During the cooler months our skin can become dry and irritated so it’s important to adopt a daily skincare regime to help maintain moisture levels. One of our favourite brands to combat winter skin is CeraVe – it’s affordable, developed with dermatologists, and it works to leave skin hydrated and calm.
The skin on your face is affected by everything you do; your diet, activities, the effects of cold winter air, indoor heating, hot dry summer air and air conditioning, as well as hormones, skin type and genetics. Those with dry skin do not produce enough sebum, those with oily skin produce too much. The CeraVe range includes products designed for normal to dry skin, as well as oily skin and skin prone to mild acne. All products are formulated for use on even the most sensitive skin.
CeraVe is the no 1 skincare brand recommended by dermatologists in the US – which is no mean feat. What makes this line of products so special is its three essential ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids that are slowly released over time to help restore skin barrier function, which helps our skin retain moisture and stop irritants. The unique delivery system continually releases moisturising ingredients for 24-hour hydration. Take that, parched skin!
Here we chat with Australian dermatologist Dr Ryan De Cruz and CeraVe’s Scientific Communications Manager Rachel McAdam on how to combat dry winter skin.
DRY SKIN FAST FACTS
REDUCED HUMIDITY LEVELS = INCREASINGLY DRY SKIN
‘Humidity levels reduce considerably during winter, causing our skin to dry out significantly. We all want to keep cosy, but extra clothing layers, heaters and hot water bottles can accelerate the skin drying process,’ explains Dr Ryan De Cruz.
SIGNS OF DRYNESS: ROUGH, FLAKY AND SENSITIVE
Do you notice rough, flaky and sensitive skin that is less supple? ‘Your skin is suffering from dryness. Signs of dermatitis, including redness, patchiness, irritation and itchiness, may signal a need to amp up your hydration regime to achieve healthier skin,’ he says.
WE CAN REPLENISH CERAMIDES TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY SKIN
Ryan De Cruz’s crucial five steps to achieving healthy, hydrated skin are:
- Use a gentle, soap-free, hydrating cleanser in the shower.
- Keep showers and baths to less than six minutes, avoiding very hot water.
- Apply moisturiser immediately after showers and baths. A must to ensure optimal hydration!
- Wear layers to keep warm; heaters artificially dry the air and our skin suffers.
- Drink plenty of water. The skin evaporates water from the body; hence rehydration is essential.
CERAMIDES ARE THE SKIN’S HYDRATION HERO
‘Ceramides play a powerful role in keeping the skin hydrated by ensuring water doesn’t escape from our epidermis,’ says Rachel McAdam. ‘They also ensure the skin has a strong barrier to the outside world, keeping our skin safe from irritants and aggressors.’
WE CAN REPLENISH CERAMIDES TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY SKIN
‘Naturally occurring ceramides can become depleted by exposure to hot water, soaps, chemicals and environmental aggressors,’ says Rachel McAdam. ‘In turn, our skin’s barrier can become compromised, leading to dryness, itching and irritation. Replenishing ceramides with ceramide-infused skincare helps maintain a strong skin barrier and increased moisture levels.’
CERAMIDES PROMOTE HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL-LOOKING SKIN
Rachel McAdam confirms each and every one of CeraVe’s dermatologist-developed, fragrance-free products are enriched with Ceramides 1, 3 and 6-II to help maintain our skin’s natural barrier and promote healthy, beautiful-looking skin.
CERAVE’S UNIQUE 3 CERAMIDES ARE THE CRUCIAL CERAMIDES
CeraVe’s unique combination of 3 essential Ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) were selected due to their major role proven to protect our skin’s barrier function. A reduction in these three key Ceramides can cause dry skin, moisture loss, dehydration and skin conditions.
SAVE YOUR SKIN
Our top CeraVe picks to give your skin the TLC it needs this winter are the Hydrating Cleanserm Moisturising Lotion, Moisturising Cream and Reparative Hand Cream. You’re welcome.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser 473ml, $14.99
Cleanses and refreshes the skin without over-stripping it or leaving it feeling tight and dry. Featuring three types of essential ceramides to help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and hydrating hyaluronic acid, this non-comedogenic face wash is an effective yet non-irritating way to start off any skincare regimen for normal to dry skin—and it uses MVE Technology to provide 24 hour hydration.
CeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion 473ml, $15.99 
You don’t need a thick and heavy cream to soothe and add moisture. This lightweight, oil-free moisturiser for very dry skin for body and face hydrates the skin and helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. Like all CeraVe products, it’s formulated with three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and provides 24-hour hydration. It’s also non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and non-irritating.
CeraVe Reparative Hand Cream 50ml, $6.99
For extremely dry, rough hands, get your mitts on this non-greasy, fast-absorbing hand cream. Active ingredients include hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides 1, 3, 6-11 to help retain moisture, lock in hydration and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. It also contains glycerine to hydrate and hold moisture as well as the skin occlusive, protectant dimethicone, which helps to strengthen the protective skin barrier.
This reparative hand cream leaves your skin feeling healthy and noticeably smoother and softer.
CeraVe is sold exclusively in Australia at Chemist Warehouse.
