Effective Ways to Keep Your Skin Soft and Smooth
When the weather gets cold, you bundle up to keep warm by insulating your body and warding off the chill. Similarly, when it comes to caring for your skin, think of adding layers of serums, creams, and oils to keep it hydrated, lock in moisture, and protect it from dry air. This approach is what model and beauty influencer Dana Patterson calls the “dolphin skin” routine.
Patterson emphasizes the importance of trapping water in your skin, especially during the dry winter months when indoor heating can dehydrate your skin. By retaining moisture through a well-hydrated skin barrier, you can prevent water loss and maintain skin hydration.
@danaisabellaaaa #stitch with @meredithmlynch also you need weleda skin food whenever you need to reapply THANK ME LATER #dolphinskin #dolphinskinshavingroutine #bodycare #winterbodycare #dryskin #crackedskin #bodycareproducts #winterskincare ♬ Elevator Music – Bohoman
Patterson’s routine revolves around incorporating three key moisturizing components: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. Dermatologists support this layering method as an effective way to prevent moisture loss.
According to board-certified dermatologist Tiffany Libby, MD, “Humectants hydrate and draw moisture into the skin, emollients add back moisturizing oils, and occlusives seal in moisture, preventing water loss.”
Patterson stresses the significance of the order in which you apply the products. Follow these steps to achieve baby-soft skin:
Get silky-soft ‘Dolphin Skin’ in 4 steps
1. Apply a body serum with glycerin
Begin your “dolphin” routine right after showering when your skin is still damp. Apply a serum containing humectants like glycerin to help draw moisture deep into your skin.
If you’re looking for product recommendations, here are some that Patterson loves:
- Experiment Beauty Super Saturated — $28.00
- Josie Maran Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Body Renewal Serum — $45.00
- Nécessaire The Body Serum — $45.00
2. Slather on a body butter
After binding water to your skin in the first step, use a rich body butter to seal in moisture and provide additional hydration. Some recommended options include:
- Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter — $38.00
- NCLA Beauty Hi, Butter Papaya Vanilla Body Butter — $36.00
3. Add a coat of body oil
For extra hydration, consider applying a body oil over your body butter. This will further nourish your skin. Some body oils to consider are:
- Liha Beauty Idan Oil — $55.00
- Grown Alchemist Body Treatment Oil — $44.00
4. Lock it all in with Vaseline
Finally, seal in all the moisture by applying an occlusive product like Vaseline to prevent moisture loss and keep your skin hydrated. A recommended option is:
- Vaseline Healing Jelly — $5.00
