The Ultimate Skincare Routine For Dry Skin

Dry skin can be one of the most uncomfortable skin-related problems to deal with. It’s as bothersome as it is unpleasant to look at in extreme instances. Dry skin typically affects the legs, arms, and the back, but the most troublesome area for many women, in particular, is the face. Some individuals have it worse than others, especially those who have dry skin in their genetics, live in dry and humid locations, or have certain medical conditions.

Fortunately, dry skin isn’t one without a recourse. A balance of using the right skincare products like choosing the right face moisturizer for dry skin, among all products you’ll use, and practicing the right routine may significantly reduce the onset of dry skin and improve its symptoms.

We’ve got you covered with the best skincare routine to try out for dry skin, so keep reading.

Cleanse Your Face Gently

You already have dry skin, so that means you have to be extra gentle with it—give it some tender, loving care. A skincare routine always starts with cleansing your face, so you can remove any dust and dirt that may have settled. This doesn’t mean that you can use harsh cleansers as those will dry your skin up even more.

The ideal cleanser is one that’s gentle enough but also effective in removing dirt and oil. Avoid foam-type cleansers as those contain harsher surfactants to bring in that foaming effect. Those are only going to be even more drying to the skin.

Tone With An Alcohol-Free Toner

Toning the face is a step you shouldn’t skip just because you have dry skin. While it’s true that most toners have high alcohol content, you can still look for those which are alcohol-free. Check the ingredients list so you can find active ingredients that can also help restore your skin’s pH balance level.

Apply Moisturizer Right Away

Especially because you have dry skin, moisturizer should be a holy grail product for you. Its name should be enough to explain its purpose: it makes a significant difference in making your face feel more hydrated.

Moisturizers work by trapping the existing moisture on your skin. For your product to be able to do this effectively, you have to moisturize as soon as you’ve dried your face and started your skincare routine after a bath or immediately after washing your hands and face.

Use Exfoliants Sparingly

Exfoliants can dry up the skin, but it’s still a must-do at least twice a week to remove dead skin cells and improve the skin’s dull condition. Just be cautious about the exfoliating products and use them sparingly.

For instance, those like you who may have dry skin can benefit from gentler types of exfoliants like lactic and glycolic acid. Remember the general rule for dry skin: less is more, so you don’t wind up over-exfoliating your skin to the point of drying it up even more.

Slather On A Hydrating Serum

Serums are now gaining their spots in skincare routines, particularly at nighttime. Hyaluronic acid, in particular, is a powerful hydrating agent that’s naturally found in the human skin. However, when you have dry skin, your deposit of this acid may be lower, hence the need to supplement.

By using a serum with hyaluronic acid as an active ingredient, you’re enabling your skin to bind moisture to the surface. In doing so, you’re smoothing your skin up while also providing extra hydration and moisture.

Yes, you want to have that healthy sunkissed glow, but this doesn’t mean removing sunscreen from your skincare routine.

Protect Against The Harmful Sun

Vitamins from the sun are still needed by the body, hence the never-ending advice also to have enough exposure to natural light. However, this rule isn’t absolute. Make sure to balance the hours out as sun exposure from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon may also be unhealthy.

With that, be sure to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Use a sunscreen with SPF 50 daily to provide a shield against the dangerous effects of over-exposure to the sun. One of those is how the UV rays may also dry the skin out while speeding up aging.

Skip The Lotion, Use Creams Instead

Lastly, don’t forget the rest of your body. After all, it’s not just the face that can suffer from dry skin. Because you have dry skin, it’s recommended to skip the lotion and use creams or ointments instead. The rationale behind this is that creams or ointments are more effective while being less irritating to the skin. Use cream or ointment with ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, dimethicone, petrolatum, and glycerin, to name a few.

Now, you’re one step closer to bidding dry skin a sweet farewell. But first, here are a few parting words to remember—combatting dry skin also means switching your skincare regimen from time to time, especially if you live in a four-seasoned country. Get to know your skin, so you can discover the products that sit well with it. Lastly, whenever unsure, don’t skip the visits to a dermatologist. They’re experts on anything skin-related, so you can count on their advice for products and routines that’ll work for your skin’s needs.