As I have gotten older, my skin went from being combination and slightly oily to very dry. I’ve had to rethink my entire skincare routine and change up what I use in order to help keep my skin balanced and nourished. Dry skin is one of the most common skincare concerns causing tightness, flaking, irritation, and dullness. Many people can accidentally worsen their dry skin by using harsh cleansers, over exfoliating, or skipping moisturizing steps. In today’s post, I am sharing a skincare routine for dry skin that you can use as a guide.
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Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
Dry skin occurs when the skin lacks enough natural oils and moisture to maintain a healthy protective barrier. Choosing the right ingredients and avoiding harsh products can significantly improve skin comfort and appearance. Building a simple, consistent routine that prioritizes moisturizing and protective skincare practices can help you achieve healthier, smoother, and more balanced skin over time.
What Is Dry Skin?
Dry skin often has a weakened skin barrier, which makes water evaporate more easily from the skin’s surface. Dry skin produces less natural oil than normal skin which makes it more prone to flakiness, redness and irritation.
What Does Dry Skin Look Like?
- Rough or flaky skin texture
- Tight feeling after washing the face
- Redness or irritation
- Dull appearance
- Visible dry patches
- Fine lines appearing more noticeable
What Causes Dry Skin?
Environmental causes
Cold weather, wind, and low humidity are contributing factors to dry skin.
Hot showers and harsh cleansers
While I do love a hot shower, it can strip the skin of it’s natural oils. The same can be said for harsh cleansers.
Aging
Skin produces less oil over time making it more dry in texture and feel.
Skin conditions
Conditions such as eczema or dermatitis may contribute to skin dryness.
Lifestyle factors
Dehydration, excessive exfoliation, or overuse of active ingredients are some of the biggest factors for causing dry skin.
What Does Dry Skin Need?
Hydration
Your skincare routine must focus on ingredients that attract water into the skin. Also making sure you are drinking enough water and possibly using a humidifier during certain times of the year.
Barrier repair
Look for products with ingredients that help to strengthen the skin’s protective moisture barrier.
Moisture sealing
Rich occlusive creams and/or oils are great at helping nourish dry skin by preventing water loss.
Gentle products
While many people love that “squeaky clean” feeling that many cleansers or skincare products give, that is often a sign that it’s stripping your skin barrier and natural oils. This can result in dry skin or an overproduction of oil to help balance out the skin barrier. Try to use non-stripping cleansers (milks, gels, creams, etc) and mild formulas.
What Are the Best Ingredients for Dry Skin?
Hyaluronic acid
Attracts water to hydrate the skin.
Ceramides
Strengthen the skin barrier.
Glycerin
Helps retain moisture
Squalane
Provides lightweight moisture.
Shea butter
Creates a protective moisture barrier.
How to Build a Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
Start with a gentle cleanser
Choose a hydrating, non-foaming cleanser that removes dirt without stripping natural oils. Look for ingredients like glycerin or ceramides. Also, avoid harsh sulfates that can worsen dryness.
Add hydrating layers
Use lightweight hydrating products such as toners, essences, or serums to add moisture before applying heavier creams. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe help draw water into the skin.
Use a moisturizer that supports the skin barrier
A rich cream moisturizer helps seal hydration into the skin. Look for ingredients such as ceramides, shea butter, squalane, or fatty acids that strengthen the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss.
Apply sunscreen daily
Dry skin can be more sensitive to sun damage, which can worsen dryness and irritation. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning to protect the skin and maintain healthy hydration levels.
Adjust your routine for day or night
Keep your morning routine simple with hydration and protection, while nighttime routines can include richer moisturizers or facial oils that help repair the skin barrier overnight.
Introduce new products gradually
When building a routine, add products one at a time. This helps prevent irritation and allows you to see how each product affects your skin.
Avoid over-exfoliating
Exfoliating too often can damage the skin barrier and make dryness worse. Limit exfoliation to once or twice a week and choose gentle exfoliants if needed.
Stay consistent with your routine
Dry skin improves with consistent hydration and care. Using moisturizing products daily helps maintain the skin barrier and prevent ongoing dryness.
What is the Best Skincare Routine for Dry Skin?
Step 1: Use a gentle hydrating cleanser
Whether you are removing your makeup or just cleansing your skin the morning, look for formulas that are gentle and hydrating. Below are a few of my favorites:
Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm
I’ve been using the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm for nearly 10 years and loved it from my very first use. It’s one of the best cleansers to remove makeup (even waterproof makeup) and leaves my skin feeling nourished, moisturized and soft. None of that “squeaky clean” feeling that often cleansers will leave me with – which often means it has stripped my skin of all the necessary moisture and oils leaving it dry and dehydrated. A really good cleansing balm should give a thorough deep clean without stripping the skin.
OneSkin Prep Facial Cleanser (discount code: MAREE15)
This cleanser is a gel texture but feels really unique and silky. In addition to giving my skin a great cleanse, it has gentle enzymes that help remove dead skin cells and impurities. Especially with mature skin, exfoliation is so important to help the skin look and feel its best. Additionally, this formula contains arnica extract which is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps stimulate microcirculation. This cleanser offers so many great benefits for those with mature skin!
Dieux Baptism Gentle Foaming Facial Gel Cleanser
This gel cleanser is an absolute moisturizing dream! One of the main ingredients is glycerin which is a powerhouse hydrator, while the gentle cleansing complex in the formula helps to remove impurities without stripping the skin.
Step 2: Apply a hydrating toner or essence
Often toners can be an afterthought but can actually make a huge difference for dry skin types. After you cleanse, use a hydrating toner and/or essence to help balance the skin and add back in moisture. I love to layer my toners and essences so here are the two that I use every morning and night.
Sarah Creal Beauty Moisture Source
This is one of the most hydrating and plumping essences I’ve ever tried. An essence is heavier than traditional toners so it is best used after you have cleansed/toned, but before you apply your serums. Skip a cotton pad and pour the essence into the palm of your hands so you can press it gently into damp skin. It’s a bi-phase formula so be sure to shake it up before you apply.
TirTir Milk Skin Toner
Formulated with niacinamide, rice bran extract and ceramides, the TirTir Milk Skin Toner delivers intense hydration while also comforting and soothing the skin. The addition of panthenol helps make it suitable for sensitive skin and especially great for those with very dry and reactive skin. Like with all the milky toners that I have, I prefer to pour a small bit into my hands and pat it into the skin. This does leave a slightly tacky finish on the skin which I like since my skin is more dry and mature, but this is a lighter version for those who don’t prefer that feeling.
Step 3: Use a hydrating serum
Every skin type can benefit from adding in a hydrating serum but dry skin types need them daily. There are so many to choose from but I have two that I regularly use and love.
Experiment Beauty Super Saturated Serum (discount code: MAREE15)
If your skin is feeling dehydrated or lacking moisture, this hydrating serum will solve all your problems. It is a barrier support serum so it will help strengthen and protect the skin barrier while also delivering intense hydration. The serum is formulated with 30% glycerin as well as a ton of other humectants. So it will also aid in helping your skin hold onto that moisture all day long. This is a thicker serum so layer it accordingly in your skincare routine (thinnest to thickest) but it will truly help increase your skin’s hydration immediately as well as for the long term.
Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Nourishing Daily Serum
The Ceramide Barrier Nourishing Daily Serum is lightweight but super creamy and nourishing. It’s easy to add in to any skincare routine and works for all skin types. Formulated with a blend of five types of ceramides and lipids, this daily serum helps reduce irritation, hold onto moisture in the skin and soften the skin with the addition of lactic acid.
Step 4: Apply a rich moisturizer
Thicker moisturizers will be your best friend when you have dry skin. This is a newer moisturizer that I’ve been testing for the past few months and LOVE for dry skin types.
Versed Rich Barrier Cream
This formula is designed to help support the skin barrier, restore moisture and also calm the skin. It is safe for sensitive and eczema prone skin as well as being super affordable at $20 for 1.5 oz.
Step 5: Apply sunscreen in the morning
It’s important to wear sunscreen every single day not only for protection against UVA/UVB rays but also because the sun can be incredibly drying to the skin. Ensure you are using a moisturizing formula under your makeup. Here are two of my favorites:
Versed Good Defense Daily Sunscreen SPF 50
I love this sunscreen because intensely hydrating as soon as you apply it leaving my skin feeling plump and well-balanced. It’s a clear formula that leaves no white cast on the skin. So for anyone with dehydrated skin, this SPF is a must try!
Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Sunscreen Serum SPF 50 (discount code: Maree)
This sunscreen has been a staple in my routine for more than a year. For those with dry or mature skin types, this is truly one of the best sunscreen serums I have ever tried. It leaves your skin nourished, glowy, plump and supple. It also provides protection against UVA & UVB rays, pollution, blue light and free radicals. There is a slight tint to it that evens out the complexion and gives the skin a fresh radiant glow.
Step 6: Use a nourishing night cream in the evening
The last step of your evening skincare routine should be something that really helps to comfort and nourish the skin. Focus on formulations that strengthen the skin barrier like the two I have listed below:
Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer
The Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer is a skin-restoring moisturizer designed to deeply nourish, provide barrier support and give an “ethereal glow” to the skin. It doesn’t focus on anti-aging concerns or other targeted treatments. It is truly the ultimate final step in taking care of your skin.
Mother Science Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer (discount code: MAREESYE)
This moisturizer has the fantastic benefits of Malassezin with added ingredients such as growth factors and peptides to really strengthen and support the skin barrier. When my skin needs the extra support and nourishment, this is the moisturizer that I use at the end of my evening routine.
Spring is almost here and it’s time to break out all the dresses that have been packed away all winter! One of the best parts about spring is finally getting to wear all the mini, midi and maxi dresses without needing a huge coat layered on top. From prints to solids and from pastels to bold colors, there is a spring dress for everyone. My preference for dresses is all over the place but I do love the fit of a classic shirtdress. Many of my favorite spring dresses are variations of a shirtdress and are perfect to wear to all the spring functions and occasions that will be happening. Here are some of my favorite spring dresses as well as a collection of other styles I am loving right now.
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