Dry Skin 101: What You Should Be Doing With Your Skincare Routine, According To Experts

Dry skin getting you down? Not for much longer. We’ve pulled in the experts to find out how we can tackle the issue head-on, and which products are worth investing in. Here’s how to construct the perfect skincare routine for dry skin.

A Guide To Skincare For Dry Skin

How To Tell If You Have Dry Skin

It’s pretty easy to tell when you have dry skin, as the signs are quite noticeable. ‘Dry skin lacks sebum (oil) and is not able to retain moisture compared to other skin types,’ explains Aruj Javid, an in-house pharmacist at LOOKFANTASTIC. ‘Therefore, dry skin can show signs of a rough skin texture, flaking, redness, dullness and lack of suppleness. You may often feel discomfort, experience the feeling of tightness and scaly patches, if you have very dry skin.’

And when it comes to finding a cause, Aruj notes that, while you can just have naturally dry skin, there are also a number of other factors to consider. ‘External aggressors such as dry winds, central heating and hot showers can strip your skin’s natural moisture barrier of essential lipids,’ she says. ‘Cleansing your skin excessively, taking long and hot showers or baths can also dry out your skin; stick to lukewarm water when washing your face and body and avoid too much exfoliation.

‘Other causes of dry skin may include psoriasis and eczema,’ she continues. ‘Always check with a medical professional if you are unsure or concerned about dry skin on your face.’

Which Skincare Products Are Best Suited To Dry Skin?

So, what skincare is best to use if you’re struggling with dry skin? When picking your products, it’s important you opt for those that offer plenty of hydrating properties, as this is key to combatting dry skin. ‘Opt for skincare products that can help to restore and replenish your skin barrier with moisture,’ agrees Aruj. ‘Cleanse dry skin with a nourishing gentle face and body cleanser to help keep your skin moist. Follow with a hydrating toner or thermal water spray, then apply moisturiser to damp skin. Choose a cream moisturiser that is formulated with moisture-rich ingredients.’

Ingredients To Look Out For

If you’re still not sure what to look out for, a quick glance at the ingredients list can also help point you in the right direction. ‘Help to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier with skincare ingredients such as lipid-replenishing ceramides alongside emollient ingredients such as shea butter and squalane to help lock in moisture,’ Aruj recommends. ‘Humectant ingredients that help reduce the loss of moisture such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Keep an eye out for formulas with added antioxidants such as vitamin E to help soften dry skin. Oat-based ingredients such as colloidal oats have soothing properties that can help nourish your skin barrier.’

To summarise, some of the best ingredients for dry skin include:

• Ceramides
• Shea butter
• Squalane
• Glycerin
• Hyaluronic acid
• Vitamin E
• Colloidal oats

How To Create A Skincare Routine For Dry Skin

Now that you have the products you need, it’s time to organise them into a skincare routine. Aruj details the steps you should be taking below:

Step 1: Cleanser

‘Gently cleanse and hydrate very dry skin with a soothing cleanser or cleansing oil,’ starts Aruj. ‘These will help melt away impurities without leaving your skin barrier stripped from essential moisture.’

Step 2: Toner

‘Nourish and restore very dry skin with a hydrating toner to help provide a veil of hydration,’ she continues.

Step 3: Serum

Then it’s on to serums and treatments: ‘Replenish your skin barrier with an intensively hydrating lightweight serum bursting with moisture. Fortified with skin plumping hyaluronic acid and natural moisturising factors for smooth, soft supple skin.’

Step 4: Moisturiser

And seal it all in with a good moisturiser. ‘Soothe your skin barrier with a buttery ultra-rich cream moisturiser to help lock in hydration and moisture,’ says Aruj.

Step 5: Lip Balm

An often forgotten about step, but an important one no less. ‘Smooth and soften very dry chapped lips with an intensive lip treatment,’ advises Aruj. ‘To help moisturise your lips.’

Step 6: Daily SPF

It’s also important you protect your skin from any external factors, like the sun. ‘Applying broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily to help to protect your skin from environmental aggressors such as UVA rays that can lead to further premature ageing,’ highlights Aruj. ‘This should be the last step of your morning skincare routine.’

Morning vs Night

Your core skincare routine will largely stay the same from morning to night, Aruj tells us, although there are a few things you add or swap if you so wish. ‘You can stick to the same AM routine for your PM routine, minus the SPF of course,’ says Aruj. ‘However, opt for a richer cream at night to help intensely moisture your skin as you sleep. Try a deeply hydrating overnight mask or you may prefer to add a sheet mask weekly as part of your skincare routine – for that quick burst of intense hydration.’

Get Your Routine Started

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