Guide On Skin Care Routine For Dry Skin

Have you ever started putting on your base makeup only for the foundation to start cracking and peeling? Well, chances are that you are suffering from dry, dehydrated skin. Dry skin is also often flaky and feels rough to the touch. While it may not seem like a big deal, the tight feeling brought on by winter and consistent itchiness eventually leads to discomfort. So, instead of buying products that bring temporary relief, it’s time to create a skincare routine with products that will nourish your skin and retain moisture.

An effective dry skin regime will help maintain healthy skin and prevent discomfort from tight, itchy skin. A weakened skin barrier also increases the risk of infections and leads to a flaky, scale-like skin texture. Additionally, premature ageing is accelerated without a dry skin regimen and the skin loses its elasticity in the absence of moisture. It is crucial to follow the right skincare steps for dry skin to maintain its natural function and improve your skin’s overall health. So, let’s dive into understanding what causes dry skin and how to care for dry skin on the face and body.

What Causes Dry Skin

Baffled by how you can care for dry skin? As opposed to what you might think dry skin treatment is not that tough. While lack of moisture and hydration is a no-brainer, countless other factors can lead to flaky, scaly skin. Here’s what to look out for.

• Nothing strips the skin of moisture more than hot showers and harsh soaps.
• Depending on the weather in your region, hot air during the summer months draws moisture from your skin. Meanwhile, the lack of humidity during the winter can also lead to dry skin.
• Drinking less water and poor nutrition can also lead to dryness, which is why it is important to maintain a balanced diet and stay hydrated throughout the day
• Lifestyle choices like consumption of alcohol, tobacco smoking, and drinking excessive coffee also lead to skin dryness.
• Not to forget, genetics can also be the reason behind your dry skin.

How To Care For Dry Skin On Face

To make things easier for you, we have put together some dry skin tips and a fail-proof morning and evening skincare routine for dry skin to alleviate your dry skin woes.

Daytime Skincare Routine For Dry Skin

1. Best Cleanser for Dry Skin

Start your morning skincare routine with an effective cleanser that removes dirt and other impurities, without drying your skin out. The best face wash for dry skin is a no-foam, no-lather super mild formulation with soothing ingredients that will get the job done without disrupting the outer layer of the skin. A fragrance-free formula with moisturising Glycerin and Niacinamide is an added bonus.

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2. Best Toner for Dry Skin

After cleansing your face, choose a well-formulated toner to balance your skin. However, avoid alcohol-based toners and opt for toners with hydrating ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin etc. that hydrates your skin—instead of stripping the skin and drying it out.

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3. Best Serum for Dry Skin

Dry skin care is all about layering the right products. That’s why it’s essential to incorporate a serum in your skincare regimen to keep your skin looking healthy and hydrated all day long. A highly potent antioxidant serum enriched with Vitamin E, A and C will help prevent collagen breakdown and leave your skin supple and soft.

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4. Best Face Cream for Dry Skin

Do you have dry skin on your face? The next step is moisturizing and a really important one at that. What is the best moisturizer for dry skin, you ask? The best cream for dry skin during summer is a light-weight moisturizer that zaps moisture back into the skin, without weighing it down. For cooler weather, use heavy dry skin creams with the goodness of Aloe, Rosehip Oil, Vitamin E etc. that nourish your skin effectively. You can also try a dry skin cream with SPF benefits to help your skin retain moisture whilst protecting against UV/UVB rays.

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5. Best Face Mask for Dry Skin

Face masks are great antidotes to dry skin on the face. Face masks are usually designed to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients to your skin. This instant shot of moisture inherently leaves your skin dewy, bright, and glowing. One of the best dry skin treatments out there, we reckon.

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Evening Skincare Routine For Dry Skin

For your evening skincare routine, start with your usual cleansing and toning routine. Follow this up with a potent serum (optional) and finish off with a night cream. You can also apply an overnight face mask that will hydrate your dry, scaly skin and leave it soft and nourished.

1. Best Night Cream And Eye Cream for Dry Skin

While choosing the best face cream for dry skin at night, pick formulations that contain Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Hyaluronic Acid etc. that mimic the natural lipids in your skin and repair the skin’s moisture barrier efficiently. To nourish your delicate under-eye area, choose a product that boosts collagen production and hydrates the skin.

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2. Best Overnight Face Mask for Dry Skin

For dry skin care, use an overnight face mask that packs a moisturising punch. Slather this on before going to bed and wake up with well-hydrated skin. It’s that easy!

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Skincare Routine For Dry Skin With Acne

While dry skin needs moisturisation, treating dry skin with acne is all about creating a balance of delivering hydration without clogging the pores. Here’s our recommended skincare routine for dry skin with acne:

• Use a gentle hydrating cleanser that rids the skin of dirt and impurities without impacting the moisture levels of your skin.
• Use chemical exfoliators instead of abrasive products to protect the skin’s barrier.
• Follow it up with a non-comedogenic moisturiser that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to lock in the moisture without triggering acne.
• Next, use salicylic acid spot treatments on active pimples. Ensure you use this only when required as overuse can lead to dryness.
• 15–20 minutes before stepping in the sun, apply a sunscreen suited to dry skin. The heat can be harsh on the skin, while excessive sweating can lead to clogged pores.

Skincare Routine For Dry Skin On Body

Dry on your body can be managed with moisturising products with soothing ingredients like shea butter. Here’s our recommended skincare routine for dry skin on the body.

• Use a moisturising body wash to lock in moisture and use a gentle exfoliating glove to remove dead skin cells.
• Right after a shower, apply body lotion when your skin is slightly damp to allow the product to penetrate the skin.
• Exfoliate your skin with a body scrub once a week to remove dead skin cells and achieve a silky smooth feel.
• To improve moisture retention levels, use body oil after showering once or twice each week. This is especially important for the dry winter months.
• Ensure you are showering with lukewarm or room temperature water as exposure to hot water can be over-drying for the skin..

Skincare Routine For Dry Elbows And Knees

Dryness around the elbows and knees requires targeted care the skin on these parts of your body is thicker and more prone to dryness. Here’s our recommended skincare routine for dry elbows and knees.

• Exfoliation is crucial to target dry elbows and knees once or twice a week. Use a natural loofah instead of plastic alternatives to gently exfoliate the skin.
• Use a concentrated cream-based moisturiser and layer over a body oil to deliver the ultimate hydration.
• Ensure you use a body lotion after every shower and apply moisturiser to the elbow and knees before sleeping.
• Along with being hard and rough, the dry skin around the elbows and knees can also be pigmented. To brighten the skin, use the Chemist at Play Vitamin C Neck Knee Elbow Brightening Roll On.

What Not To Do When You Have Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, it is important to adopt a few gentle, caring habits that will stop the condition from worsening. Here’s what not to do when you have dry skin.

• Avoid all alcohol-based products as it can be super drying for the skin. Additionally, avoid products with sulphates or parabens, dyes, and fragrances or perfumes.
• While exfoliation can be beneficial for dry skin, it is also important to ensure that you don’t overdo it.
• Stick to exfoliating once or twice a week to maintain your skin’s protective barrier.
• Always moisturise after taking a hot shower as warm water can dry the skin and products penetrate better when your skin is wet.
• Avoid fabrics that are scratchy as they can damage the skin throughout wear.

Dry Skin Care Tips

Here are some dry skin tips to remember:

• Give hot showers a pass and opt for lukewarm water instead. This is because hot water strips your skin’s natural oils making it really dry and dehydrated.
• Long showers are also a big no-no.
• The best cleanser for dry skin is a mild, sulfate-free formulation, that gets the job done without drying your skin out.
• Air conditioning can wreak havoc on dry skin. Pat a little face cream/lotion every two to three hours to keep your skin moisturized.
• In addition to face creams and lotions, incorporate face oils (containing Vitamin E, Argan oil, Jojoba etc.) in your beauty regimen, that will leave your skin looking brighter and luminous.
• During the cooler months, opt for a humidifier to help keep your skin hydrated.
• Before applying makeup, exfoliation is a must to remove all the dead skin.
• To prevent your makeup from looking patchy and uneven, opt for a liquid or cream-based foundation/blush/highlighter that contains oil and other moisturizing elements.
• For soft, moisturised lips, exfoliate your lips once a week with a mixture of honey and sugar.
• Last but not least, drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated inside out.

Key Takeaways

The first step to treating dry skin is making hydrating lotions and moisturisers your best friend. Since air conditioners draw moisture out of your skin, mist your face at regular intervals to keep it hydrated. Hot showers and harsh cleansers are a big no-no. Instead, opt for warm showers and products formulated for dry skin that won’t wreak havoc on your skin. Now that you know how to ace the best skincare routine for dry skin, let’s get some of those frequently asked questions answered.

FAQs On Dry Skincare Routine

1. How can I incorporate face oils into my beauty regimen?

   Face oils are a godsend for dry skin. However, always layer your face oil over your moisturiser, not the other way around. If you use moisturiser directly over oil, it will not be able to penetrate through the oil barrier. You can also mix five to six drops in your moisturiser and apply it on both your face and neck. This will act as a protective barrier and prevent dry air from zapping moisture out from the skin.

2. What is the best moisturiser for dry skin?

   The best moisturiser for dry skin is infused with ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E etc. that hydrates without clogging your pores. During cooler months, opt for a creamy formulation that treats dull, dehydrated skin and keeps flaky skin at bay.

3. Does dry skin occur only on the face? What are the main dry skin causes?

   There are numerous causes for dry skin. While genetics certainly determine your skin type, there are also other factors such as dust, pollution, humidity, hot showers, and harsh soaps that are at play. Sometimes sudden weather changes and cooler temperatures can wreak havoc on your skin as well.

4. Can you recommend the best facial for dry skin?

   Try home remedies or DIYs that can solve all your dry skin woes. Mix two cups of milk and a quarter cup of honey in warm water and slather this on your skin. You can also whip up a quick face mask by mixing one Banana, one cup of ground Oats and milk into a smooth paste. We promise your dry skin problems will be a thing of the past.