And turn down the water temperature
Along with shorter shower time, cooler water is essential too, since hot water strips skin of its natural moisture. Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospital Joshua Zeichner, MD, keeps his shower the temperature of a warm pool. A tell-tale sign that your H2O is too hot? "If your bathroom mirror steams up while you're in the shower, the water is too hot," says Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
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Skip soap (and don't wash everywhere)
"True soaps have an alkaline pH, which can disrupt the outer layer of the skin," Zeichner says. "Use gentle, hydrating, soap-free cleansers instead." His pick: Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash, $5.99. You also don't need to wash everywhere (stay with us here). "Only wash the areas where skin touches skin, like your armpits and groin. Skip your arms and legs unless they're physically dirty, since you don't want to wash away your skin's natural oils," says Rebecca Kazin, MD, FAAD & Associate Director, WIDLS in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Moisturize right after
And we're talking right after. Gohara says it's essential to apply some kind of moisturizer within three minutes after getting out of the shower. The goal is to trap the water that's already in your skin before it can evaporate, adds Chicago dermatologist Jordan Carqueville, MD. To that point, layering your hydration is also a good move.
Hooper suggests starting with coconut or jojoba oil, then using a thicker cream or balm on top of that. Zeichner uses Aveeno Cracked Skin Relief Cica Balm, $12.99: "It's a cross between a cream and an ointment, and can repair even ultra dry and cracked skin without leaving it feeling sticky." If you want to use just one product, make it a moisturizer that contains a humectant, which draws water to the skin, and a lipid, which seals in the moisture, says Carqueville. Her pick: Avene XeraCalm A.D Lipid Replenishing Cream, $33.
Double up on hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is your complexion's BFF: "It draws water to the skin and helps the cells look and stay plump," says Carqueville. HA serums are great, HA sheet masks are great, but to get the most bang for your buck, Gohara suggests layering the two. Apply a serum, then pop on a sheet mask and let the hydrator do its thang. Carqueville is a fan of the Replenix Pure Hydration Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $93.33. We like Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Super Hydrating Sheet Mask, $4.
Treat lips with more than lip balm
There are few beauty woes more annoying than chapped lips, but, contrary to popular belief, lip balm alone isn't the solution. Many only contain occlusive ingredients, which seal in moisture but don't contain it... and if your lips are parched and cracked, there's no moisture to seal in. Gohara recommends applying a hydrating lip oil first (to add back moisture) and then sealing it with a lip balm. Try Chapstick Total Hydration Vitamin Enriched Lip Oil, $4.99, and Eos Organic Lip Balm Pure & Free, $4.49.
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