Finding the right skincare for dry skin can mean the difference between a flaky, tight-feeling complexion and a healthy, radiant glow. Read on to discover what causes dry skin and how to achieve a supple, hydrated-looking complexion with a five-step skincare routine for dry skin.
What is dry skin?
Dry skin naturally produces less sebum (the oil secreted by sebaceous glands to help moisturize and protect the skin) than other skin types. It often feels rough, flaky and tight.
What causes dry skin?
Dry skin can be caused by cold temperatures, chilled air and low humidity. These external factors cause the blood vessels to narrow, reducing sebaceous gland secretion and drying out the lipid barrier. With age, the skin also naturally produces less sebum, resulting in drier and tighter-feeling skin.
Fortunately, the below skincare routine for dry skin will help to keep your complexion hydrated and feeling healthy.
Skincare routine for dry skin
Step 1: Cleanse with a gentle face wash for dry skin
Harsh soaps and cleansers can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving a dry face feeling even drier and tighter. Instead, opt for a face wash for dry skin that’s formulated with hydrating and gentle ingredients, like hyaluronic acid or micellar water, to cleanse without stripping essential moisture.
Gel and cleansing lotions are best for dry skin.
Step 2: Tone to rebalance the skin
Often neglected, toning is an important step of your skincare routine for dry skin. Not only does it help to rebalance the skin after cleansing but it can prepare the skin for next steps, allowing future products to work most effectively.
Step 3: Apply a hyaluronic acid concentrate
A holy grail for dry skin, hyaluronic acid helps to prevent moisture loss and keep skin hydrated. It’s capable of holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water and absorbs moisture from its surroundings to lock in hydration.
Step 4: Use a hydrating serum for dry skin
Serums are lightweight hydrators formulated with small molecules that work to hydrate the skin. They are particularly beneficial for dry skin, helping to nourish and brighten.
To find the best serum for dry skin, look for formulas with hydrating and radiance-boosting ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and Vitamins C and E.
Step 5: Moisturize
To help replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, moisturizers and night creams are essential. While moisturizers hydrate the surface layer of the skin and create a protective shield to help prevent damage from external aggressors throughout the day, night creams help support the skin’s natural overnight renewal process and help to hydrate and replenish the skin barrier.
Apply a face cream or SPF moisturizer as the last step of your morning skincare routine, and a night cream as the final step of your evening regimen.
Weekly treatments
To look and feel its best, dry skin often requires a deeply hydrating treatment to supplement an everyday skincare routine. Face masks and overnight treatments provide a highly concentrated dose of the key ingredients needed to further nourish and hydrate the skin, including cocoa butter and hyaluronic acid.
Apply a face mask twice a week after cleansing and toning, then follow with moisturizer or night cream.
Skincare for dry skin
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