Written by OSEA Staff | Published September 12, 2024
Almost everyone experiences dry skin on occasion. It’s common in the winter, for example, when cold temperatures zap the moisture from the air, leaving skin feeling parched. Using harsh soaps, taking extra hot showers, and even your diet can contribute to dry skin.
Dry skin lacks the moisture that it needs for protection against the environment, so it develops tiny surface cracks. These cracks prevent the skin from holding on to moisture, which only exacerbates the problem. The result is often itchy, irritated, flaky, and dull-looking skin.
A targeted skincare routine can help restore moisture to the skin and prevent further loss, restoring your natural glow and suppleness. Using gentle, hydrating products to cleanse, tone, and protect your skin can reduce the symptoms of dry, sensitive skin so you feel more comfortable.
Ingredients to Look For in Skincare Products
One of the most important elements of a skincare routine for dry or sensitive skin is to look for products with ingredients known to decrease dryness and irritation. Peptides, ceramides, aloe vera, and seaweed. Products designed for dry skin include a combination of emollients, humectants, and occlusives — as well as several of these ingredients — to deliver effective hydration.
Emollients add moisture to the skin barrier. They are typically rich, hydrating butters, like shea or cocoa, that nourish the skin barrier.
Humectants also hydrate the skin by pulling water from the deeper layers or the air to give the skin barrier much-needed moisture. Hyaluronic acid is one of the best humectants, and a must for anyone with dry skin.
Finally, occlusives lock in moisture by creating a protective barrier between the skin and the environment to stop water loss. Look for products that contain ingredients like argan or jojoba oil.
A Five-Step Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
Once you have the right products to replenish your skin’s moisture, using them in the right sequence will help keep your skin healthy. The following five-step process focuses on hydration and nourishing dry skin, and works in both the morning and at night.
Step 1: Cleanse
The first step in any skincare routine is cleansing to remove dirt, oil, and makeup, but when you have dry skin, you also need to be careful to not strip away the natural oils. Choose a gentle, hydrating cleanser rich with jojoba and sesame oils to deliver moisture. Ingredients like glycerin — which moisturizes and hydrates — and lactic acid — which gently exfoliates the skin — are also great additions to a comprehensive cleanser.
Step 2: Tone
After cleansing, a hydrating toner can help soothe your skin while also making it stronger and brighter. Applying toner can help prepare your skin for the rest of the routine and restore its pH balance, which supports a healthy moisture barrier.
Choose a toner with nourishing ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, and avoid alcohol.
Step 3: Treat
The next step in an effective skincare routine is to apply targeted treatments. If you must use a product with active ingredients to treat a pimple or sun damage, apply it to your skin before using a serum for dry skin.
Hyaluronic acid serums are ideal for treating dry skin, but keep in mind that they are most effective when applied to damp skin. Other ingredients to look for include ceramides and peptides, which boost collagen production, and vitamin C, which can help prevent damage from the sun and free radicals.
Step 4: Moisturize
If you haven’t yet guessed, the mantra for any dry skincare routine is, “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!” This means locking in the moisture that your serum provides with a layer of rich moisturizer. Heavier creams are better than lotions for dry skin, since they remain on the skin longer and provide more hydration.
Step 5: Protect
The final step in any skincare routine, no matter what skin type you have, is a layer of sunscreen. The sun’s rays can worsen dryness and irritation, so applying a broad spectrum sunscreen with moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E provides extra protection.
More Advice for Dry Skin
Dry skin can affect anyone at any age, but you can reduce the discomfort and maintain a glowing complexion with a little TLC. In addition to using gentle, moisturizing products, be sure to drink plenty of water every day, and avoid consuming too much caffeine or alcohol, which can make your skin feel even drier. Remember to use warm or tepid water for bathing — not extra hot water — and be gentle when cleaning.
Even when your skin tends to be dry, it can look healthy, bright, and youthful when you choose the right products and use them in the right combination. Take time to read labels to choose the best ingredients, and you’ll notice a difference in your skin.
