Sick of having dry skin? Looking for a well rounded skin care approach?

It can get confusing deciding on a skin care routine. There are so many suggestions on Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube... Everywhere. It's easy to get overwhelmed.

For that reason, we outline the essential products, order of application, and highlight a few areas where people easily slip up and cause more harm than good. All constructed mindfully, with consideration for your dry skin and overall health.

Be realistic

Our ideal version of ourselves might be a marathon runner, mum, business owner, superhero... But we've got to be grounded and choose a skin care routine that's realistic. It needs to fit in with our day to day, on the go self. Not a 20 step routine that you'll do for 2 days and never again.

 

You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again, consistency is key, especially when it comes to skin care. Lathering on a month's worth of moisturizer in a day does not produce the same results as consistent effort over time.

So what are the essentials?

 

Cleanse

 

Cleansing your skin removes dirt and excess oils along with other unwanted debris that has built up throughout your day.

 

Use a gentle cleanser that doesn't have dyes, irritating fragrances and harsh chemicals. Avoid sulfates, glycolic acid, parabens, benzoyl peroxide, and additives. These ingredients can dry out your skin.

 

Gentle cleansers also often have an oil or other moisturizing ingredients, which put moisture back in rather than just stripping it away.

 

Frequency: It's widely recommended to cleanse twice a day, morning and night. However, some people can only handle it once a day otherwise their skin gets dry and irritated. Listen to your body and adjust accordingly.

 

Moisturize

 

Moisturizing keeps your face hydrated and dewy. This is especially important as you age because your skin produces less and less oils as time goes by.

 

The main function of moisturizer is actually to work with the skin barrier and prevent water evaporation from your skin! The skin barrier isn't emphasized enough in mainstream skin care, so that's why we wrote about it. If you want to learn more visit Damaged Skin Barrier? Here are the symptoms to watch for. You might be surprised about the range of issues that can occur when it's out of whack, including dry skin!

 

Moisturizing your skin may also come with other added perks thanks to the fact that your skin is also absorbent.  Choosing a hydrating skin care product rich in vitamins and antioxidants will help improve your skin's appearance, and not just hydrate.  Moreover, avoiding harmful pollutants, like parabens, sulfates or petrochemicals, will keep your skin healthy longer.  Kadee Botanicals Hydrating Day & Night Cream has been formulated to revitalize and hydrate your skin with vitamin A rich organic Rosehip Oil, repairing vitamin E from Jojoba and a collagen boosting vitamin C from Australian Kakadu Plum and Lilly Pilly.  

 

Frequency: Give your skin the repairing vitamins it needs and apply your moisturizer twice a day, morning and night..

 

Sunscreen

 

Did you know the sun is responsible for 80% of your skin's aging? So when you’re out and about, do yourself a favour and put that sunscreen on!

 

We recommend using a minimum of SPF 30 everyday, and don’t forget to make sure it's also broad-spectrum! Why? Because UVA waves are linked with skin aging and UVB waves lead to burning skin. Using broad spectrum sunscreen filters out both of these rays.

 

There are two types of sunscreens, chemical and physical (also known as mineral sunscreen). Physical sunscreen works by creating a barrier of protection, whereas chemical sunscreen works due to a chemical reaction. 

 

The type of sunscreen you wear influences the order you should apply it. A chemical sunscreen needs to be applied before moisturizer because it needs to be absorbed by your skin for it to work. And physical sunscreen should be applied after moisturizer so it can effectively form that protective barrier from the sun.

As someone with dry skin, it’s worth noting that physical/ mineral sunscreen can further dry out your skin. Fortunately, you can counteract these side effects by opting for a sunscreen labeled as hydrating or moisturizing.

 

Frequency: Wear outside and top up according to the product guidelines.

 

Exfoliate

 

Exfoliating is important for dry skin but make sure you don’t over do it. I know how tempting it gets to exfoliate those little flakes away every time you see them, but in the long run there can be consequences when done too often. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping your skin hydrated, and over-exfoliation can wreak havoc on it. 

Try not to find yourself inside the negative feedback loop of - exfoliating because you have flakes of dry skin, and having those flakes because you exfoliate too much. 

Exfoliation is a blessing when done properly! It will leave your skin feeling smooth by removing the dead skin cells and according to the American Academy of Dermatology, exfoliation even helps increase your skin absorption! So if you've got a product with some juicy goodness inside, apply it right after exfoliating to make the most out of it.

 

There are two different ways to exfoliate. Mechanical (also known as physical) and chemical exfoliation.

 

Mechanical exfoliation works by friction. Think of scrubs, sugar scrubs, salt scrubs, brushes etc.

Chemical exfoliation works by acids. The most commonly used acids are AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids).

 

Particularly for dry skin, we recommend opting for an exfoliator that works on a chemical basis. Mechanical exfoliation can damage your skin’s surface with microtears which dry skin is already more susceptible to.

 

At Kadee Botanicals, we have formulated a gentle Renewal Exfoliant Mask. It’s formulated with natural sources of AHAs and BHAs which work as a chemical basis to exfoliate your skin. The product also has gentle Tea Tree granules for those who would like to exfoliate physically. If you have dry skin we recommend applying it and letting it sit to do its chemical magic rather than actively scrubbing your skin with it. Then rinse the product away and say hello to smooth skin. 

 

Frequency: Just like cleansing, it's important not to get carried away. You know your skin better than anyone. Exfoliate once or twice a week. 

 

Eye Cream

Nope! They aren’t just moisturizers re-packaged for your under eyes, eye creams are specifically designed for the job. The skin around your eyes is thinner, more delicate, and it’s also the first place to show signs of aging. That’s why it deserves special attention.

In the world of dry skin there’s not much you need to be aware of when it comes to eye cream. They’re designed to be hydrating!  A good eye cream contains greater hydrating ingredients, ingredients rich in Vitamin E, A and C to smooth out fine lines and rehydrate the delicate skin area.  Ensure your eye cream does not contain ingredients that are harmful to you - petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates - to name a few.  These harsh ingredients detract from the benefit of vitamin rich antioxidant ingredients that may be constrained in the product. 

With this in mind, opt for natural products centered on gentle ingredients… for your under-eyes and the rest of your face!

Eye creams can be used to address wrinkles, fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. And we have one made for all of the above! The Kadee Botanicals Eye Cream is formulated mindfully from natural Australian botanicals rich in vitamins your skin will love and free of any harmful ingredients that will take away from your vitality. 

Frequency: Just like moisturizing cream, apply your Eye Cream twice a day, morning and night to maximize the benefit to your skin.

Serums

 

Serums are full of potent ingredients to target specific concerns.  Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Retinol (or Vitamin A), Niacinamide (Vitamin B) have become very popular ingredients in serums in recent times.  You may choose to apply a serum that has skin brightening properties (vitamin C), hydrates dry skin (hyaluronic acid), controls oily skin (vitamin B), or perhaps one formulated to prevent skin aging (retinol). 

 

People often get confused about the difference between serums and moisturizers. Serums are thinner and lighter than moisturizers and applied under your moisturizer..  They are designed to target specific skin concerns with a potent hit of ingredients specific to that skin concern.  . 

 

So if you have dry skin, consider topping off your skin care routine with a hydrating serum. And follow up with a moisturizer to lock in the hydrating benefits of your chosen serum,otherwise there's not much point if you're just going to lose that hydration anyway!

It’s important to note that some serums can be harsh for those with dry skin. Using a retinol based serum daily for example may cause your skin to feel irritated. Not to say you should never use a retinol serum, but be cautious, check the percentage of Retinol used in the formulation and monitor your skin’s reaction. Retinol based serums use should be eased into your skin care routine slowly to allow your skin time to acclimate. 

 

Frequency: This depends on the serum, and the potent ingredients in the formulation.  Refer to the product label.

 

In what order?

 

You might be wondering which order to do everything in and it's important to know. The wrong order can completely counteract the benefits and put your hard earned money to waste.

 

So let's say you're using all of the above steps in your beauty routine. Here's how it will look:

 

1. Cleanse your skin for a nice clean slate. Exfoliate as needed.
2. Apply serum after cleansing for optimal absorption. 
3. Apply eye cream to strengthen and protect the under eye area. Add SPF if you’re spending time outside.
4. Moisturize to support your barrier and prevent water loss

If you’re using chemical sunscreen apply it before moisturizing to allow it to absorb. For physical/mineral sunscreen, apply it after moisturizing so iit can act as a barrier.

Then exfoliate once a week, or as needed, after cleansing your skin to remove the build of dead skin cells. And tah-dah! There you go.

A reminder 

Please remember to read product labels, avoid harmful ingredients, and follow each product’s directions to use. 

Harmful ingredients to avoid include: 

• Sulphates (SLS & SLES)
• Parabens
• Mineral oils (petroleum based)
• Artificial colours
• Artificial fragrances
• Animal Derivatives
• MEA/DEA/TEA
• Harsh Detergents
• Propylene Glycol
• Phthalates
• Triclosan
• Silicones

 

We formulate our products with care and attention to the finer details. That’s why our products are free of harmful ingredients, Vegan and Cruelty free.  Instead we use Australian botanicals rich in collagen boosting vitamin C, naturally occuring vitamin A and repairing Vitamin E in Kakadu Plum, Lilly Pilly, Organic Rosehip Oil, Jojoba Oil and more.

That’s right! you can take care of your skin, whilst caring for the environment.

The Hydrating Day & Night Cream is filled to the brim with natural goodness to plump away those fine lines and wrinkles! Made with Organic Rosehip oil and Kakadu Plum, your skin will love the combination of vitamin A and C to give you that flawless glow. It’s powerfully anti-aging whilst remaining light and absorbable. Not to mention, it’s jam packed with antioxidants to protect your skin cells from free radicals.

Exfoliate your way to smoother skin with the gentle Kadee Botanicals Renewing Exfoliant Mask. Its hero ingredients AHA and BHA will reduce redness and inflammation whilst removing those dead skin cells for you. Made with Australian Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Jojoba and Calendula, it’s gentle yet effective for sensitive skin.  It can even double up as a spot treatment for acne!

Use the Kadee Botanicals Eye Cream to brighten those darker circles with the highest source of vitamin C out there, Australian Kakadu Plum and Lilly Pilly. This anti-aging eye cream has the soothing combination of cucumber oil and jojoba oil, at your service to fade out those fine lines!