Dry Skin
Dry skin produces less sebum than needed to maintain the moisture barrier. It often feels tight, may flake or crack, and can look dull without proper hydration and barrier support.
Characteristics
- •Tight, uncomfortable feeling after cleansing — especially with foaming cleansers
- •Visible flaking, roughness, or dry patches — often around the nose, cheeks, and jawline
- •Dull, lack-of-glow complexion that can look ashy or chalky
- •Fine lines appear more prominent because dehydrated skin lacks plumpness
- •May feel itchy or irritated in cold, dry, or windy weather
- •Makeup may cling to dry patches or look cakey
What Causes It
Dry skin is usually genetic — you are born with fewer sebaceous glands or less active ones. Environmental factors accelerate it: cold weather, low humidity, wind, central heating, and air conditioning all pull moisture from the skin. Hot showers, harsh cleansers, and over-exfoliation damage the moisture barrier. Aging naturally reduces sebum production and epidermal lipids. Certain medications (isotretinoin, diuretics) and medical conditions (eczema, hypothyroidism) also cause dryness.
Best Ingredients
Humectant that draws water into the skin, holding up to 1000x its weight. Apply to damp skin and seal with moisturizer. Multi-weight HA serums penetrate better.
The backbone of the skin barrier. Topical ceramides repair cracks in the lipid matrix that allow moisture to escape. Essential for dry skin.
Lightweight, non-comedogenic oil that mimics skin's natural sebum. Absorbs well without feeling greasy. Excellent for sealing in hydration.
Powerful humectant found in most moisturizers. Draws water from the environment and deeper skin layers to the surface. Works in any humidity.
Pro-vitamin B5 that hydrates, soothes, and supports barrier repair. Anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties make it perfect for compromised dry skin.
The single most effective occlusive — reduces transepidermal water loss by up to 98%. Apply as the last step to seal everything in. Not comedogenic despite its texture.
Ingredients to Avoid or Limit
Alcohol denat (denatured alcohol)
Drying solvent that evaporates moisture from the skin. Common in toners and some serums. Check the top third of ingredient lists — small amounts near the bottom are fine.
Fragrance (in high amounts)
Can irritate already-compromised dry skin and worsen barrier damage. Fragrance-free formulations are safer for dry, sensitive skin.
Strong AHAs (high-concentration glycolic acid)
Over-exfoliation on dry skin worsens flaking and tightness. Use gentle AHAs like lactic acid at low concentration, or skip acids entirely during dry spells.
Foaming cleansers with sulfates
Sodium lauryl sulfate and similar surfactants strip natural oils from already oil-deficient skin. Use cream or milk cleansers.
Recommended Routine
Morning (AM)
- 1.Cream or milk cleanser (or water-only rinse)
- 2.Hyaluronic acid serum on damp skin
- 3.Rich moisturizer with ceramides
- 4.SPF 30+ moisturizing sunscreen (cream formula, not gel)
Evening (PM)
- 1.Oil-based cleanser (removes SPF gently)
- 2.Cream cleanser (double cleanse)
- 3.Hydrating toner or essence
- 4.Retinol (2-3x/week — buffer with moisturizer if irritated)
- 5.Rich night cream or sleeping mask
- 6.Facial oil or thin layer of petrolatum (locks everything in)
Routine Tips
- ✓Cleanse with a cream or oil-based cleanser — never foaming or gel cleansers that strip oils
- ✓Apply hydrating products (HA, toner) to damp skin within 60 seconds of cleansing to lock in moisture
- ✓Layer hydration: humectant (HA) → emollient (moisturizer) → occlusive (oil or petrolatum)
- ✓Use a humidifier in winter — indoor heating drops humidity below 30%, which accelerates water loss from skin
- ✓Avoid hot showers — they strip natural oils. Lukewarm water preserves the barrier
- ✓Reapply moisturizer during the day if skin feels tight
Common Mistakes
- Hot showers: They feel great on dry skin but strip natural oils, leaving skin drier long-term. Keep water lukewarm.
- Only moisturizing once: Dry skin often needs moisture reapplied during the day, especially in heated or air-conditioned environments.
- Exfoliating too often: Dry patches are not always dead skin — they are often barrier damage. Exfoliating damaged skin makes it worse.
- Using 'mattifying' products: They are designed to absorb oil. Dry skin does not have excess oil. These products will make your skin feel worse.