With the chilliest months just around the corner, knowing how to properly moisturize your skin and prevent dryness, patchiness or flakiness is essential. We reached out to dermatologists and skincare experts for two classic serum suggestions (one for the morning, one for night) that will help you look and feel more refreshed, promote graceful aging and ultimately, stop dry skin in its tracks. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Dr. Angela Casey, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of youth skincare line Bright Girl, and Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, board-certified dermatologist and writer at My Psoriasis Team.
READ MORE: Why People Who Do These Two Morning Skincare Steps Age Gracefully
1. Vitamin C
To keep that glowy, radiant and supple look all year round, Casey suggests applying vitamin C serum to your skin every morning (after cleansing and before applying moisturizer and sunscreen). "Prevention is truly the best medicine when it comes to your skin health," she says, adding, "implementing a skincare routine that cleanses, moisturizes, and protects your skin will lead you on the path to healthy, glowing, gorgeous skin."
After cleansing with a pH-balanced, gentle cleanser, Casey instructs to then "apply an antioxidant serum, such as vitamin C." Antioxidants, she says, are an "important morning skincare step" as they "arm" your skin to be prepared for all of the environmental pollutants and harsh, winter weather irritants that we encounter throughout the day. "Think of antioxidant serums as an extra layer of protection on your skin," she notes. Chacon agrees, and says that vitamin C serums "play a huge role in the production of collagen," which impacts the skin's elasticity.
2. Hyaluronic Acid
To keep your skin moisturized and refreshed overnight, Casey recommends utilizing a hyaluronic acid, which also brings anti-aging benefits. "Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, a substance that draws water toward it," she explains, adding, "being so hygroscopic, i.e., water-loving, hyaluronic literally attracts water into the hyaluronic acid molecule— and that hyaluronic acid molecule can bind up to 1,000 times its weight in water." She says to now "think of how important this molecule can be in keeping your skin hydrated."
Most skin repair happens overnight, Casey points out, and in order for this skin to repair optimally, "the skin needs to be hydrated." Dehydrated skin will be more sluggish and compromised in repairing itself, she adds. The bottom line, Casey concludes, is that "when we apply an effective skincare product, such as hyaluronic acid, at night, we will see optimal efficacy of the product." Because our skin is so dependent on water and hydration to function properly, it is "essential for the skin to stay hydrated in order to stay strong and perform its protective functions." Hyaluronic acid applied to the skin at night penetrates into the skin, and then continues to attract water towards it, allowing for better hydration of the skin. "Skin that is well-hydrated stays strong, resilient, and healthy," she says, and we agree!
