Dealing with dry skin can often feel like an uphill battle, whether it’s dry by nature or due to external factors such as cold temperatures. However, if you pay the right attention and use the right skincare routine and products, such as face serums, you can always maintain your glow and prevent the skin from feeling itchy and irritable.
In this guide, we’ll share several essential skincare routines tailored specifically for dry skin.
Apply a Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
When it comes to making dry skin stay hydrated, hyaluronic acid is the go-to product. It’s mostly used in face serums and is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. This means that it gives an intense moisture boost that continues to hydrate your skin long after the application.
To get the most out of the serum, it’s advisable to apply it while your skin is still damp. This helps lock in the moisture to keep your skin hydrated all day. However, the serum will work best when combined with a moisturiser.
Employ a Gentle, Hydrating Cleanser
All types of skin need cleansing. However, cleansing can also strip the skin of its natural oils, something dry skin can’t afford to lose. When cleansing your skin, you need to ensure that it’s a gentle, hydrating cleanser. Choose a cleanser that has specifically been formulated with hydration in mind, as it will still remove impurities but retain the skin’s moisture.
Some of the suitable cleansers here have moisture-locking ingredients such as glycerin, ceramides, or hyaluronic acid. Before you apply them, ensure the water you use isn’t hot but lukewarm. Hot water can worsen dryness as it removes essential oils from your skin.
Hydrate with a Replenishing Toner
Before you apply your serum and moisturiser, you need to give your skin an extra layer of hydration through a toner. These are available in different types, but you need to make sure the one you use is a hydrating one. There are some harsh options that can dry out your skin further, but hydrating toners will nourish and soften your skin by filling it with moisture and calming ingredients.
Ideally, your toner should have soothing botanicals like chamomile, rose water, or aloe vera on top of hydrants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. You should apply the toner after cleansing by gently pressing it onto your skin with clean hands or a cotton pad. Ensure even coverage.
Lock It in with a Nourishing MoisturiserAfter you’ve given your skin a good base, you can then apply your moisturiser. These products are made from a formula that has ingredients like ceramides, squalane, and shea butter, all which have hydrating and soothing effects. They strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier and also help lock in moisture throughout the day. Cream-based options are particularly good for most people with dry skin.
When you choose your moisturiser well, you’ll notice that your skin feels softer.
Add a Weekly Hydrating Mask for an Extra Boost
While a good skincare routine will ensure that your face stays hydrated, there are those days when you feel like your skin craves a little extra moisture. That’s a good time for a hydrating face mask, which you can add to your routine and use at least once a week. Hydrating masks are formulated to give your skin an intense dose of moisture that lasts longer than other products, and they also help soothe and refresh dry skin.
When shopping for a mask, look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or honey. The mask should come in after your regular skincare routine, and you can either use it for a specified period or select one that you can leave on overnight. The extra boost provided by hydrating masks will make your skin feel rejuvenated and push you for several days while still doing your regular skincare routine.
Main Image – Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-touching-her-cheek-3785802/