Stepping out of the shower feels great, doesn't it? All fresh and squeaky clean after a good scrub. Lovely.
But as I dry, I find that so too does my skin. My cheeks and forehead tighten, my under eyes crinkle, my hands crack and roughen, my legs go powdery.
Moisturiser is the obvious solution, but it's a constant battle to keep the moisture locked in.
I'm lucky to have pretty clear skin on my face, but if I over moisturise, it can grow irritated and pimply in protest. I want to take care of my face and keep it clear without stripping it of its natural oils, nor swamping it in excessive creams and potions.
I was reminded last month while abroad for work that it's incredibly freeing to get my legs out! I wore playsuits and shorts because it was too warm not to, but back in the UK, I immediately tucked my legs back into jeans.
It's not about being ashamed of my skin - I absolutely believe everyone should enjoy and be proud of the skin they're in from top to bottom - it's about comfort. The skin on my leg is a dry itchy project never quite gotten around to - easiest put out of sight, out of mind. It's time that changes!
But when it comes to real skin soreness, the biggest challenge is my hands. That's because I use them all day during my working day in the kitchen and I wash them over and over.
My wrists and between my fingers can turn into sore patches, my palms can be so dry they become inflexible. It's not hellish - certainly not as bad as it was when the kids were in nappies! - but it's a year round annoyance.
Of course, dry itchy skin is a relatively common skin complaint in the UK, according to AllergyUK around 15 million people are reported to have very dry itchy skin. If this is all sounding familiar, then I hope you'll stick with me over the next few months as I adapt my skincare routine to hopefully bring my skin under control once and for all with AVEENO®.
To kick off my journey to more comfortable skin, I headed down to London to meet with the AVEENO® team and learn more about the products, as well as the secrets and psychology of skin.
Getting to know the AVEENO® Dermexa range
You may already be familiar with the green AVEENO® Daily Moisturising range, which is for normal to dry skin care, and the dark blue AVEENO® Skin Relief range, which is for very dry irritable skin.
I'll be using the new AVEENO® Dermexa range, which is specifically tailored to people who have very dry itchy skin and is suitable for use by the whole family, including people who may be prone to eczema. It's even delicate enough to be used on the face.
I'll be using the following as part of my daily skincare routine:
- AVEENO® Dermexa Daily Emollient Body Wash - An efficacious body wash which gently cleanses without drying and soothes skin. It will leave skin feeling soft, comfortable and moisturised.
- AVEENO® Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream - Clinically proven to moisturise and soothe, whilst helping reduce flare ups of very dry skin. In a clinical study, 90% of 22 children and babies from 6 months old experienced relief from itchy skin sensations (twice a day application for 12 weeks).
- AVEENO® Dermexa Dermexa Fast & Long-Lasting Balm - Intensely moisturising and is clinically proven to immediately soothe itchy feeling skin.
The AVEENO® Dermexa Cream and Balm, contain a Triple Oat Complex, made up of Colloidal Oatmeal, Oat Oil and Oat Essence, the products moisturise, soothe and help lock moisture. Alongside this, the range contain ceramides, which are known to ensure a healthy skin barrier by maintaining the water permeability barrier function of the skin.
Good skin habits
In addition to using the AVEENO® products every day, I want to make an extra effort to understand my skin, what causes dryness and irritation and what good habits I can adopt to improve my skin.
AVEENO® skin expert Rebecca Bennett explained that everyone has different skin, so everyone will need to find a routine that works for them, but top things to try include:
- Avoid really hot showers! The hot water might feel great in the moment, but it will ultimately dry out your skin even more and can lead to further irritation.
- Keep moisturised. Dry skin is dehydrated, so keep it moisturised with products that lock in the moisture. A good ingredient to look out for is glycerin as this draws moisture into the skin and helps to seal it in.
- Be careful when exfoliating. When you have dry or flaking skin it can be tempting to remove dead or excess skin with an exfoliant but don’t do this if your skin is inflamed, sore, red or broken as it may lead to further issues. If you do wish to exfoliate, do it gently and when you’re not flaring up, and keep to a maximum of once a week
- Look after your skin from the inside, out. Your diet can be as important as any other factor so make sure you eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water too.
- Use products that are suitable for dry itchy skin, and also that are suitable for skin prone to eczema. It’s very important to moisturise the skin all the time, not only when it feels particularly dry, as this can actually help prevent it getting itchy. AVEENO® Dermexa is a good all year-round option.
- Try to limit stress. Easier said than done but sometimes ten minutes per day dedicated to unwinding or being mindful can help to limit stress caused skin reactions.
Stress and our skin
Psychologist Emma Kenny was on hand to provide some great advice about the psychology of skin.
"I prefer to think of the mind and body as one unit. Ultimately, your brain is an organ of your body and so of course, it’s inevitable that how we feel or think will impact how our body feels or looks.
When we experience a stressful situation, the body goes into fight-or-flight mode and responds by increasing production of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. But when the body produces too much cortisol, it can suppress the immune system and cause an inflammatory response in the skin. People living with skin diseases like eczema are particularly susceptible to this inflammatory response."
I certainly notice my hands and wrists are itchier when I'm very busy, so I can relate to this!
Emma suggests the following tips to restore some balance to your life and in turn to your skin:
- Anchoring. This is a technique I use to take me somewhere that gives me a sense of relaxation or relief. For me it’s the moment they handed me my son, as this was the happiest time in my life. Close your eyes, take yourself there, and as you do hold your middle finger and thumb together. Do this a few times and the association of the thought and the action mean that when you need it, you can transport yourself to that emotion by completing that movement.
- Breathing. Breathe in for 4, hold for 6 and exhale for 7. When you do this you won’t hyperventilate and it will calm your mind
- Mindful practice. Anything that brings you back to the here and now. We have a tendency to let our minds go into overdrive when we lead busy lifestyles. When you can, just take a moment to close your eyes, touch on thoughts, and then let them go. It’s not about trying to clear your mind, it’s about living in the moment and returning to the present rather than worrying about the past or future.
- Mindful activities. You can practice mindfulness whilst doing an activity. Gardening for example is a form of mindfulness. You set your mind to something and focus on that for a period of time, then use that action to bring yourself back to the here and now. For example, try colouring, anyone can do it and you can even do it with the kids if you’re a busy mum. Just make sure you do something that you genuinely get satisfaction from!
- Routine. It’s so important when you lead a busy lifestyle to make it easier for yourself. Find things that fit into your routine rather than trying to change too much. Perhaps it’s a product that you can use on the whole family for ease, or it could be prepping breakfast for the next morning. There are a few things you can do to reduce your rushing around and restore some balance to your life.
- Sleep. Easier said than done when your brain is in overdrive, but seriously, try and get enough sleep. Cut down on screen time in bed so you allow your mind to calm, and ensure you get at least 6 - 7 hours’ sleep for a more productive day
Regular readers will know that I already use mindfulness in my everyday life and find it hugely beneficial, so I'm keen to actively embrace these tips and reinforce my healthy approach to limiting stress.
I'm getting started with the AVEENO® Dermexa range and taking on my positive skin practices from today. Will you join me?
The AVEENO® Body Wash and Cream are available in-store now at Boots, Superdrug & local Pharmacies, and the balm for more targeted areas of dry skin will launch late May. Each product is £9.99.
Do comment here, or message me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter if you have any thoughts, ideas or questions! And check out the hashtags #SkinStories and #BalanceOfOats across social media to see how others are using the AVEENO® Dermexa range.
This is a commissioned post for AVEENO® .
Jenny says
I've never really thought about over moisturising before. My skin is pretty average but dry during the height of the summer.
Emily Leary says
I used to the make the mistake of really scrubbing my skin and using really hot water to try to get it really clean, thinking that would reduce the irritation and spots, but actually I'm finding I get on much better with cooler showers and the Dermexa range.
Helen Clark says
I'm a huge fan of Aveeno, it makes a brilliant hand cream. I never thought of stress affecting my skin so that's certainly another great reason to up my self care and mindfulness.
Emily Leary says
I've started my new skin and self care journey and I can't believe how much better my skin feels already! It was so interesting to listen to psychologist Emma Kenny's advice about how we feel or think impacts on how our body feels or looks.
Lynne Harper says
Aveeno is fabulous stuff. My son has bad skin and we started using Aveeno to help and it did massively to our delight. We all use it now :)
Emily Leary says
Yes, it really is! It's exactly the same in our house, we love it and since I started on my new skin care regime my skin is already looking and feeling so much better :)
Nichola - Globalmouse says
I love Aveeno, although haven't used it for a while, it's a brand I use on the kids as I know how great it is. My skin is so dry at the moment, it feels really dehydrated so this is perfect for summer. Thank you for the reminder!
Emily Leary says
Pleased to hear you've joined me on our quest for smoother, less dry skin! I love Aveeno too :)
Mellissa Williams says
I love Aveeno products, I find them so great for my skin and they definitely make me feel more comfortable in my own skin
Emily Leary says
I love Aveeno skin and hair care products too and I'm looking forward to continue using the cream and body wash Dermexa range as part of my new regime :)
Nicola Lawson says
Well I think I have an explanation for why my skin always feels dodgy when I get out of the bath, no more crazy hot baths for me now. Thanks for the tips.
Emily Leary says
Yes, I'm going to always make sure that I no longer have steaming hot showers!
Joanna says
I had no idea that there was such a big connection between stress and the look of your skin. I am actually living in a very warm climate at the moment and I do find that the extreme sun does dry my skin a lot. I do have a sample of Aveeno somewhere around, maybe I shall give it a try.
Emily Leary says
It was so interesting to talk to Emma and hear her advice about stress and skin conditions. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with Aveeno!
Jenni says
I love Aveeno and have recommended it to so many people. I started using it on my son when he was a baby
Emily Leary says
It's a great product. I've just started on my new skin care journey and I'm really looking forward to seeing the results!
Colette Burgess says
I've used Aveeno for 15yrs now - it treats & prevents eczema flare ups beautifully, heals my dusty legs and soothes my face after a peel. I wouldn't be without it.
Emily Leary says
That's great! I'm very excited about my new skin care journey using Aveeno products :)
Lisa (Travel says
I use this on my boys, I don't know why I've never thought to use it too! I will now though
Emily Leary says
Aveeno skin and hair care products are great and I know what you mean about never thinking to use them on yourself!
michelle twin mum says
Aveeno is such a great brand, we have some of their lotion and it helps my daughters dry skin a lot. Although its not the cheapest it is worth every penny. Mich x
Emily Leary says
Hi! I agree, money spent on effective skin care is definitely worth every penny!
Sophie Gillum-Webb says
I am really impressed with Aveeno products so great to hear of new ones to try! You look gorgeous BTW!!!
Emily Leary says
I'm very excited about my new skin care journey, Aveeno is a fab product (and thank you for your lovely comment!)
Karen Beddow says
You know I have terrible skin care habits when I'm at home, when I'm away it is really good but really awful here. I need to be better,
Emily Leary says
Join me on the new skin care journey! :)
Katy - Hot Pink Wellingtons says
I'm a huge fan of Aveeno, having discovered it when I first developed eczema. It's by far the most soothing thing I've come across. I love that they're always bringing out new products too - I'd not heard of the Dermexa range before! The link between skin and your state of mind is so interesting too. I was aware of the link between eczema and stress, but for some reason I'd not connected the dots to realise that I could do something about it.
Emily Leary says
Yes, it was so interesting to talk to Emma about restoring some balance to our lives and in turn to our skin. I'm so looking forward to using the Dermexa range as part of my new skin care regime!
Micaela Levachyov says
I have dry skin and really REALLY feel tightness if I don't use a good moisturiser at least twice a day. I find that regular exfoliation can help keep irritation down.
Emily Leary says
Dry skin can be such a problem and it's good to hear that you've found ways to keep the irritation down. I'm very much looking forward to using the Aveeno Dermexa range and following Emma's advice.
claire | The ladybirds adventures blog says
I've recently started using Aveeno baby on my girls and have been impressed by the results. I never thought of looking at the adult range!
Emily Leary says
It was so interesting to hear Emma Kenny's information about the psychology of skin and I'm really looking forward to my journey of positive skin practices.
Hannah Fleming says
The balm sounds fab! we already use 'normal' aveeno liberally in our house and all love it but Matt could do with something extra special for his dry skin - her gets it around the base of his fingers.
Emily Leary says
It's a great product. I hope that the balm soothes Matt's skin. I'm really looking forward to my new skin care regime, let me know how you all get on too!
Renee @ MummyTries says
We are huge Aveno fans here. I originally bought for Polly but now I buy it for me. Great piece with lots of fab tips... although nine years into parenting I'm still trying to figure out the sleep thing!
Emily Leary says
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed this post. Aveeno products are great and I've just started on my new skin care regime. I know just what you mean about not getting a good night's sleep, I hope things improve soon - broken sleep can be so exhausting :(
Amber says
I've never had a bad product from Aveeno; it's a brand that I trust and would always buy over competitors. I hadn't tried the Dermexa range though so I will give that a go - thank you for the suggestion!
Also, how are you so ridiculously pretty even without makeup? It isn't fair. ;)
Emily Leary says
Aw, thank you for your lovely comment :) I've just started my positive skin care regime and I'm so looking forward to seeing the results!