When Dry Skin Doesn’t Feel Dry

Dry skin doesn’t always feel dry.

Here are some typical signs of dry skin that don’t exactly feel like your skin is dry:

• Chronic itching. If you’re scratching constantly, such as during the hot summer days, you might have dry skin. A good body care routine isn’t about having the best and most expensive products. It’s really about a good routine. You may be rubbing your skin throughout the day, without realizing it, or perhaps you wake up in the morning with signs of small cuts from vigorous scratching while asleep. These are all signs that your skin is parched.

• Ashy skin. Ashy skin looks a bit faded, may have a slight grey sheen, and looks anything but young, plump and dewy. Ashy skin is often accompanied by flaking, scaly patches (they may look slightly reptilian in appearance), or even peeling. Ashy skin is more obvious on darker skin tones and is a classic sign of dry skin. It often appears on the parts of the body that you don’t focus on, like on the backs or fronts of your lower legs, your knees, and your elbows.

• Cracked riverbed skin. When a scaly look to the skin escalates, it can take on a cracked riverbed appearance. The edges of each scaly patch may be prone to bleeding and it may feel itchy, sensitive and even catch on fabrics from your clothing. Sometimes, when the milder signs of dry skin are regularly ignored, the skin can progress to this difficult state. Some parts of the body are chronically exposed to rougher conditions via friction, like our heels. Due to the natural development of callouses on that part of the body, sometimes, dry heels can transform into thick, crusty, cracked shells that feel uncomfortable.

So what does healthy skin look and feel like?

Healthy skin appears firm and smooth, without visible signs of ashiness, redness, or patching. There won’t be any deep riverbed cracks, nor are there mysterious signs of scratching that appear in the morning. It should not feel sensitive to fabrics or extreme temperatures of hot or cold water.

When the skin is itchy, ashy or cracked, the best thing to do is to start feeding it moisture from within.

Drinking more or less water will not directly affect the condition of your skin. While being in a state of thirst doesn’t help, drinking more water won’t necessarily bring your skin back to its ideal condition.

As the skin becomes more hydrated, you should see improvements, such as less itching, reduced sensitivity to fabrics or external conditions, no further entanglement with clothing items, and the return of a natural sheen.

If your skin is in more of a distressed state, such as having cracked heels or intense scaliness, pick up a weekly habit of exfoliating. Removing the dead skin that is no longer being supplied with moisture from the deeper layers of the skin will reveal younger, more healthy skin. Following up on exfoliation with a nourishing cream helps feed and nourish the top layer of the skin.

Regularly applying high-quality creams and oils, best if crafted from botanical ingredients with active benefits, will help rebuild the skin barrier. As time goes by, with the right products and regular application, the skin will require less frequent moisturization to be soft and healthy!

High efficacy products make a difference

Sometimes, people reach a state of accepting that one’s skin will feel slightly itchy, or mildly scaly because the creams they are using don’t have lasting results. The creams seem to help for 1 - 2 hours, but the results fade quickly. The skin may even feel drier a few hours after application.

This is why ingredients matter.

Many drugstore creams contain only a few, if any, active ingredients that support the skin’s health. They can contain drying fragrances or masking agents designed to make the product feel nice. They may also include parabens, dyes, and other fillers that decrease the potency of the product. For every pump of these types of creams, you are receiving only a limited benefit.

Our products contain 15 - 25 active botanical ingredients in every bottle. They’re also free of fillers, which we define as: Silicones, Mineral oil, Palm oil, Petrochemicals, Parabens, Polyethylene, Sulfates, GMO, DEA/TEA, Phthalates, Drying Alcohol, Synthetic dyes or fragrances, Gluten or Animal by-products.

Say goodbye to dry skin by getting started on a regular moisturizing habit.

Velli | Sandalwood Dewy Body Lotion is formulated with Avocado Oil, Vitamin B5, Cucumber Extract, and Shea Butter. Together, the ingredients can cool the skin, soothe irritation, lock in moisture, support the skin’s healing, and relieve puffiness.

Cloud | Fragrance Free Body Cream is a thicker formula, perfect for extremely dry skin. With Camellia Oil, Meadowfoam Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, and Oatmeal Extract, the cream helps with the skin’s ability to retain moisture, helps fight oxidation, and resolves any itching. It is rapidly absorbed without a greasy residue.

Sky | Fragrance Free Body Souffle is ideal for those with sensitive dry skin. Ultra-hydrating, it contains Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, and Mango Butter. The souffle reduces water loss, calms inflammation, prevents dryness and flaking, and treats dehydrated skin by feeding it with essential fatty acids.