Dryness

To fight dry and dehydrated skin you need sebum

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The two types of dry skin – lipid dry and dehydrated – are often linked. Lipid dry skin has little oil and tends to look dull. It may be rough and flaky and feel taut after washing. Fine capillaries are common and milia can appear on the cheek bone and eye areas. Fine lines present prematurely. Dehydrated skin is tight, shows fine lines and ages prematurely. It reacts easily to climate extremes.

The key factors determining dryness are the level of oil on the skin and the integrity of the skin’s barrier function. These will determine the rate of Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) – the rate at which water evaporates through the skin. Esse advocates products and a skin routine that restore your skin’s natural sebum production, reducing reliance on occlusive oils that do not penetrate the skin and reduce sebum production. It’s worth going through a few days of slightly dry skin to break your skin’s reliance on these oils.

Targeted products

Ask your therapist for a bespoke solution for your skin’s needs.

Lifestyle Considerations

Your lifestyle can make a difference to your skin

  • Take an omega-3 supplement with at least 600 mg of long chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) or include beneficial oils like flaxseed oil, olive oil or avocado oil.
  • Avoid a fat free diet – eat healthy lipids from seeds and nuts.
  • Use a moisturiser with sufficient nourishment containing vegetable oils. Vegetable oils can be absorbed into the skin unlike petrochemical oils.
  • Avoid using harsh surfactants or bar soap on your body or face – find a mild pH balanced cleansing wash containing minimal or mild foaming agents..
  • Avoid unnecessary or excessive cleansing of your skin.
  • Where possible, ensure you get around 15 minutes of uninterrupted, unexposed sun exposure per day – the production of Vitamin D has an underestimated effect on the skin.
  • Avoid abrasive exfoliators. Choose a gentle exfoliator to use once a week.
  • Use products containing Hyaluronic Acid for a water dry skin and Shea Butter and/or Kalahari Melon Seed Oil for a lipid dry skin.
  • Take a good quality oral probiotic and apply a probiotic skincare treatment that contains live strains of beneficial microbes to improve the skin barrier and minimise TEWL through the surface of the skin.
  • Supplement with Magnesium and Zinc to support Hyaluronic Acid production.
  • Avoid artificial atmospheres and extreme temperatures where possible. If these are unavoidable, supplement the skin by spritzing any of the Esse Toners onto the skin throughout the day.

Treatments

Esse Express

A 30-minute treatment targeted at achieving results.

Esse Experience

A 60-minute fully customisable experience.

Esse Live Probiotic Experience

A 75-minute ultimate treatment that takes skin to the next level.