A Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
How to know you have dry skin
Dry skin makes too little oil, so it struggles to hold moisture. Signs include tightness after cleansing, flaking, rough patches and a dull look. It can feel sensitive and may sting when you use strong actives.
Dry skin is different from dehydrated skin, which lacks water and can happen to any skin type. The routine below helps both.
Dry skin is common and very manageable once you understand what it needs. The mistake many people make is reaching for stronger products when skin feels rough, when the answer is usually gentler cleansing and more consistent moisture. Comfort is the signal to aim for, so tightness or flaking is a prompt to add hydration rather than to exfoliate harder.
The core routine
The aim is to add hydration and then seal it in.
Morning
- Gentle cream or non foaming cleanser, or just water if skin feels fragile.
- A hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid or glycerin, applied to slightly damp skin.
- A rich moisturiser with ceramides.
- Broad spectrum SPF.
Evening
- Gentle cleanse.
- Hydrating serum.
- A richer moisturiser or a night cream to repair overnight.
Ingredients that help
- Hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Humectants that draw water into the skin.
- Ceramides. Rebuild the barrier and lock moisture in. See the skin barrier guide.
- Squalane and plant oils. Soften and reduce water loss.
- Niacinamide. Supports the barrier and calms the skin.
Apply hydrating layers to damp skin, then a moisturiser on top to hold the water in place.
Habits that make dryness worse
- Hot water and long showers, which strip natural oils.
- Foaming or high pH cleansers that leave skin tight.
- Over exfoliating, which damages the barrier.
- Strong actives without enough moisture to buffer them.
If you use retinol or acids, introduce them slowly and pair them with rich moisture.
Lifestyle and environment
Dry skin is strongly affected by its surroundings. Central heating, air conditioning, wind, long hot showers and low humidity all pull moisture from the skin. Small changes help: shorter, cooler showers, a humidifier in dry rooms, and applying moisturiser while the skin is still damp to trap water.
Diet and hydration play a supporting role. Drinking enough water and eating healthy fats will not replace a good moisturiser, but they help the skin do its job. The goal is to reduce what dries the skin out while consistently adding and sealing in moisture.
Adjust for climate and season
Dry skin often needs more support in winter, in air conditioning and at high altitude. Layer richer products when the air is dry and lighten up when it is humid. A skin scan can help you match products to how your skin is behaving right now. Try the scan.
Frequently asked
A good routine for dry skin is a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid or glycerin applied to damp skin, a ceramide rich moisturiser and SPF in the morning, then a gentle cleanse, hydrating serum and a richer night cream in the evening.
The best ingredients for dry skin are humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to draw in water, ceramides to repair the barrier and hold moisture, squalane and plant oils to soften, and niacinamide to calm and support the skin.
Tightness after washing usually means the cleanser is too harsh or stripping the skin of natural oils. Switching to a gentle, non foaming cleanser and moisturising while the skin is still damp helps relieve it.
No. Dry skin lacks oil and is a skin type, while dehydrated skin lacks water and can affect any skin type. Both improve with gentle cleansing, humectants to add water and a moisturiser to seal it in.
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