Going from rough skin to soft skin: All you need to know
Why is my skin textured?
Your body’s skin or your face’s skin can sometimes be rough or grainy. Why does this happen?
The cause of textured skin (when it is not related to a skin disease) can often be intense dryness, associated with an accumulation of dead cells. The skin’s barrier is made from a mixture of proteins, lipids and water that protects the skin from external aggressors like the cold, or substances that contact the skin. When the barrier is weakened, the skin becomes more sensitive and may become irritated or inflamed1.
Three main reasons for having rough skin
There are a variety of reasons as to why your face’s skin may have a rough or dry texture2 :
- Using heavy creams that are not suitable for your face’s skin can lead to breakouts, as these creams are often comedogenic, and facial skin is more susceptible to blemishes. To find out what your skin type is and the products that best suit it, take our quiz.
- An uneven texture is also the result of blemishes or clogged pores. Here’s a good fix: Exfoliate to remove dead cells and even out your complexion. However, be careful not to excessively exfoliate your skin, as irritating your skin means risking overproducing sebum and having pimples.
- And finally, one of the most frequent causes of textured and rough skin (whether on the body or the face) is dry – and therefore dehydrated – skin. Soft, unified skin is a perfect balance between exfoliation and hydration.
We advise contacting your doctor or dermatologist to determine the causes of your skin’s dryness.
Looking to improve your skin’s texture? Here are 5 tips to soften your skin
Is your skin rough to the touch, textured or flaking in places such as your legs, the back of your arms, thighs or neck? Here’s how to improve matters.
1. Hydrate and protect your skin before it dries out
Think of it like drinking before you start feeling thirsty: Don’t wait before your skin becomes too dry before moisturizing it. Skin renews itself less quickly with age3, so it’s important to start taking care of it from the get-go.
This daily anti-aging skin routine is designed for mature skin as well as skin that isn’t quite yet mature. Our hydrating phytoglycogen line (a) reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, (b) restores the hydration barrier thanks to peptides and (c) revitalizes skin due to the presence of watercress extract in the formula.
2. Balance each stage of care by focusing on hydration
Maintaining a balance between each stage of care is essential to reconcile hydration and exfoliation. The Oceanly™ line of skincare products are all made with the same ingredient: phytoglycogen. Known for its hydrating properties, it is a natural version of glycogen that is found in the body.
In addition to being 100% vegan and biodegradable, it’s more hydrating than hyaluronic acid in the long term as it gradually releases water throughout the day. Ideal for sensitive and dry skin, it is the essential ingredient to soften your skin.
The daily routine for sensitive skin includes four phytoglycogen-based skincare products designed to restore comfort. Solid oil-in-milk removes the skin’s impurities while preserving natural moisture with castor oil. The alliance of our three lines – PHYTO-CALM, PHYTO-OIL and PHYTO-CLEANSE – enables you to cleanse and hydrate your skin, both day and night.
When it comes to your body, dry oils will soften and nourish the skin.
The leaves bar™ line of dry oil bars are enriched with a blend of rich and nourishing precious oils like jojoba oil and avocado oil. EWG VERIFIED™ and vegan, they relieve dry skin and hydrate instantly.
And for an extra boost…
Complete your hydration routine with a PHYTO-GLOW serum or cream enriched with encapsulated and stabilized vitamin C, which is known for its antioxidant properties. Vitamin C evens the complexion and restores radiance to dull skin.
What you need to know about vitamin C: Vitamin C is a very unstable molecule due to its sensitivity to oxidation. The consequence of this instability is to make the product less effective more quickly and leading it to turn yellow. Encapsulating a stabilized vitamin C, in what is called a niosome, makes it possible to protect vitamin C from instabilities such as oxidation and to improve its absorption in the skin.
3. Exfoliating without drying
Intense exfoliation aggravates flaking and can dry your skin even more. A gentle exfoliant and a purifying moisturizing routine will allow you to pamper your skin without irritating it4.
This face purifying routine includes three solid cleansing treatments to purify and soften your skin. The solid PHYTO-CLEANSE face exfoliant exfoliates your skin without drying it out. The bamboo powder present in the formula helps refine the skin’s texture and brightens its complexion. Kelp extract, a seaweed with revitalizing properties, and the peptides that complete this exfoliant help to regenerate the hydration barrier.
Combined with our solid peptide-based facial cleanser, your skin’s moisture barrier will be regenerated and the glycerine in the formula will have a moisture-locking action.
4. Opt for products that do not contain ingredients of concern
Be it body or face, skin can be subject to many external nemeses: the cold; overly frequent hand washing; contact with chemical products; or the friction created by shoes on feet`5. To soften your skin and especially the parts of your body that are dry, we advise using products that soothe and calm the skin’s tightness.
The Oatmeal Sensitive Natural Care line featuring an oat base is focused on sensitive skin. The odourless body lotion is infused with a blend of nourishing and conditioning ingredients like chamomile and oat extract. EWG VERIFIED™, its dermatologically tested formula is designed for people who are odour- and aroma-sensitive.
All Oceanly™ skincare line products are certified as being free of ingredients of concern by the EWG.
What is the EWG VERIFIED™ seal?
EWG VERIFIED™ certification is granted by the Environmental Working Group, an organization dedicated to the safety of the public’s health and its well-being. It conducts cutting-edge research to help consumers learn which products are safe, and which are harmful.
Its industry-leading Skin Deep® online directory lists ingredients of thousands of personal care products, and the dangers associated with them.
5. Protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays
Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can diminish your skin’s ability to retain moisture, impair the effectiveness of its protective barrier and consequently dry it out or make it sensitive6. Our sun sticks protect against these rays courtesy of a mineral filter – non-nano zinc oxide – which according to EWG experts is non-toxic for the oceans.
The filter produces a protective physical barrier on your skin without penetrating it, and the rays bounce right off this barrier. Protecting your skin from the sun means protecting it from cancer risk, dryness and premature aging7. We aim to offer an eco-responsible alternative – without ingredients of concern – to improve your health, in accordance with EWG VERIFIED™ certification.
CONCLUSION
Whatever your age and whatever the season, it’s always a good time to pamper your skin and make it soft and shiny. And you can even take care of your skin while applying your makeup with the Oceanly™ hybrid makeup line.
Formulated with moisturizing phytoglycogen, these products let you apply your makeup without dehydrating your skin. Check out the Happy Berry set for light and summery make-up.
Sources:
- ht tps://www.cerave.fr/conseils-d-experts/problematiques-cutanees/peau-rugueuse/causes-peau-rugueuse-granuleuse. Baumann, L. (2009) Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice (pp.83-91). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical
- https://www.dermatologieconferences.ca/peau-texture-granuleuse
- https://academic.oup.com/geronj/article/38/2/137/605624
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/keratosis-pilaris-treatment
- https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/prevent-soothe-chapped-winter-hands
- https://www.eucerin.fr/a-propos-de-la-peau/comprendre-la-peau/qu-est-ce-que-la-barriere-cutanee
- https://www.quebec.ca/sante/conseils-et-prevention/sante-et-environnement/se-proteger-du-soleil-et-des-rayons-uv