Our skin, being our body’s protective layer, endures a ton of punishment from natural forces like the sun, harsh weather and gravity. Our skin can handle itself during our younger years, but as we age, it starts to lose its regenerative and elastic properties. It changes as we grow older, making it more vulnerable to bruises, wrinkles and dryness.

Dryness becomes an increasingly pressing concern as women age. The reason why us women over 50 tend to become more prone to dry skin is because hormone levels drop as we age while oil glands become less active, causing skin to dry out faster. Because of these changes, it’s important to stay aware of effective ingredients that can help ease us into these changes, while keeping our skin plump and extra hydrated. Here are some of the best ingredients that can help combat dry skin.

1. Hyaluronic Acid

Despite having acid in its name, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a natural substance produced by your body. It is a simple polysaccharide that helps maintain your connective tissues and gives it structure. Most of it is found in your skin and it mainly retains water to keep your skin moist and supple. But as you age, the production of HA decreases, leaving your skin less hydrated and vulnerable to wrinkles and fine lines.

Topically applying HA can help keep skin moisture and soothe redness and dermatitis. The reason behind this is that HA molecules can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water. This means that it can hold water molecules on the surface of your skin to keep it soft and plump.

It’s also important to note that the concentration of HA in a product matters. The benefits from HA vary according to its molecular weight which is measured in daltons. HA has a molecular weight range of 4,000 to 8,000,000 daltons but generally, cosmetic products distinguish HA as low or high concentrations.

Light weight HA mean that the active can penetrate your skin deeper, working from below the surface to keep intense moisture and sustained hydration. This can plump the skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. While high weight HA stays on the surface for more visible results but over a shorter period of time. It provides a moisturizing barrier around your skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. 

The best formulas contains a mixture of low weight and high weight Hyaluronic acid so you get the full benefits from the active. A higher strength of maximum 2% will give you results without any side effects or irritation.  

2. Vegetable Glycerin

Glycerin, or glycerol, is an ingredient made from animal or vegetable fat and is common in many skin care products. It acts as a humectant and pulls moisture from the air to the surface of your skin. This results in increased skin hydration, relieves dryness and protects against irritants.

Due to its gentle nature, glycerin is an ideal ingredient for dry and sensitive skin. Many products may include harsh chemicals that can lead to dry, cracked skin and irritation issues. Glycerin gently cleans and hydrates your skin, while keeping it moist and soft. In addition, Glycerin washes away dirt and oil without clogging pores which makes it an ideal cleanser for those who have acne-prone skin.

There are many benefits to Glycerin whether you have oily, dry or sensitive skin. By drawing moisture to the surface of the skin, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and keeps skin looking soft and smooth. It also encourages skin healing from dry, cracked skin by increasing skin hydration and has even demonstrated anti-microbial properties.

Just make sure you choose a product which is certified vegan so you get the vegetable kind. 

 3. Seabuckthorn oil

Seabuckthorn oil comes from the seeds, leaves and berries of a small shrub that grows in the cold harsh weather of the Himalayan regions, Russia and Northern Europe. This extract is rich in antioxidants, as well as vitamins and minerals. In fact, it’s known to be among the super fruits of skin care, boasting to have all four types of omega fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6, omega-7, and omega-9). Being rich in these omega fatty acids make sea buckthorn oil ideal in helping manage inflammation and dehydrated skin. 

Seabuckthorn oil is also rich in linoleic acid, an ingredient that helps fortify the skin's lipid barrier. This locks in the moisture that dehydrated skin desperately needs. Its antioxidant properties, on the other hand, neutralize skin-damaging free radicals, thus effectively reducing signs of aging.

 4. Lingonberry

Another skincare super berry that’s rich in antioxidant properties is the Lingonberry, a small, vitamin-rich berry that grows in the Nordic regions. Studies have shown that plants like the Lingonberry, which grow in extreme climatic conditions, tend to contain higher percentages of active ingredients.The Lingonberry in particular is loaded with vitamins A, B, C, and E and contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. It also contains more flavonoids than all other wild berries. All of these benefits housed in this tiny but powerful fruit make it ideal for aging skin, as it aids in improving skin elasticity, boosting hydration, and reducing the appearance of uneven skin pigmentation with a skin lightening effect.

5. Birch Sap

Birch sap is tapped directly from the roots of the Birch tree and has been praised for its capacity to purify and hydrate skin while reducing inflammation. It also contains a multitude of amino acids, enzymes, minerals, proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants. These ingredients protect your skin from free radicals, the harmful toxins that weaken skin cells and tissue leading to accelerated skin aging. 

Birch tree sap has shown to produce more effective results than other filler ingredients because it significantly increased the production of fibroblasts (skin cells responsible for producing more collagen), suggesting better skin repair and protection. It also has smaller molecules, allowing for deeper penetration in the skin layer and better absorption by the skin. 

Conclusion:

Dry and irritated skin is common as we advance in age. So it's good to know that there are ingredients to help alleviate these skin issues. Be mindful of these ingredients and if they are present in the products you use for your skincare routine. They can go a long way in helping you reduce the effects of dryness and bring out your natural glow.

We have chosen to incorporate all of these ingredients in our BirchTech Hybrid Overnight Serum/Cream, because they have been proven again and again through countless of tests and studies that they are some of the most effective ingredients to treat dry, irritated, ageing skin. 

Have you tried any of these ingredients before? If so please share in the comments below!