UNDERSTANDING DRY, SENSITIVE SKIN

BEST SOAP FOR DRY SKIN

It’s time to discover the bar soap that can alleviate your dry skin troubles. The reason why so many of our customers switch to one of our "sensitive skin" soap bars is because  because we do not use any chemicals, GMO oils, synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, or fillers. Instead, we offer all-natural products that will soothe dry, irritated skin rather than exacerbate painful symptoms.

We’ve put a lot of time and care into developing products that truly nurture the skin. The oils and other additives in our bars is full of skin nourishing properties. We know it works because we developed it for, and use it, on our own family. We are committed to soothing dry skin!

Hemp oil contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds, such as fatty acids, antioxidants that help reduce symptoms associated with inflammatory skin conditions, such as skin dryness, itchiness, and pain. This beneficial ingredient has a pH level similar to the human body, allowing it to be easily absorbed. Below we’ve outline some causes of dry skin as well as simple steps to help you get back to healthy, balanced skin.

Caring for Dry Skin

The natural oils produced by your skin create a moisture barrier that is designed to protect and hydrate. We use soaps, lotions, scrubs, and serums to encourage this process and keep our skin looking healthy. Yet most commercial skincare products contain alcohols, synthetic fragrances, and other chemicals that strip the skin of these beneficial oils. This leaves the skin dry, irritated, and unbalanced.

Chemicals in commercial soaps and other skincare products aren’t the only causes of dry skin. Let’s review the main reasons your skin may be dry.

Chemicals in commercial soaps and other skincare products aren’t the only causes of dry skin. Let’s review the main reasons your skin may be dry.

What Causes Dry, Irritated Skin?

There are many culprits responsible for dry skin. It’s important to identify your skin type and what factors may affect it. Dry and irritated skin is caused by some things we can control, and others we can’t. The following list will help you identify some of the root causes of dry skin.

Weather

Weather conditions can be responsible for the lack of moisture in your skin. When temperatures drop, so does humidity. This creates dry, winter air that can rob your skin of moisture. With cold weather comes indoor heating which can also contribute to overall dryness.  But even in the summer season when humidity is at its highest, the hot sun can cause dehydration and sunburn. Both extreme conditions can leave your skin red, irritated, and flaky.

Dehydration

Whether you prefer the cold mountain air or the heat of the beach, staying hydrated is the key to having soft, hydrated skin. Your body is 60% - 80% water and suffers in various ways when you fail to drink an adequate amount of water. To ensure your skin stays healthy and bright, make sure you’re drinking enough water every day.   

Hot, Steamy Showers

Dryness is the primary reason for itchy and irritated skin. While standing a few extra minutes in a hot, steamy shower can be soothing, it can also be extremely damaging to your skin. If you suffer from dry skin issues, a lukewarm bath or shower is preferable. The facts are simple: the longer you enjoy a steamy hot shower, the more your skin is stripped of its moisture.

Skin Conditions

Eczema presents as patches of chronically dry, itchy skin. While the causes of eczema are not completely understood, it can be worsened by lotions containing alcohol and other toxic ingredients. These ingredients degrade the skin’s natural oil barrier and reduce its ability to retain water.

Psoriasis is a common autoimmune disorder that produces a build-up of skin cells resulting in scaly skin that’s often red and irritated. Just like eczema, harsh chemicals can worsen the symptoms of psoriasis.

While there is no known cure for either, both eczema and psoriasis are treatable. For lasting results, we recommend ditching traditional products containing alcohol and synthetic fragrances, and switching to more moisturizing and nourishing alternatives made with all-natural ingredients.

Harmful Ingredients

Washing with harsh soaps, applying lotions packed with alcohol to our skin, and exfoliating with scrubs that use toxic GMO oil will strip your skin of natural moisture barriers and leave it dry and itchy.

If your skin is oily, it can be tempting to use alcohol-based products on your skin as they often provide an immediate oil-free finish. The irony of using alcohol-based products to control oily skin is that the damage from alcohol can lead to even more skin issues.

When a soap lists “fragrance” as an ingredient, it could contain a cocktail of toxins. These artificial fragrances contain synthetic chemicals and are laden with phthalates which can cause skin rashes, headaches, coughing, and other respiratory irritation. Here at JUSTBLiSS you can rest assure that we ONLY use Phthalate free Fragrances. Read more about what exactly are phthalates and why are they bad. 

Sulphates are harsh chemicals used to create bubbles and the soapy lather we all enjoy, but they also remove natural oils from the skin and cause irritation for people with dry or sensitive skin.

Simple Yet Effective Steps Towards Moisturized, Healthy Skin

We know this’s a ton of information and it can feel daunting to embark on a new skincare journey, so we’ve created a simple, moisture-positive routine to help you get results naturally. We outline more details about this in our “How to Step Up Your Moisturizer Routine” blog post, but here’s the main idea:

Step 1: Wash

Begin by choosing a high-quality soap and avoid showering with very hot water. Opt for quality over quantity with the products you choose.  The soaps we create at JUSTBLiSS are made with high-quality ingredients designed to soothe dry skin and give you back the carefree confidence you deserve. We use olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, hemp oil, castor oil and various undiluted, premium essential oils or phthalate free fragrances That’s it! Our best bar soaps for getting dry, irritated skin on the fast track to health include our Camel Milk & Oatmeal, Coconut Milk & Oatmeal, Goatmilk, Oatmeal & Honey and Pure Calendula.

All above mentioned soaps are free of essential oils/fragrances, which make them a perfect choice for those with delicate skin types. We’ve found that too many stimulating essential oils can sometimes be irritating for fragile skin. 

Do you prefer a long, luxurious soak in the tub? Perhaps you’re looking for an all-natural bubble bath replacement for your kiddos who have dry skin? Whatever the reason, our Milk Bath is for you (available 14/9/2023). Offering all the same benefits as our bar soaps, our milk bath  is simply shredded curls of our Camel Milk & Oatmeal soap. The curls will slowly dissolve when added to warm water and create a soothing, all-natural bubble bath that’s a lifesaver for dry skin. 

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliating the skin allows you to remove your body's dead skin cells to reveal fresher, younger looking skin. You can use a bathroom accessory like our All Natural Loofah Bag or opt for a product like our non-GMO Body scrub. It works by exfoliating the skin AND replenishing it with rich oils at the same time. The key here is to use a product that contains ingredients that are healthy for your skin to ingest.

Sugar Scrubs from Bend Soap Company

Our Collection of Body Scrubs are made using all-natural ingredients. Cane sugar, glycerine, hemp oil, vitamin E oil, etc., and essential oils work with your body to replace dead skin cells with nourishing oils. You can use our body scrub over your entire body — on your arms, legs, hands, feet, just not on your face — to bring new life to tired, dry skin. Our Body scrub often leaves your skin so hydrated that you may feel no need to use any lotion/body butter, cream, but we still suggest that you don’t skip the next step!

Step 3: Moisturize

After bathing or showering, grab your favourite Rooibos Tea Body Butter, or one of our Whipped Body Butters or even one of our Lotion Bars. Our lotions are hypoallergenic, gentle, non-greasy, and will leave your skin feeling smooth and soft. Your face, hands, and feet are all areas exposed to the elements and can benefit from the added moisture. Liberally apply it to damp skin to lock in hydration. Then, thoroughly massage the lotion into your skin and give it a few extra minutes to dry before getting dressed. Patting the lotion on may be more appropriate for those suffering from eczema or psoriasis. For those who don’t shower every day, note that it’s still important to moisturize certain parts of your body on a daily basis.

Give it a Try!

Taking the time to put in place these three steps into your skincare routine can make a world of a difference. Your dry, itchy skin can transform into skin that’s soft, moisturized, and healthy. With that said, our goat milk soaps and other natural skincare products are not cures for dry skin conditions. Through our own family experiences and those of our customers, we've found that these products can ease and soothe dry skin symptoms better than most big-name brand products available in stores. Our products contain no chemicals, alcohols, synthetic ingredients, dyes, harsh allergens… No junk! Whichever JUSTBLiSS product you choose, you'll be using a clean product  packed with vitamins, minerals, and moisturizers. These simple ingredients leave your skin clean, soft, and supple.

Curious? Try it for yourself.  We’re confident your skin will love it!