moisturizing body oil after showering makes your skin susceptible to moisture loss, especially when combined with harsh soaps or shower gels.

As explained earlier, after showering, you may inadvertently remove the skin's natural oils and disrupt its moisture balance. Without the protective barrier of these natural oils, the skin's ability to retain moisture is reduced, leaving it susceptible to dryness, itching, and discomfort. This is where the use of a moisturizer becomes crucial.

Moisturizers, especially those designed for post-shower use, are formulated to help restore lost oils and lock moisture into cells. They create a barrier on the skin's surface, preventing water from escaping and retaining moisture. Applying moisturizer immediately after showering creates a protective layer that shields your skin from harsh environmental factors.

Body oil can be a beneficial and luxurious addition to your post-shower routine. Body oils contain concentrated nourishing ingredients that are quickly absorbed by the skin. They provide an extra layer of protection that helps lock in moisture and increase the skin's overall elasticity. Many body oils are rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins, which not only provide hydration but also support skin health and radiance.

Applying oil to slightly damp skin helps lock moisture into the cell and distribute the oil more evenly, creating a natural glow and smooth texture. Gently massage the oil into the skin, focusing on drier areas such as elbows, knees, and ankles.

Adding body oils to your post-shower routine elevates your skincare routine, providing additional nourishment and hydration.

Oils help:

• lock moisture into the skin,
• support the skin's protective barrier,
• soften and regenerate the skin,
• improve skin elasticity.

 

5) Exfoliation and dry skin

Exfoliation is a skincare practice that offers several benefits, as it helps remove dead skin cells, cleanse pores, and promote a more radiant complexion. This process not only helps reveal smoother skin but also allows natural cosmetic products to absorb better. You can find MaiWistik's natural yarrow body scrub, Female force, in our e-shop.

• Frequency: Depending on skin type and the product used, exfoliation should typically be done 1-3 times a week. Avoid exfoliating on consecutive days to allow the skin time to recover.

• Gentle exfoliants: Prefer gentle exfoliants, such as scrubs made with sugar and herbs, which contain rounded particles and do not create micro-tears in the skin. Sugar granules provide effective yet gentle exfoliation.

• Avoid harsh ingredients: Check the ingredients of the exfoliating products you use. Avoid products that contain large amounts of acids or coarse particles that can damage the skin.

• Moisturize: After exfoliating, always apply body oil to the skin to restore lost moisture and help restore the skin's protective barrier.

6) Underlying skin conditions

Certain skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis, lead to various skin changes, of which dryness is one of the most noticeable manifestations. These diseases create an imbalance in skin functions, which in turn increases the skin's susceptibility to dryness. Additionally, contact with water, whether showering or being in water, can significantly exacerbate the dryness and discomfort associated with the condition.

 

Why body oil might be a better moisturizer than regular cream?

Natural oils work with the skin, not against it.

Skin naturally produces sebum, or oily substances, the purpose of which is to:

• protect the skin,
• reduce moisture loss,
• keep skin elastic.

When we use high-quality plant oils, we support this natural process.

Oil helps to:

• reduce dryness,
• soften rough skin,
• support skin renewal,
• protect against the external environment.

Unlike many creams, oil-based products do not contain large amounts of water. This means the skin receives more active ingredients and less "filler."

 

Big mistake: removing makeup with a foaming cleanser

Many people dry out their facial skin right from the first step – makeup removal.

Foaming cleansers might leave a "clean" feeling, but often this actually means that the skin's natural oil layer has been removed.

What's more, if you have acne or oily skin, try a face oil. No matter how strange it may seem, even many dermatologists confirm that oil helps reduce the skin's natural sebum production when there is a risk of overproduction. This way, the body no longer has to do it itself if you support it externally. Many oils also have anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe irritated skin.

The result can be:

• dryness,
• redness,
• sensitivity,
• skin tightness,
• even more sebum production.

Why does makeup remover oil work better?

When it comes to makeup remover oils, the quality of the oils used in the product plays a huge role. For example, the effects of olive oil on the skin have been studied for thousands of years, and it was considered valuable even in antiquity. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates called olive oil a miraculous substance with over 60 medicinal properties. The vitamin E and antioxidants in olive oil help support skin elasticity, stimulate cell renewal, and keep the skin soft and youthful. Contrary to popular belief, high-quality olive oil is also suitable for oily skin, as it helps calm the sebaceous glands and balance sebum secretion.

However, not all oils are equal in skincare. Many products emphasize "natural" or "organic" ingredients, but rarely do they specify whether the oils used are cold-pressed or refined. This largely determines how many beneficial vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids the oil actually contains. Refined oils are often produced using heat treatment or chemical solvents, which makes production cheaper and yields a larger quantity of oil, but at the same time significantly reduces the oil's nutritional value.

Cold-pressed, or unrefined, oils are obtained by mechanical pressing without excessive heat and solvents. Thanks to this, the natural vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidants, and skin-supporting fatty acids are preserved much better in the oil. Studies have shown that cold-pressed oils offer stronger protection for the skin and help maintain its moisture balance more effectively. Additionally, they naturally have a longer shelf life, which often eliminates the need for synthetic preservatives.

This is why high-quality makeup remover oil has much greater value for the skin than simply "removing makeup." Properly selected cold-pressed oils help nourish, soothe, and protect the skin during cleansing, rather than drying it out or throwing it out of balance.

Oil cleansing is based on a simple principle: oil dissolves oil. This means that:

• makeup,
• SPF,
• sebum,
• dirt

are gently removed from the skin without disrupting the protective barrier.

MaiWistik's Clensik makeup remover oil removes makeup and simultaneously acts as a face oil.

As a result, the skin remains:

• soft,
• elastic,
• moisturized,
• calm,
• naturally radiant.

 

 

How to truly care for dry skin?

When caring for dry skin, the most important thing is not to use as many products as possible, but to support the skin's natural balance as gently and consistently as possible. To do this, avoid strong soaps and aggressive foaming cleansers that strip the skin's natural protective layer and can further exacerbate dryness. Oil cleansing helps to gently clean the skin without damaging it, and avoiding excessively hot water helps maintain the skin's moisture balance. After showering, it's best to apply body oil when the skin is still slightly damp, as this helps to lock moisture into the skin. In addition, the skin's protective barrier needs fatty acids, antioxidants, and soothing plant-based active ingredients, which high-quality natural oils and medicinal plants naturally contain, for support. Often, dry skin actually needs less irritation, not more active products – excessive exfoliation, strong acids, and an overly complex skincare routine can disrupt the skin's balance. Gentle cleansing, quality oil, and consistent care are usually more effective than dozens of different products at once.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• Why does skin become dry after showering?
  • Hot water and strong cleansers remove the skin's natural protective layer, which helps retain moisture.
• Does body oil moisturize better than cream?
  • Body oil helps lock moisture into the skin and supports the skin's natural protective barrier.
• Is oil cleansing suitable for oily skin?
  • Yes. High-quality oils help balance sebum production and do not over-dry the skin.
• Why prefer cold-pressed oils?
  • Cold-pressed oils retain vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids better, which support skin health.

If your skin feels dry, tight, or sensitive after washing, the solution may lie in gentler and more nourishing skincare. Cold-pressed body oil Bloomik and facial oil Clensik help support the skin's natural protective barrier, lock in moisture, and keep the skin soft, supple, and balanced without feeling heavy. Oil-based care and oil cleansing gently remove dirt and makeup without drying the skin, while providing valuable fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. Discover MaiWistik's cold-pressed body and facial oils, which combine Nordic medicinal plant wisdom and high-quality vegetable oils to support the skin's natural radiance and hydration.

Read more:

• What is natural cosmetics and why is it better for your skin?
• Natural Magicians: How celandine ointment and meadowsweet oil can improve your life?