Dry Skin? A Hydrating Face Mask Is Just What the Derm Ordered
by Catherine Conelly
Dry skin is always a bummer, but it’s especially annoying when it goes beyond small desert-like patches to taking your entire face hostage. Unfortunately, it’s a tale as old as time, one that leads drugstores to stock their beauty aisles with all kinds of creams, balms and serums meant to combat and prevent dry skin patches. You’ve likely tried several in your skincare routine, but here are three little words that might help: hydrating face mask. Yep, that’s right. Go for it — run the bath, dim the lights and treat your skin to a hydrating, calming CBD face mask.
What’s CBD Got to Do with It?
It seems like everyone is trying CBD for something. So what’s CBD got to do with skincare? Research has shown that CBD can have a positive effect on all kinds of skin issues, including reducing puffiness, decreasing fine lines, clearing up acne and, yes, soothing dry skin. While it’s mostly touted for its anti-inflammatory benefits, there’s evidence it can directly combat dryness, as well.
According to an article published in the journal Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, activating your CB2 receptors (something CBD happens to specialize in) can help heal dry skin by enhancing fat production in your skin’s oil glands. This is especially helpful if you’re prone to eczema or dermatitis breakouts since CBD may also alleviate the itchiness that tends to tag along.
There’s Power in Numbers
While CBD itself is a rising skincare star, combining it with other hydrating and healing ingredients can help you double down on how you treat your dry skin. So in Reign Together’s new Royal Mask, we included vitamin C and butterfly pea flower. Sounds exotic, right? But the benefits are pretty straightforward.
Research shows that vitamin C plays several roles in skincare. It supports collagen production. It counteracts free radicals and works as an antioxidant. It helps protect your skin against the effects of sun exposure, and it fights inflammation. Meanwhile, butterfly pea flower is newer to the skincare scene. It’s been shown to increase moisture retention, and dermatologists credit it as an antioxidant that supports collagen and protects against premature aging. Combine CBD, vitamin C and butterfly pea flower, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a face mask.
Just Don’t Forget to Exfoliate
Exfoliation is a key step to any skincare routine because, yes, it sheds away dead skin cells. But it’s more than that. As dermatologist Amy Wechsler tells Allure, dead skin is a barrier that can prevent your skin from absorbing your skincare products, robbing you of the benefits of key ingredients like CBD and vitamin C. But according to the American Academy of Dermatology, as important as it is to exfoliate, it’s equally important to not over-exfoliate — once or twice a week is plenty.
Spend a couple of nights a week exfoliating, and give your skin time to bask in a hydrating face mask. Your skin should feel calm, relieved and ready to take on whatever the seasons throw at you — from cold, dry air to hot summer days.
Catherine Conelly is a former beauty and health editor turned freelance writer and digital marketer. She’s written for Shape, Thrillist, PopSugar and StyleCaster. Her work has also appeared on Forbes, Entrepreneur, the Glassdoor blog and Adidas GamePlan A.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757311/#!po=2.38095
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170418094315.htm
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/8/866/htm
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/86/4/53/htm
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/86/4/53/htm
https://www.allure.com/gallery/8-ways-to-make-your-skin-care-products-more-effective
