ASK DR. DIMA - COSMETIC & ANTI-AGING GURU
MissRo here! It's one thing to read all of our fabulous product reviews, it's another thing to actually hear from the creator of that product! Well, that is what's happening today with Dr. Dima!
In most of the Western hemisphere it's winter and naturally I think we all look for products that are going to be richer, heavier moisturizers to combat our dry skin. Well, Dr. Dima recently received a question about dry winter skin and what to do. Check it out below!
Dear Dr. Dima,
Every winter my skin gets very, very dry. I’ve tried so many moisturizers but none of them really work and some leave my skin feeling really greasy. Can you please help? Wendy W. in NYC
Dear Wendy,
What a relevant question for this time of year!
We’re all on the verge of a very predictable cycle that goes something like this: cold weather approaches > complaints of dry skin increase > moisturizer sales rise > dry skin gets worse > we buy “better, stronger” creams and lotions that we use more frequently and so on...Unfortunately, the “moisture myth,” has as much validity as the old wives tale about catching a cold if you go out with wet hair. The fact is that moisturizing is one of the biggest marketing ploys in the history of skincare because it masks rather than treats the underlying cause of dry skin.
The uppermost layer of skin is called the stratum corneum and it’s where cells called keratinocytes replicate. This is the layer we slather with a variety of moisturizers promising to keep skin youthful, soft and “hydrated.” However, moisturizing (or, more specifically, over moisturizing) is analogous to filling a balloon with a hole at the bottom...you’ll never get it full, even if you continue to fill it because it’s leaking at the other end. When skin feels dry, it’s because the intercellular lipids (the “rich fluid” that bathes the cells) is reduced leading to a decrease in the barrier function of the skin. Most of the moisturizers on the market do not contain the ingredients needed to boost, repair and protect the intercellular matrix. Some of these vital ingredients include amino acids, fatty acids, hyaluronic acid and phospholipids. These bind together to make the “mortar” that holds the keratinocytes (“the bricks”) together. Whether the necessary ingredients to protect and maintain the integrity of healthy skin are packaged in a toner, a night cream, a serum, a sunblock or a traditional “moisturizer” is irrelevant. If the matrix between the keratinocytes is constantly disrupted, even the heaviest moisturizer won’t help.
The bottom line is that it’s not about moisturizing at all. It’s about applying the right product to replenish and “SKINSULATE” your largest organ to allow proper functioning of your cells and prevention of water loss. An example of a product that effectively does this is Galactic Glove – Seal Your Skin Serum with Anti-Oxidants. For best results, apply immediately after cleansing while your skin is still moist. You’ll feel the difference immediately!
Sincerely, Dr. Dima
Well, there you have it Megheads! Also, Cosminology is having a promotion on the Galactic Glove where you get 10% off with code: WINTER09.
Do you have a question for Dr. Dima? You can ask her directly yourself by emailing her at askdrdima@cosminology.com.
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Comments
that picture is freaky, im not exactly sure whats going on....But thanks for the valuble info! I started using a retanoin at night and I just started last week. My face is a little dry right now... which should be a god send considering its normally and all out oil slick. But I wear mineral makeup and anyone else who does knows that mineral makeup makes any dry spots on your face look a TRILLION times drier and fakier!! EEEEk!!I need something to sooth and will actually moisturize my skin!!I normally dont wear a moistuizer in the mornings, so I need something very lightweight but will do its job!will have to check this out!
Tan is Love
I think that's supposed to be someone with dry, cracked skin?
A wonderful informative review with perfect timing for winter (and those of us who can't find their HG of skincare). Every so often my usual skincare line is in need of a change-off. This sounds like something definitely worth checking into. Does anyone use this entire line? Do some of the products in this line deliver better than others? Just wondering, I find that sometimes happens with other skincare lines. I'm mixing Dior and Peter Roth right now. Hey, I'm always open for a new fantastic bottle of confidence to come into my life! This line and the 'galactic glove' sounds great. Thanks so much!
I have used the Galactic glove and it ROCKS!! I was sent a sample with the mineral compact I got from Dr Dima.I agree with Punkydew that pic is freaky, what is up with that?
Thanks for this article! I noticed that my skin has been flaking lately & have been trying to prevent this. Off to check out this product...
I don't suffer from exceptionally dry skin, but I bet my Mom would love this. Thanks
Indi
I was always under the impression that moisture for your skin came from within. Meaning you need to drink lots of water, and not the 8 glasses a day but around 110 ounces. Other drinks don't count. I had heard that moisturizer really is your SKINSULATE (love that word)as the good doctor says, to help keep all that good moisture from evaporating out of your largest organ. Seems like what I read in my old medical books is still true today.
wow! this looks like it could work for me!
I have oily skin so have never had a problem with dryness, except on my hands in the winter. But I do know others with dry skin and they hate it. I have heard that drinking lots of water to improve the moisture of your skin is actually a myth (from a medical dermatology website). So who really knows what to believe in this day and age. There is so much conflicting information out there concerning skin care, even from experts and doctors.Oh, and skin cells do not replicate in the stratum corneum. They are dead by the time they get there. They replicate lower down in the stratum germinativum and migrate up as they die.
Thanks allmaple for your comment. I used the term stratum corneum/epidermis in a more general sense but, you're right, cells do replicate in the stratum basale. But my intention in responding to this question was not to give an anatomy lesson. If you want to be really accurate, the cells in the stratum basale are keratinocytes as well. Again, that was beyond the scope of my response.
Well...that explains it. I live in Maryland and its just begun to get chilly here in the early mornings but by mid morning its very nice out BUT my hands tell a different story, especially my cuticles and my cheeks are feeling drier too. I read the post twice just so I could absorb all the information. I am going to the web site after I post this. My hands and face will thank me and I am giving a big heartfelt thanks to Dr. Dima
That makes so much sense, I've never really understood why the different seasons had such an effect on my skin.
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thanks for the explanation!!!i've always been looking for a moisturiser that will hydrate my skin fully since it's super dry during winter and somewhat dry during summer as well (unless i'm sweating like a pig). i wish this moisturiser contained spf though!
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What a great article, thanks, its always so nice to hear from the creators or business owners. Also thanks for explaining the whole skin absorbing moiustire thing, very informative
I don't think drinking water to moisturise your skin is 100% myth. Probably drinking it excessively would not make your skin any better than drinking a moderate amount. I don't drink much water myself. But on days when I drank more, my skin was clearer and more supple the next day. We are after all ~70% water, and our skin is the largest organ we have. I like the idea of "skinsulation". I come from a humid country. When I visit colder & drier climates, my hands felt the dry air almost immediately. I have to constantly re-apply hand cream to prevent them from "cracking".
wow, haha it was that freaky picture that drew me in to this article. I don't usually get dry skin around winter, but the bottom of my feet and sometimes fingertips get a little dry-ish and the skin just cracks/flakes off. It's weird. Anyways good article, lots of great info.
this sounds amazing.....Have any of you girls used it yet? Please let me know what you think. This may go on my xmas list for this year :)
Thanks for the article. I don;'t have any questions yet, but I'll definately get back to you/.
Thanks for the info! I usually don't get extremely dry skin on my face in the winter because my skin is on the oily side, but my mom would love this product.
Great information! I have the same issue when winter rolls around. Dry skin is the absolute worse when it comes to wearing makeup.
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Great advice, love this article MissRo! Thanks for the valuable information.
I'm with Gigi, great, practical advice, thank you! I love learning about the science behind the science. It's nice of the good doctor to answer our questions like that!
i never really noticed that cream prices go up in the winter times.....though it makes sense, but wow.this was quite informative, especially when the balloon example was usedThanks
That pic is freaky but I have to try this stuff. My face is getting drier cause of teh drop in temperature. and its awesome there is a discount code for megheads!
Very informative post, thanks MissRo, I find that I'm always getting more and more advice from here to share with my dear sister and my neice. She suffers from severe dry skin, I can only imagine how bad it gets in the winter.
That is so enlightening! There are times when I've gone overboard with my acne treatments that my skin ends up so dried up! No matter how much moisturizer I apply, it still ends up dry at the end of the day. Now I know why, thanks Dr. Dima!
My face is always so oily I hardly have a problem with it in the winter. I do get some dry spots on my hands though. On the other hand, my face does become dehydrated every once in a while, due to all the acne products I use. I bet something like this would really help with that.
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I'm dying to try anything from Dr. Dima but this sounds like the best place to start. I don't believe in the power of beauty or makeup without starting with a healthy foundation first. Healthy body, mind, and peaceful spirit. I know that I'm not at peace when my skin is a mess, be it peeling, dry, zit ridden, oily or just plain dirty. I have always thought I suffered from extremely oily skin, like Rescue the Seals type oil situation, but I learned quite a while ago to not be afraid of using oil or moisturizers because the oil may be from my skin overcompensating because it is dry. Took me a minute to wrap my brain around it but it makes a lot of sense. Even more now after reading Dr. Dima's advice. Thank you for continually reviewing her products. I can't wait to try them
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This time of the year is so difficult with skincare. The dryness and the redness from the cold..This is really great advice!
With the winters in New England this product is a definate must have!
Oh my God my skin does that every winter-dry as the desert then I panic and moisturise like crazy and hey presto breakout-kinda a vicious skin cycle.Thanks for explaining that.So making sure to drink enough water and galactic glove serum should sort my skin out.
PotionPrincess♥
I thought I had moderately dry skin when I lived in California... But now that I'm in New York, it's a million times worse! Thanks for sharing :]
xoxo
i never used to use moisturiser in the morning as every day moisturiser used to break me out so badly it wasn't funny. When i started using mineral foundation, it became really obvious that you really need to moisturise as it shows up every little flake. I use my night cream in the morning now instead. I spray a little fix+ on my face first and massage a teeny amount in and it keeps my face moisturised well and i don't break out by doing this.
I'm so guilty of purchasing "better" moisturizers in the winter. I wonder if using essential oils would work better instead?
Thanks for explaining the science behind dry skin
10x missro
didi