The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin: Ultimate Guide (2023)
Discover the ultimate guide to building the best skincare routine for dry skin in 2023. Learn evidence-based practices, recommended ingredients, and expert tips to achieve a radiant complexion.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. These are products I’ve personally used, as well as are recommended by other skincare experts.
Do you wake up in the morning, ready to face the day, only to be greeted by tight, flaky skin that craves hydration? Dry skin can be a relentless challenge, leaving many of us on an endless quest for the perfect skincare routine that gives you plump, hydrated, and glass like-looking skin.
In this blog post, I’ll share with you an evidence-based guide to building the best skincare routine for dry skin. Drawing on the latest skincare research and expert recommendations, we will delve into the world of hydrating ingredients and unveil a step-by-step approach to achieving the healthy, glowing skin you deserve.
Ready to start? Let’s dive in!
The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
Dry skin is a clear sign that your face needs some extra protection from the environment. When your skin becomes dry, it develops tiny cracks on the surface, making it more difficult to retain moisture properly.
To perfect your skincare regimen for dry skin, it’s essential to incorporate products that not only lock in moisture but also provide protection against harmful UV rays. Here is your ultimate step-by-step skincare routine tailored specifically for dry skin.
Morning Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
Now, let’s explore an ideal morning skincare routine for dry skin. This routine focuses on hydrating and protecting your skin to keep it moisturized and shielded from environmental stressors all day.
Step 1: Prep Your Skin With Water, Hydrating Cleanser, or Toner
Did you know that you don’t need to use a cleanser in the morning? Your skin doesn’t collect dirt overnight, so a splash of lukewarm water or use a toner to balance your skin’s pH levels and give it some extra hydration.
Look for toners with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin to boost your skin’s moisture levels, making it plump and better prepared to absorb the rest of your skincare products.
If you prefer using a cleanser in the morning, opt for one with moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Cleansers with these ingredients will help lock in moisture and protect your skin’s natural barrier.
Best Hydrating Toners For Dry Skin
Anua Heartleaf 77%
Soothing Toner
Round Lab 1025
Dokdo Toner
Jumiso Waterfull
Hyaluronic Toner
Step 2: Apply Vitamin C Serum
One of my favorite skincare ingredients is Vitamin C. It’s a potent antioxidant that protects your skin from environmental aggressors like UV rays and pollution. Its super effective at reducing your dark spots and brightening and evening out your skin tone.
The best way to use vitamin C serums in your routine is to apply it in the morning because it can help protect your skin thought the day. I love Korean Vitamin C serums because are not only effective, but are also gentle on your skin. They are formulated with calming and hydrating ingredients like vitamin E, ferulic acid, centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid.
Best Vitamin C Serums
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (15% Vit C)
(Gold standard Vitamin C)
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster, 15% Vitamin C
(Great for advanced)
Goodall Green Tangerine Vitamin C Serum
(Great for sensitive skin)
DearKlairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop, 5%
(Great for beginners)
Step 3: Apply a Hydrating Serum
After applying your vitamin C serum, make sure to follow up with a hydrating serum to give your skin a concentrated dose of moisture. Serums, with their smaller molecules, can penetrate deeply into the skin and effectively deliver active ingredients.
For those with dry skin, layering is key. Start with a hydrating Korean serum that contains multiple humectants, rather than just one ingredient.
Even if your moisturizers, toners, and cleansers already have hydrating properties, adding a serum to your skincare routine is highly recommended. It gives an extra boost of hydration, leaving your skin plump, supple, and deeply moisturized.
Ingredients to Look for in Hydrating Serums:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is a star ingredient in hydrating serums. It has an incredible ability to attract and retain moisture, holding up to 1000 times its weight in water. By binding moisture to the skin, hyaluronic acid helps improve hydration, smoothness, and plumpness, reducing the appearance of fine lines and dry patches.
- Glycerin: Glycerin is a humectant that draws moisture from the environment and helps bind it to the skin. It forms a protective barrier, preventing moisture loss and promoting long-lasting hydration.
- Aloe Vera: Known for its soothing properties, aloe vera is a hydrating ingredient that helps calm and nourish dry, irritated skin.
- Ceramides: Ceramides are lipids naturally found in the skin’s barrier. Hydrating serums containing ceramides help restore and reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier, preventing moisture loss and enhancing hydration.
Best Hydrating Serums
4. Lock in Moisture With A Hydrating Moisturizer
Moisturizers are super important for keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. They act like a shield, locking in moisture and making your skin feel smooth and silky. Most moisturizers have occlusives, humectants, and emollients that all work together to give your skin that extra boost.
Occlusives, like silicones and petrolatum jelly, keep your skin from losing moisture. Humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, attract water and lock it into your skin. And emollients, like jojoba oil and vitamin E, fill in any gaps in your skin’s protective barrier, leaving it looking flawless.
When you’re looking for a moisturizer, go for one that has these key ingredients:
- Occlusives: Look for lotions or creams with occlusive ingredients like silicones, petrolatum jelly, or shea butter. They create a barrier on your skin to keep moisture locked in. Make sure these ingredients are near the top of the product’s ingredient list.
- Humectants: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea, and panthenol are great for dry skin. They attract moisture from the environment and give your skin long-lasting hydration for a plump and supple look.
- Emollients: Nourishing oils, like jojoba oil and vitamin E, do wonders for your skin’s texture. They fill in any gaps in your skin’s barrier, leaving it soft, smooth, and glowing.
Best Moisturizers For Dry Skin
1. Hydrating Serum: Start your routine with a hydrating serum that contains a blend of humectants. This will provide an initial boost of moisture to your skin.
2 .Moisturizer with Occlusives: Follow up with a lotion or cream that contains occlusive ingredients (silicones, petrolatum jelly, or shea butter). This will help seal in the hydration and prevent moisture loss throughout the day.
3.Targeted Balm: For troublesome dry and flaky patches, apply a targeted balm to provide intensive hydration and nourishment to those areas.
4. Face Oil Boost: If you need an extra hydration boost, add a few drops of face oil to your moisturizer. Face oils like sweet almond, apricot kernel, argan, avocado, and jojoba oil are excellent options for dry skin, providing additional nourishment and hydration.
Step 5.Protect With Sunscreen
Sunscreen acts as a barrier to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Contrary to popular belief, sunscreen doesn’t completely block these rays; instead, it absorbs them and disperses a small amount of energy as heat. This absorption prevents UV radiation from penetrating your skin, reducing the risk of sunburn, premature aging, and skin damage.
What to consider when purchasing SPF
1. UVB Protection (SPF): Look for sunscreens with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) to shield your skin from UVB rays, which are primarily responsible for sunburn. SPF 30 or higher is recommended for effective protection.
2. UVA Protection: UVA rays can lead to skin aging and damage, so it’s crucial to choose a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA as well as UVB rays.
- In the United States, look for the words “broad spectrum” on the sunscreen label, indicating that it has been tested for UVA protection.
- In Asia, the PA system is used, ranking UVA protection from PA+ to PA++++.
- In Europe, look for a UVA label similar in protection to PA+++.
3. Texture: For dry skin, opt for Korean mineral sunscreens and alcohol-free chemical sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens, which contain ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, typically have a heavier texture that provides added hydration, making them ideal for dry skin.
Avoid “matte” sunscreens, as they often contain alcohol and oil-absorbing powders that can make your skin feel dry and uncomfortable throughout the day.
- Reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours. If your spend alot of time in the water, apply based on the water-resistant limit.
- Look for SPF 30-50 range.
- Make sure your getting both UVB & UBA protection – look for “broad spectrum,” “UVA” and “PA” labels.
Night Time Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
A nighttime skincare routine for dry skin should focus on hydration and repairing the skin barrier. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Double Cleansing
Double cleansing ensures that all makeup, SPF, and day’s pollutants are thoroughly removed from the skin. Start with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. This combination effectively removes impurities without stripping the skin.
Gently massage your Korean cleansing oil onto dry skin, then add water to emulsify before rinsing off. Follow with your gel cleanser for a deep clean.
Step 2: Choose a Hydrating Cleanser
When selecting a cleanser, opt for cleansing milks, oils, or balms that are low in surfactants and high in emollients. These types of hydrating facial cleanser provide a gentle cleansing action without stripping your skin’s natural moisture.
They effectively remove dirt and waterproof makeup while keeping your skin hydrated and irritation-free. When browsing for Korean cleansers, pay attention to the product description or label to find those specifically formulated for dry or sensitive skin.
- Know Your Surfactants: Look for cleansers that contain surfactants like coco betaine, SCL (sodium cocoyl isethionate), glucosides (coco glucoside, lauryl glucosides), cocoampicetates, or amino acids. These surfactants have mild cleansing properties and are less likely to dry out your skin.
- Avoid cleansers that contain harsh ingredients like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, as they can be stripping to the skin. Also avoid cleansers with alcohol and fragrances since they can cause irritation
- Consider the pH Level: For sensitive and dry skin, it’s important to choose a cleanser with a pH level below 6. Your skin’s natural acidity, typically around pH 5.5, plays a role in maintaining its microbiome and overall health. Using a cleanser with a pH level closer to your skin’s natural acidity helps preserve the skin barrier and prevent excessive dryness.
Best Cleansers For Dry Skin
Step 3: Exfoliate Your Skin (1-2 times per week)
When exfoliating dry skin, avoid harsh physical exfoliators like sugar scrubs and cleansing brushes. Instead, opt for chemical exfoliants like Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs).
Chemical exfoliation gently removes dead skin cells, revealing a brighter, more radiant complexion. AHAs such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid work by dissolving bonds between dead skin cells, promoting smoother texture.
For dry skin with acne, BHAs like salicylic acid penetrate pores, dissolving oils and debris while reducing redness.
Choosing the Right Exfoliant: To select the best chemical exfoliant for your skin type, refer to the chart below:
| SKIN ISSUES | RECOMMENDED EXFOLIANT | INSTRUCTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| Acne Prone | 2% Salicylic Acid | Use 1-2x per week. Increase frequency and or % if no irritation / redness after 2 wks. Don’t go above 2%. |
| Acne Prone + Sensitive Skin | 0.5-1% Salicylic Acid | Use 1-2x per week. Increase frequency and or % if no irritation / redness after 2 wks. Don’t go above 2%. |
| No Acne + Skin Tolerates Exfoliants | 5%-8% Glycolic | Use 1-2x per week. After 2-3 weeks, any irritation? Yes: Reduce % or use less often No: Increase % (Don’t go over 12%); Increase to nightly. |
| No Acne + Skin DOES NOT Tolerate Exfoliants | 5%-10% Lactic | Use 1-2x per week. After 2-3 weeks, any irritation? Yes: Reduce % or use less often No: Switch to 5%-10% Glycolic acid nightly. |
Best Salicylic Acid For Dry Skin
Best Glycolic Acid & Lactic Acid For Dry Skin
Step 4: Apply Targeted Treatments
Now is the perfect time to add some treatments to address your skin concerns.
One of my personal favorites is Retinol. It’s a derivative of Vitamin A and works wonders for stimulating collagen production. That means it helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Just apply it at night to let your skin do its thing while you sleep.
Retinol can be really irritating for some folks, especially if you have sensitive skin. But, have you heard of Bakuchoil? It’s like the gentler cousin of Retinol. When it comes to Bakuchiol vs Retinol, Bakuchiol is a plant-based alternative that offers similar anti-aging benefits as Retinol, but with a lower risk of irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin type.
Step 5: Apply Hydrating Serum Like Hyaluronic Acid
You don’t have to do this step, but dermatologists recommend it if your skin is always dry and dehydrated. After applying your retinol or other targeted active, put on a hydrating serum like hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin.
And here’s a pro tip: While it’s best to apply retinol to dry skin, hyaluronic acid works better on damp skin. So, we suggest spritzing your face after applying retinol and before the HA serum. If that sounds too complicated, you can skip this step or just apply the HA serum to dry skin—you’ll still get some hydrating benefits.
Step 6: Moisturize
If you’ve got dry skin, never skip moisturizer in your morning or evening routine. It’s especially important to slather it on at night because that’s when your skin goes into rest and recovery mode.
For folks with dry skin, I’d suggest using a thicker cream instead of a lotion. Creams with more occlusives are what you want if you’ve got dry skin. Plus, creams hang around on your skin longer, unlike lotions that tend to dry out quicker.
Step 7: Apply Face Oil (Optional)
If you need an extra hydration boost, add a few drops of face oil to your moisturizer. Face oils like sweet almond, apricot kernel, argan, avocado, and jojoba oil are excellent options for dry skin, providing additional nourishment and hydration.
What To Avoid For Dry Skin
When it comes to caring for dry skin, it’s important to be mindful of certain skincare ingredients that can potentially exacerbate dryness or cause irritation. By avoiding these ingredients, you can better protect and nourish your skin.
Here are a few ingredients you should avoid:
- Alcohol: Look out for ingredients such as denatured alcohol, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol. While alcohol may provide a quick-drying or mattifying effect, it can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to increased dryness and potential irritation.
- Fragrance: Fragrances, both synthetic and natural, can be irritating to dry skin. They may disrupt the skin’s natural balance and lead to sensitivity or dry patches. Opt for fragrance-free or unscented products to minimize the risk of irritation.
- Harsh Surfactants: Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) can be too harsh and stripping for dry skin. These ingredients are commonly found in cleansers and can strip away the skin’s natural oils, leaving it feeling dry and tight. Look for milder surfactants that cleanse effectively without compromising the skin’s moisture barrier.
- High Concentrations of Essential Oils: While some essential oils can offer benefits to the skin, high concentrations or certain types of essential oils may be too strong for dry skin. They can be drying, irritating, or even trigger allergic reactions. If you enjoy the use of essential oils, look for products with lower concentrations.
FAQ
Here are some signs that you have dry skin:
- Tightness and Flakiness: If your face feels tight, especially after cleansing, and you notice those annoying flakes around your cheeks and forehead, dry skin might be your skin’s current vibe.
- Lack of Natural Moisture: So you’re dreaming of that dewy, glowing complexion, but instead, your skin resembles the Sahara Desert. Dry skin often lacks the natural moisture that gives it that healthy, supple look. If your skin feels rough, looks dull, and has lost its moisture mojo, it’s probably parched.
- Sensitivity to Climate: Dry skin tends to get even drier in dry or cold climates. If the winter months turn your skin into a parched desert, or spending time in arid environments leaves your skin feeling itchier than a mosquito bite, chances are you’ve got dry skin.
- Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Due to its reduced elasticity, dry skin tends to show fine lines and wrinkles earlier. Unfortunately, you develop wrinkles, and deeper ones too, earlier than your oily-skinned girlfriends. If you’re spotting those premature signs of aging, like little creases around your eyes or mouth, dry skin might be the culprit.
- Makeup Application Challenges: We’ve all had those moments where our makeup game is not on point. If your foundation seems to have a mind of its own, clinging to dry patches and creating a cakey disaster, it’s a sign that your skin is craving some serious hydration.
- Natural Factors: Our skin’s moisture balance is influenced by various natural factors. The outermost layer of our skin, known as the stratum corneum, acts as a barrier to protect against moisture loss. However, certain genetic factors can disrupt this barrier function, leading to increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and dryness. Variations in genes associated with skin barrier function can contribute to the development of dry skin conditions (Yin et al., 2010).
- Environmental Factors: Our surroundings play a significant role in the moisture levels of our skin. Low humidity environments, exposure to cold weather, and excessive heat can all contribute to dryness. Studies have shown that environmental factors, such as low ambient humidity, can impair the skin barrier and result in increased TEWL, leading to dry skin (Elias et al., 1998).
- Aging: As we age, our skin undergoes natural changes that can contribute to dryness. The production of sebum (the skin’s natural oil) decreases over time, resulting in reduced skin lubrication and moisture retention. Additionally, the aging process affects the skin’s ability to retain water, leading to a higher susceptibility to dryness (Farage et al., 2008).
- Harsh Cleansers and Products: Your skincare routine might unintentionally be exacerbating your dry skin. Harsh cleansers, soaps, and certain skincare products containing alcohol or fragrances can strip away the skin’s natural oils, disrupting its moisture balance. Opting for gentle, hydrating cleansers and moisturizers can help alleviate dryness (Draelos, 2006).
- Lifestyle Factors: Certain lifestyle choices can also impact the moisture levels of our skin. Long, hot showers or baths might feel heavenly, but they can actually contribute to dryness by stripping away the skin’s natural oils. Additionally, factors such as excessive sun exposure, smoking, and poor nutrition can further aggravate dry skin (Saric et al., 2017).
Remember, everyone’s skin is unique, and multiple factors can contribute to dryness. Understanding the potential causes can help us make informed choices.
References:
- Yin et al. (2010). Genetic Variants of the Epidermal Barrier in Atopic Dermatitis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 130(8), 2031-2036.
- Elias et al. (1998). The aged epidermal permeability barrier. Implications for the pathogenesis of senile xerosis and its treatment. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 11(1), 53-60.
- Farage et al. (2008). Characteristics of the Aging Skin. Advances in Wound Care, 7(2), 5-10.
- Draelos, Z. D. (2006). The Effect of Cleansers and Soaps on the Skin Barrier. Dermatologic Therapy, 19(5), 308-319.
- Saric et al. (2017). Skin Ageing: Natural Weapons and Strategies. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017, 1-14.
Conclusion
The key to managing dry skin is all about having a consistent, nourishing skincare routine that’s tailored to hydrate, protect, and repair. It’s important to embrace gentle, moisture-rich products and steer clear of harsh ingredients when taking care of dry skin.
Remember, keeping your skin hydrated is super important, and don’t forget to use specific treatments that cater to your skin’s unique needs. By following these steps, from gentle cleansing to deep moisturization, you’ll help maintain your skin’s natural balance and achieve a healthier, more radiant complexion.
