Nope, the charcoal soap (or any of my other soaps or scrubs) don’t normally dry skin out. They don’t
strip any of the skin’s moisture barrier (
see this video) so what I suspect going on (you’re right on point!), is that your skin is severely
dehydrated (which is different that being moisturized – as you read). The moisturizer helps make it feel better, but it won’t solve the dehydration problem.
To solve the dehydration problem, you’ll need to use a serum or a mist
(*or a hydrating gel, see the P.S. at the bottom of this post). I would suggest starting with the
hydration mist (apply before your moisturizer) in the AM, and the
hydration serum in the PM (followed up with a moisturizer if you feel it’s needed. I suspect it will be for the first little while).
You said you’re using the primer, which is awesome, but the clays can have a slightly drying affect compared to my
other two cream moisturizers. You may want to use the
patchouli facial moisturizer in the PM. Or opt to go between the
quick tint and primer every other day in the AM (primer one day, quick tint the next). However, working the patchouli moisturizer into your PM routine would probably give you the best results when paired with the hydration serum or mist (as it will seal in the serum or mist AND give your skin a dose of healing patchouli essential oil).
For me, I had majorly dehydrated skin caused by the medications and topical products my dermatologist had me use for severe acne… and that was when I was in my teens (and they didn’t help! urg)! When I started on my own natural skin care journey (in my early 20′s.. I’ll be 32 in April), my skin was still dehydrated! Even after all that time, it hadn’t bounced back from all the “abuse” and
skin stripping it experienced years earlier (and I had been using natural products for several years by then!). As it turns out, dehydration was a major cause of my acne (digestive issues – that I wasn’t aware I had – and stress – which made my hormones out of whack – were the other major causes).
It took me almost a year to finally get my skin balanced.. although I saw results and my skin felt way better much sooner.
What I did was apply the
hydration mist twice a day (letting it dry/absorb completely before putting on the second coat, then putting my moisturizer on when the second coat was HALF way dry/absorbed). I did this in the AM & PM.
At the time I hadn’t formulated the hydration serum yet. If I had, that would have been what I would have used at night, and the mist in the morning (followed up by a moisturizer both times).
Now, I use the hydration mist every time before my moisturizer. Unfortunately my skin has experienced irreversible damage from the acne medications I took as a teen. My skin becomes dehydrated and unbalanced quickly if I don’t include a hydrating step into my routine. (The moisturizing step helps seal in the ingredients that hydrated my skin).
Additionally, I use the
hydration serum (or after acne serum) in place of a moisturizer in the summer months (I usually switch between the two serums). In the winter months I use the mist in the morning followed by a moisturizer (I switch between all 3 – primer, patchouli, quick tint – depending on what I’m doing that day), and in the PM, I use one of the serums, a moisturizer, and body & lip jelly (i just apply the jelly to my lips – my house can get super dry in the winter!).
I’m telling you what I’ve done not to be like “look at my routine!” lol.. but to give you an example of how to solve the dehydration problem. The key is serums and mists because they can penetrate deeper into your skin and are made of water based ingredients (as opposed to oil based ingredients that are found in moisturizers) – as you read, your skin needs both water and oil to balance itself. Water ingredients go deeper, oil ingredients stay closer to the surface of the skin but work as a protective (breathable) seal.
I hope that helps
P.S. In the spring of 2014, I’ll be introducing a new hydrating product (it will be the most powerful hydrating product in the Batty’s Bath line!). It’s called
Hydra Healing Skin Rescue Gel and when it’s available you’ll find it at
ShopBattysBath.com
Here’s a run down of just a few of the places you can find us….
