Skin Flooding: TikTok’s Latest Skincare Trend

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Creating a successful skincare regimen for dry skin can be challenging, particularly given the skin’s varying reactions to different seasons. It’s essential to ensure that your skin receives adequate moisture and hydration to stay nourished for extended periods.

The truth is, when it comes to caring for dry skin, what works for one person may not always work for another. However, a new cutting-edge technique has emerged that appears to be the ultimate solution for keeping your skin hydrated, even on the dryest days – and it’s called “skin flooding.”

This technique is gaining massive popularity on TikTok, with many dry-skinned people praising it as an ideal solution to their skincare concerns. In fact, the hashtag #skinflooding has accumulated over four million views on the platform. But what exactly does it entail?

What Is Skin Flooding

As the name suggests, skin flooding is about flooding your face with products known to improve skin hydration and moisturization. However, it’s a lot more intricate than it sounds. Rather than slather anything on your face, this technique involves strategically layering products to lock moisture and hydration for extended periods.

Although skin flooding may have gained popularity through TikTok, dermatologists have been aware of this technique for some time now. The process involves using various moisturizing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and facial moisturizers, to achieve a profoundly hydrated and healthy-looking complexion.

How Does Skin Flooding Work

Skin flooding is similar to the sandwiching technique. However, while sandwiching aims to reduce some of the unpleasant side effects of retinol in most skin care products, skin flooding focuses on skin hydration.

The fundamental concept of skin flooding revolves around inundating your skin with nourishing and hydrating ingredients to enhance its hydration and moisturization. Key components utilized in this technique are hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, both of which are known for their hydrating properties and play an essential role in improving the skin’s overall appearance.

  • Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the skin, joints, and connective tissues. It is a crucial component of the extracellular matrix, which is responsible for maintaining the skin’s structure and hydration levels. Hyaluronic acid has excellent water-binding properties and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a powerful humectant. Due to these remarkable properties, hyaluronic acid has become a well-recognized ingredient in many hydrating skincare products.

  • Niacinamide

Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin. Niacinamide is a popular ingredient in skincare due to its numerous benefits for the skin. First, it’s known for improving the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. Niacinamide is also anti-inflammatory, making it a versatile and potent ingredient for enhancing the skin’s overall health and appearance.

By incorporating these ingredients and other moisturizing components, the skin flooding technique aims to effectively flood your skin with hydration and achieve a radiant and healthy-looking complexion.

Fostering Product Absorption

The skin flooding technique is about achieving the holy grail of skin goals: maximum hydration, moisturization, and nourishment. However, while this technique involves applying several hydrating products to the skin, these serums and moisturizers must penetrate deep into the epidermal layers to achieve the ideal outcome.

When it comes to optimal skin hydration and nourishment, many people try all sorts of tricks and tools. But if you want to take your routine to the next level, one device stands out: MySkinBuddy.

This cutting-edge device delivers a powerful combination of ultrasonic vibration, LED lights, and thermal heat to help your skin absorb all those nourishing, hydrating ingredients. It is the ideal device to help you quickly achieve the perfect balance of moisture, hydration, and nourishment. MySkinBuddy also features six settings that can be used for a standalone targeted treatment or combined in a series for your mini facial.

Skin Flooding with Bee Naturals

There are dry skins, and there are extremely sensitive skins. Typically, sensitive skin is characterized by dryness, which can result from limited oil production, impair the skin’s ability to maintain a healthy and functional barrier, or cause skin irritation so severe it becomes inflamed.

People with extremely sensitive skin react severely to even the mildest irritants, allergens, or skin care products. Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary to build and maintain the lipid barrier to prevent moisture loss and prevent moisture loss and protect the skin from harmful substances. 

At Bee Natural, we understand how challenging it is to deal with sensitive skin, which is why we’re committed to providing practical solutions. We’ve modified the skin flooding process that’s designed to not only hydrate the skin but also rebuild the lipid barrier. If you have extremely sensitive skin, keep reading to discover our effective skin flooding process using Bee Natural products.

Click here to watch our complete video tutorial on Flooding with Bee Naturals.

Cleanser

Applying a mild cleanser is the first part of skin flooding for dehydrated skin. For this process, we recommend the Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser, a product that thoroughly and gently soothes and hydrates dry skin. It also features a perfect pH balance, ensuring your skin stays moist and soft.

We recommend using the Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser with specialized facial cleansing devices like MySkinBuddy. This device provides the necessary slip to glide effortlessly over the skin. Alternatively, you can replace the Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser with a Restore I Creme Cleanser. They both work effectively.

Creme Mask

After cleansing the face, the next step is to apply a creme mask. This product is ideal for moisturizing and soothing dry, dehydrated, or sensitive skin. You would want to distribute the creme mask evenly across the face, so using a skincare brush is best.

Leave the Creme Mask for 15-20 minutes before wiping it with warm water. It’s normal to feel tingles with this product; however, you can wipe it out as soon as it becomes unbearable.

This product will be available for sale in our online store in April 2023. Click here to pre-order!

Hyaluronic Base

While flooding, a hyaluronic product is typically the first to be applied. Hyaluronic acid has smaller molecules that can help boost the skin’s hydration levels by providing a base, allowing the skin to better absorb and retain active ingredients from other products.

For this step, we use our Hyaluronic Serum for dehydrated, sensitive, and post-procedure complexions. This serum combines ceramides, soothing aloe, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and firming algae extract, all working to nourish, support, hydrate, and renew fragile skin. Apply a generous amount to the freshly cleansed skin.

Niacinamide Base

After using the hyaluronic serum, it’s time to apply a niacinamide base. For this process, we recommend Bee Naturals’ Oil-Free Moisturizing Facial Serum. This facial serum is a lightweight, gentle, oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizing serum that provides moisture and hydration essential for all skin types.

The facial serum also doubles as a 6% niacinamide serum, which is the next essential ingredient for the skin flooding technique. This unique formula contains fever extracts to reduce acne and severe skin inflammation.

Restore II Hydrate

The first step to building the lipid barrier is using a ceramide-rich product. The Restore II Hydrate Serum is a ceramide-enriched product with essential building blocks for creating and maintaining a robust skin barrier that protects against environmental threats. This serum helps the skin stay hydrated, moisturized, and younger.

Apply this serum over the other products and, once again, use MySkinBuddy. We recommend using the green light setting for five minutes. The green LED light setting is optimal for individuals with hyperpigmentation and redness and helps spread the product evenly across the face.

Oil-Based Moisturizer

The second phase of rebuilding the lipid barrier involves using an oil-based moisturizer. Bee Natural’s Restore III Moisturize delivers the final vital step to build and maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier. This oil-based serum aids in moisturizing and sealing the components in Restore II Hydrate Serum. This, in turn, assists in repairing and nourishing your skin for more extended periods.

The Restore III Moisturize Serum also contains CoQ10, which supports skin tightening and hydration, and Squalene, another vital ingredient in building a barrier. Again, MySkinBuddy can help ensure the product penetrates deep into the skin. Use the device in “disco mode” for five minutes. This setting cycles through all light therapies and vibrations, giving the skin a bit of everything.

The importance of rebuilding your skin’s lipid barrier cannot be overstated. A damaged moisture barrier cannot prevent water loss, which results in constant dryness, regardless of how often you flood your skin. The skin also loses its shield against external irritants, pollutants, and pathogens, increasing sensitivity, irritation, and regular breakouts.

As such, rebuilding the skin’s moisture barrier is essential for restoring and maintaining healthy, hydrated, and resilient skin.

Clean and Gentle Facial Moisturizer

For the final process of the flooding technique, we top everything off with an excellent, thick moisturizer. The Clean and Gentle Facial Moisturizer provides a good seal over the top of all the other products.

If you want the best outcome from skin flooding, you must get your hands on this! It is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic but provides a long-lasting barrier. Furthermore, it gets absorbed slowly, which is good as it gives enough time for other products to work their magic.

Benefits of Skin Flooding

The concept of skin flooding is that maintaining the skin’s moisture facilitates optimal absorption and effectiveness of skin care products. Applying hyaluronic acid and other serums with smaller molecules onto damp skin can assist in drawing moisture in, resulting in deeper skin hydration. The benefits of skin flooding include the following;

  • Improving hydration
  • Brightening the skin
  • Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
  • Even skin tone and texture
  • Providing a youthful-looking complexion.

However, while skin flooding is a largely safe method, it has possible adverse effects on sensitive skin. Heavy occlusive treatments on very dry or sensitive skin might clog pores and cause irritation and breakouts. 

Some other skin conditions associated with a damaged moisture barrier can flare up following skin flooding. Hence, people with such skin should follow our specialized skin flooding process and explore the vast range of Bee Natural’s products in hydrating the skin and building the moisture barrier.

Simple. Effective Summer Skincare

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How To Get A Perfectly Even Complexion: Part 1 of 2

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Did you know hormones, sun exposure, acne, heat, and more could be contributing to your uneven skin tone?

There is great diversity in the color of human skin around the world. But whatever each person’s unique shade may be, the general desire is for uniformity of skin color; no splotches of discoloration, spots, or other changes in pigmentation. 

But… is it possible to get a perfectly even complexion? The answer may surprise you.

Before exploring the causes behind hyperpigmentation and skin discoloration, it is important to first understand pigmentation.

Pigmentation refers to darkening or lightening of the skin. It is a part of how your skin works as it reacts to external factors.

Melanin is the pigment that produces skin color. While it provides pigmentation in humans, it also plays an important biological role by providing protection against damage from the sun and UV light. 

Melanin is produced in skin cells called melanocytes that live in the outermost layer of our skin. Think about these like pigment factories that can be triggered to produce melanin.

Fun fact: Scientists theorize that evolution over hundreds of thousands of years is responsible for the diverse palette of human skin tones we see around the world today. Our ancestors developed permanent pigmentation levels in their skin as a form of natural protection against the sun. Most skin pigmentation (coloration) disorders that break up your otherwise even skin tone are completely harmless, such as birthmarks and freckles. It is likewise normal to see new discolorations appear on our skin as we age. However, you may be interested to learn there are well-defined causes and treatments for some of these skin issues. Preventative measures may also be taken to improve your skin’s chances of achieving even coloring.

Back to Your Skin. What is Hyperpigmentation?

When excess melanin is produced, you have hyperpigmentation. 

Hyperpigmentation is a term that describes a common, usually harmless occurrence where the skin changes to flat, darkened patches due to the overproduction of melanin. 

This can make spots and patches of skin appear darker than surrounding areas. It can occur in small patches, cover large areas, and even affect the entire body. Common examples of hyperpigmentation include freckles, acne marks, age spots (also called liver spots), and melasma.

Most Common Causes of Hyperpigmentation

Some people (maybe you) have always noticed some areas of their skin are different shades. 

If this is a new development, it’s likely the hyperpigmentation can be linked to something your skin experienced.

Inflammatory Causes

Ultraviolet Radiation (Hello, Sun!) 

That nice tan you have? Your skin doesn’t love it. The majority of pigmentation occurrences are caused by sun damage. Age or liver spots are the most common form of skin hyperpigmentation, and they occur due to sun damage. These small, darkened patches are usually found on the hands, face, or other areas frequently exposed to the sun.

Photomelanosis is increased pigmentation due to sun exposure, most commonly found on the face, neck and back. These areas may appear patchy or as diffused darkening.

Heat

Heat can be a trigger for melanocytes to start over-producing melanin! You’re more likely to wind up with heat-induced dark spots if you’re Asian, African-American, or Latinx, since susceptibility to hyperpigmentation is genetic.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (also called PIH)

This type of hyperpigmentation is linked to inflammatory causes that may have happened YEARS before you see the dark spots. When trauma occurs to your skin, melanocytes create melanin which then slowly rises to the surface.

Skin Experimentation 

Any harsh act that has occurred on your skin can cause hyperpigmentation in the future. Chemical peels, Microdermabrasion, Retin-A, and harsh facial scrubs are commonly linked to hyperpigmentation. 

Skin Injuries

Picking at blemishes causes injury to the skin. And skin remembers. If you picked at acne as a teenager, it’s likely as an adult you will see slightly darker spots of pigmentation emerging from beneath layers of skin. 

Hormonal Causes

Melasma, or Chloasma, affects 90% of pregnant women. It shows up as spots or patches which are similar in appearance to age spots, but cover larger areas of skin. These will often appear on the forehead, face, and stomach. This is a type of hyperpigmentation caused by abnormal hormone levels in the body. Its surprise appearance could be influenced by pregnancy, ovarian or thyroid dysfunction, or even the contraceptive pill.

 

Treatment for Hyperpigmentation

exfoliating-face-woman

Exfoliate regularly to break up the pigmented cells to allow them to fade. 

Look for a lightening moisturizer that contains one (or some) of the ingredients on the list below!

The top recommended product from Bee Naturals is MelaClear Pigment Lightening Creme. This product is suitable for any skin type and contains all-natural, collaborative ingredients–Daisy Blossom Extract, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), and Panthenol (Vitamin B5)–to lighten UV induced pigmentation without bleaching surrounding skin. 

Consider a series of corrective skin peels or cosmetic procedures to lighten areas of the skin. Options include the following: laser therapy, intense pulsed light, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels.

Time. This is the hardest thing, we know! It can feel like an eternity to treat hyperpigmentation. You won’t see drastic results immediately, but that doesn’t mean the brightening ingredients you’re using are ineffective. Place your trust in the science of skincare, be patient and allow your skin to naturally fade while consistently using sunscreen and other topical remedies–like the ones mentioned below.

Our Favorite Ingredients for Hyperpigmentation & Uneven Skin Tone

Alpha Arbutin: A choice brightening ingredient that is a lower strength derivative of hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is one of the most effective skin-lightening and spot-fading ingredients on the market, however, it can be harsh on your skin. Alpha Arbutin is a safer option which works by slowly releasing hydroquinone over time.

Kojic Acid: This ingredient is known to disrupt the production of melanin. It is a mild skin exfoliator which works to remove freckles and brown spots and also gets rid of the skin’s roughness and dryness.

Licorice Extract: Licorice extracts inhibits the production of tyrosinase, which in turn inhibits the production of dark spots. It also removes excess melanin and acts as a skin brightener!

Pea Extract: This ingredient keeps specific enzymes known as proteases from degrading skin proteins such as collagen and elastic, which are responsible for giving skin its firmness and elasticity. It protects your skin against the damaging effects of proteases activated by different types of skin abuse and the aging process

Resveratrol: An antioxidant found naturally in red grape skins. Resveratrol restores skin health by attracting and neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals in the skin can cause premature signs of aging and are created by too much time in the sun or environmental pollutants. Resveratrol’s topical application aids in the regeneration of healthier, longer-living skin cells which push dead, dying cells to the surface to reveal young-looking, more vibrant skin.

Combination Ingredients to Look For

skincare ingredients

Bearberry Extract with Vitamin C: This powerful skin lightening combination is found in skincare products, made from bearberry leaves extract and vitamin C. Contains a natural form of hydroquinone that inhibits production of melanin pigments in skin cells.

Lightening Herbal Blend: A blend of alpine plants, including Malva Sylvestris, Mentha

 Piperita, Primula Veris, Alchemilla Vulgaris, Veronica Officinalis, Melissa Officinalis, and Achillea Millefolium. This blend inhibits the production of melanin pigments, reduces the appearance of age spots and evens out skin tone.

Amino Acid (phenylalanine) and lipids: Unique skin lightening agent made from natural amino acids. Inhibits the production of melanin, lightens age spots and dark skin areas.

Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa) Roots: A natural plant extract obtained from the roots of punarnava. Can reduce the number of different types of hyperpigmentation spots. 

Starflower: The active ingredient (hypoxoside) is derived from Rooperi Rhizome extract. It has been shown to reduce the production of melanin in hyperactive melanocytes. It has effective properties helping to fade age spots, freckles, and hyperpigmentation.

How Can I Prevent Hyperpigmentation?

If you found our page, it may be too late to prevent what you already see on your skin. 

But, great news! There are steps you can start taking today to prevent and manage future hyperpigmentation events!

sunscreen-redhead-womanAvoid exposure to the sun. Consider using a daily sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. This serves to prevent the hyperpigmentation from becoming more prominent.

Avoid picking at the skin. Avoid picking at acne and scabs to prevent hyperpigmentation from occurring via skin damage. 

The formation of dark spots and freckles are common amongst people living in tropical climates. Always, always put on sunscreen before going out.

Using the right products and ingredients to treat dark spots and pigmentation will help in the long run. Prevention should always be your focus! 

To answer our earlier question, “Is it possible to get a perfectly even complexion?” The answer is YES (with some exceptions such as freckles and birthmarks). It takes time and commitment to the process. Hang in there! It will get better.

Additional Bee Naturals products to support your journey to a perfect complexion:

Bee Naturals is here for you! Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about the skin you’re in. 

You can call (573) – 242 – 3475 or contact us for a personalized skincare consultation- we want to help!

 

References

Clean Beauty: What It Is and Why It Matters (A BeeNaturals Guide)

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It’s about more than cosmetics

In 2004, a British researcher named Philippa Darbre found traces of parabens in breast cancer tumors. At the time, cosmetics manufacturers used parabens extensively as a preservative. Though the data behind that particular study was not very strong, it was a wake-up call.

Suddenly, more consumers than ever started to engage in a broader conversation about cosmetics. They wanted to know what effect these products have on individuals throughout the world.

At first, the dialogue seemed little more than a fear-based grasping at straws. News outlets would report on scary scientific studies and offer little context. They would leave those without firsthand knowledge with little choice but to either overreact or ignore the studies altogether.

But something positive came out of Darbre’s research. Through it, she sounded an alarm that enabled many of us to ask more insightful questions about our beauty products. 

This new conversation is called Clean Beauty.

The term Clean Beauty represents a positive discussion around cosmetics. It’s about the ingredients themselves, as well as how they are obtained, packaged, and produced. It’s about how cosmetics affect us as individuals and as citizens of the world.

In this guide, we’ll talk about what Clean Beauty is and what it is not. Throughout, we’ll provide you with information on how you can make more positive choices concerning your skincare.

What “Clean Beauty” Is Not

As we enter this discussion, I’d like to make a few things clear.

First, Clean Beauty is not about what brand you choose.

Clean Beauty does not set out to put down other serious cosmetics professionals who are endeavoring to do good work. It’s not a conversation in which we denigrate the brands found in expensive mall shops or the corner drug store.

Many of them do excellent work within specific parameters. Their choices, while not always “clean” in this particular sense, aren’t necessarily dangerous.

Second, Clean Beauty is not merely about what is “toxic” or “non-toxic.”

The reason is simple: toxicity is about dose and exposure.

For example, those who drink eight glasses of water a day tend to have clearer, more supple skin. Their kidneys function more freely, and they often find it easier to lose weight. People who have the correct dose of water even tend to think more clearly.

But people who drink too much water can go into a coma, have seizures, or even die. The dose is what makes the difference.

Here’s another example that’s a little more relevant to cosmetics. 

Though we at BeeNaturals don’t use SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) for a variety of reasons, many do. In large doses, the stuff is hazardous. But assuming normal use, nearly everyone who applies it to skin or hair is safe from its adverse effects.

Third, Clean Beauty is not about being “superior.”

Though I like to point out the benefits of Clean Beauty to people, everyone makes cosmetics purchases based on a variety of factors. These factors include access and affordability. I wouldn’t want these factors to get in the way of a BeeNaturals purchase. However, I would hate it if someone felt embarrassed that their favorite products aren’t technically “clean.”

When it comes to this topic, I also think about the pressures parents face. It’s tough being a mom or dad. I prefer not to make anyone feel guilty about what skincare products they use — or do not use — on their child. 

Parents have a hard enough time as it is. Let’s leave the personal judgment out of this particular topic.

Finally, Clean Beauty is not about what’s missing from a product.

Clean formulation isn’t just saying, “We don’t use X product. Therefore, it’s clean!” There’s a lot more to it than that.

Here is what I believe the conversation should be about.

What Is Clean Beauty?

Clean Beauty is mindfully choosing cosmetics based on four main factors:

  1. Ingredients that positively impact a person’s skin, hair, and well-being
  2. Hygienic manufacturing practices
  3. Ethical and transparent production
  4. Sustainability

That’s a lot to digest, so let’s take them one at a time.

1. Clean Beauty is about positive personal impact

When I was working forty hours a week as a nurse, I washed my hands dozens of times a day. The soap I used was “effective” in the technical sense. I was disinfecting my hands, but they became painfully dry and cracked as a result.

Eventually, I began to mindfully choose (and then make) soaps with ingredients that would not only clean my skin but also nourish it. When I did that, I was embarking on the path we now call Clean Beauty. 

As I make soaps, I want to use the best nature has to offer, like avocado oil, coconut oil, and glycerin. But ingredients that are the product of science — if they have a positive effect on a person’s wellbeing — can also be “clean.” 

As mentioned in a previous article, “soap” in any form cannot be natural. It’s the result of a chemical process called “saponification.” When someone says they want “natural soap,” they’re contradicting themselves!

However, the chemical decyl glucoside (an ingredient in our most gentle soaps) is widely regarded as safe, non-toxic, and non-inflammatory. By any measure, it’s a candidate for “Clean Beauty,” even if scientists formulated it in a laboratory.

Remember, it’s not where the ingredient comes from that makes it “clean.” It’s the effect it has on you as a whole person.

2. Clean Beauty products are produced hygienically 

In food production, workers must follow strict guidelines as they handle, store, and wash food. They are required to meet specific standards to protect those of us who eventually eat the food. When manufacturers don’t follow these practices carefully, the results can be disastrous.

The cosmetics industry has similar requirements. However, beauty products are made all over the world. Cosmetics companies may or may not consistently check to make sure their manufacturers are meeting hygiene standards.

For those who care about Clean Beauty, we want our products to be clean literally.

One of the reasons I feel so proud of our BeeNaturals products is that I know how they’re made! As a Missouri company, we produce all of our products in my home state under my supervision. We are very conscious about hygiene.

That’s not to say products produced in other parts of the world are not made hygienically. I just believe cosmetics producers must continually check that their manufacturers are meeting standards.

3. Clean Beauty products are created ethically and transparently

We who are concerned with Clean Beauty aren’t just thinking about the product itself and how it’s made. We want to know that the ingredients are obtained ethically. And we want our cosmetics manufacturers to be able to offer proof when asked. 

For example, Squalane oil, an ingredient found in nearly every moisturizer, came from shark liver for many years. 

Now, since the same oil can be found in many botanicals (including olives), there’s no reason to continue the unethical practice of over-fishing these endangered species. Yet, despite the positive strides we’ve made all over the world, it continues to occur.

There are other similar practices throughout cosmetics. For those of us concerned about Clean Beauty, we only want to do business with companies who are transparent about where they source their ingredients and how they’re tested. 

That’s why BeeNaturals is Leaping Bunny Certified — our products are never tested on animals or come from ingredients that harm animals in any way.

4. Clean Beauty products are good for the environment

Though we can tie this point to #3, this addresses a much broader topic. It asks if the company making the product is doing so in a sustainable way. Clean Beauty products must make the lowest possible environmental impact, reducing pollution at every stage in the product’s lifecycle.

Increasingly, customers want proof their cosmetics are made using sustainable practices. That’s why savvy manufacturers — as well as those with a conscience — are working harder to “go green.” 

At BeeNaturals, we value the Green Chemistry philosophy. 

For example, our product packages are fully recyclable, and the paper products are 100% compostable. In our stores and manufacturing facility, we produce next to no trash — most of what passes through our doors can be recycled or reused in some way.

Additionally, we don’t use any hazardous chemicals, so our products themselves are safe for the environment.

BeeNaturals: The difference Clean Beauty can make

I founded BeeNaturals because I wanted to combine the very best of science and nature to create products that promote healthy skin for our customer’s overall well-being. That last word, “wellbeing,” is what it’s all about — and that means more than just feeling better when you look in the mirror.

To “be well,” we must consider more factors than whether or not our product works. We want to use products that do not harm our bodies or the environment. We want to use products that promote a better world. 

For those of you who have chosen BeeNaturals for your skin, thank you for buying products that are kind to our world. 

For those of you who would like to be a part of the Clean Beauty movement, check out our products or schedule a spa treatment.

And my wish for you, in whatever you do, is to be well.  

Conquering Dry Skin: The Bee Naturals Guide

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Warm climate or cool, there’s relief for those who suffer from Dry Skin (xerosis cutis), no matter their skin type.

Dry skin (xerosis cutis) is more than an occasional annoyance for many in the world. Even those in warm, tropical climates deal with it! But ‘dry skin’ is a broad and general description for several different skin conditions.

Skin is the largest organ of the body and serves many functions to keep us healthy and regulated. If we don’t treat the underlying causes of dry skin, a whole host of not-fun symptoms can become aggravated, such as:

  • Irritation
  • Inflammation
  • Skin sensitivity
  • Rosacea
  • Allergic dermatitis

In this guide, I hope to help those of you who suffer from itchy, dry skin understand what’s really going on. I’ll also show you how to address your unique situation and even share products that I believe can help almost anyone.

What causes dry skin?

Though there are too many factors to address in detail here, those with dry skin have lost excessive amounts of water or moisture from their skin. This is also referred to as TEWL—Transepidermal Water Loss.

This water loss is the result of impaired or inadequate skin moisturizing factors, including:

  • Sebum (the oils your skin secrets naturally)
  • Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) (the cocktail of chemicals that keep skin hydrated)
  • Aquaporin (proteins that channel water in the skin)
  • Stratum corneum lipids (more on this in a moment)

With inadequate amounts and ratios of these vital skin factors, the skin loses too much moisture to evaporation. Then, it becomes dry, dull, irritated—not to mention itchy and flaky!

There’s little moisture to keep it plump and healthy, further compounded by a lack of skin lipids to help hold or seal in the much-needed moisture for normal, healthy skin.

The Hydration Problem

The stratum corneum plays a critical role in the skin’s ability to maintain skin hydration. First, a little background.

The stratum corneum is made up of keratinocytes surrounded by ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. Think of it this way:

  • The stratum corneum is the outer layer of the skin
  • Keratinocytes are the skin cells that produce keratin, the protein that forms a protective layer on the skin
  • Ceramides are waxy molecules that limit moisture loss

When these components are present in adequate amounts, the skin is balanced, healthy, protected, and watertight. Yay! That’s what we want!

But when these critical substances are out of balance, the skin cells are not as neatly ‘glued’ together as they should be. The skin appears dull and flaky. It often feels tight and itchy.

Before we continue, here’s some esthetician insider lingo!

Whenever you hear a discussion about skincare, here are some terms you’ll run into. (Now, you’ll feel like a pro!)

Humectants

These are water-soluble ingredients that attract water to the skin and help ‘plump’ tissues. Look for ingredients such as:

  • Glycerin
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Honey
  • Panthenol
  • Lactic acid

A quick note for those who live in dry or high-altitude environments: humectants can have the opposite effect in low humidity. So, don’t go overboard!

Occlusives

These are moisturizers that have a high percentage of lipids or fatty ingredients. Not only do they help prevent the evaporation of water from the skin, but they also soften rough skin (emollience).

Typically heavier and oily-feeling, they tend to sit on the surface and not absorb rapidly into the skin.

Emollients

These oily substances also help smooth, soften, and lubricate the skin. They reduce that “tight feeling” and absorb into the skin more quickly than occlusive ingredients.

Dermatitis

This is simply irritation or inflammation of the skin. Specific environmental factors and product ingredients can cause it, among a wide variety of other variables.

Eczema

This is a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed with blisters. Eczema is nasty. It causes itching and bleeding, sometimes resulting from a reaction to irritation (eczematous dermatitis), but more typically has no apparent external cause.

How to Care for Your Dry Skin

Once you know what you’re dealing with, caring for dry skin is relatively straightforward. Since your skin’s watertight barrier is impaired and NMF is diminished, you have to proceed with caution to care for your skin.

First, moisturize your environment

Dry skin conditions always worsen in the dry, cold winter months when humidity is already lower. What’s worse, forced hot air reduces the moisture in the air even more. You feel it all over your body, whether you know it or not.

So, do yourself a favor. Use humidifiers and vaporizers. Let them moisturize the air around you.

Baths, Showers, and Soaps

Baths and showers can do a lot of damage to our skin! When it’s time to get clean:

  • Try to limit baths and showers to no more than once daily (or less if you’re brave)
  • Use warm rather than hot water
  • Use a smaller amount of skin cleanser
  • Keep it brief

Then, look out for the soap you use, especially avoiding foaming cleansers. Many of them are harsh on dry skin. They dissolve and wash away too much of the protective oil on your skin, contributing to the dryness cycle. And nobody wants to contribute to the dryness cycle!

Instead, opt for a creamy type of skin cleanser that contains mild, new-generation cleansing agents. You’re looking for low-foam or no-foam cleansers, like our Bath and Body Oil and Luxury Creme Body Wash.

Moisturizers

Next, dry skin needs more than just emollients (creams, lotions, and gels).

It needs moisture, so it’s imperative to apply heavier, occlusive moisturizers immediately after bathing to ‘seal’ in the moisture and slow water loss. Effective hydrating moisturizers often contain occlusive ingredients like:

  • Glycerin
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Honey (that’s where BeeNaturals gets its name!)

Products that contain beeswax, cocoa butter, and shea butter provide a better occlusive barrier to help prevent TEWL. Moisturizers of this type typically have a heavier or greasier feel. But if your skin is dry, “heavy” and “greasy” can be a very good thing as the day wears on.

It may be helpful to apply a lighter, water-laden moisturizer first, like our Hydra 72-hour Moisture Reservoir. Then, you can use a more substantial product over the first, like our Glow Body Butter.

Unsure what to do next?

All of this information can be overwhelming, especially if your skin is compromised by another factor, such as age, allergies, or sensitivities you already have.

Please feel free to contact us and we can help you get started.