My Ultimate Skin Care Must Haves for Dry Skin
Whenever I meet someone and learn that we have the same skin type, I almost feel like we share a special bond.
Like we watched the same obscure ‘90s TV shows growing up or that we both knew about that one local boutique that always seemed to have exactly what we were looking for.
So if you’re a fellow member of the Dry Skin Club, welcome!
What does it mean to have dry skin?
According to a blog post from skincare brand CeraVe, (a brand that I notice always likes to quote or tap dermatologists for quotes about their products and skin concerns) having dry skin means that your skin typically produces fewer oils than what is expected to be normal.
This may mean that when it comes to a dry skincare routine, we may mix in products that increase hydration or restore moisture more so than people with normal, oily or combination skin.
If your skin is noticeably dehydrated, you want to do what you can to improve the moisture levels in your skin and the products I’m recommending today have helped me do just that with my skin.
Read on for my skincare must have’s for dry skin.
A simple cleanser
If you don’t already know, cleanser is the most basic part of your skincare routine.
When you cleanse your skin, you’re removing dirt, pollutants and other irritants of daily life.
This allows you to start with a clean slate in the morning or at the end of the day before you apply your other skincare products.
My recommendation: Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
Not only is this product effective, but the formula really is this delightful jelly-like texture that allows you to get in there and remove the bad stuff without stripping your skin.
It’s formulated with vitamin B5 and rose water for a soft, nourishing cleanse.
An exfoliating toner (a few times a week)
If you’re serious about skincare, the next step of your routine will be toner.
Toner is an additional follow up step after cleanser to target your skin’s specific needs.
For the Dry Skin Club, toners with ingredients like hyaluronic acid (can aid hydration and smooth fine lines) or maybe green tea (soothes irritation and reduces redness) are great ones to consider adding to the mix of your routine.
My rec: Paula’s Choice BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This Paula’s Choice 2% BHA exfoliant has helped reset my skin on many occasions.
It’s been clinically proven to brighten skin, reduce fine lines and improve your skin barrier in 4 weeks.
One word of caution with toners/exfoliants when you have dry skin: don’t overdo it!
When you are exfoliating you are making the skin more vulnerable by removing dead skin and clearing pores.
Because of this, I use this toner 3x a week max in the evenings (in the mornings your skin will be more sensitive to sun exposure) and I find this frequency to work very well for me.
A fool-proof serum
Following toner, your next skincare step is serum.
Serum is essentially a vehicle to deliver a big impact of good things (aka our friends vitamins and nutrients) that your skin type needs.
Different serums do different things—for example, a hyaluronic acid serum can help skin flex and build elasticity to help prevent things like fine lines.
Vitamin C can help hydrate and brighten skin and even help reduce redness.
My rec: Cle Cosmetics Vitamin C Elixir
I rotate through my different serums, but one ingredient I always like to apply in the mornings is a vitamin C serum.
This one from Cle Cosmetics is an oil-serum hybrid and contains antioxidants, amino acids and 11% pure vitamin C which help shield the skin from environmental stressors and promote collagen production.
Pro tip: Follow the suggested application how-tos on the product label of your serums. Frequency of application and recommended amounts are important for best results.
Creamy and luxe eye cream
The skin surrounding the eyes is one of the most fragile parts of our skin.
An eye cream is a bit more targeted than a moisturizer that is meant for your whole face.
Products formulated specifically for the eye area are gentle and formulated to protect, soothe and brighten this sensitive section of our skin.
My rec: It Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream
This one has a super creamy texture making it a dream for someone with dry skin.
It’s even vegan, paraben-free and ophthalmologist tested with a peptide concentrate to help reduce the look of dark circles.
Deeply hydrating moisturizer
Of all of the dry skin care routine steps, moisturizer is a non-negotiable to apply.
It’s all about hydrating when it comes to moisturizers.
Dermatologists agree that regular use of moisturizers is one of the best habits to start since as we get older our skin naturally retains less moisture on its own.
My rec: Laneige Water Bank Moisturizer
Not only is Sydney Sweeney the face of this moisturizer (slay) but Laneige has trademarked the phrase Water Science and they have some of the best products for dry skin because they’re on a mission to help your skin be more hydrated.
This product contains blue hyaluronic acid (yes, really!) derived from deep sea algae, ceramide and squalene, all designed to give your skin an instant drink of water.
Lightweight facial sunscreen
In case you needed a reminder, this critical step is not just for summer or sunny days.
Sunscreen helps hold off lines and maintain even texture.
Most importantly, regular use of sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer. If you haven’t been using it regularly, take this as your sign to start today!
My rec: Versed Guards Up Mineral Sunscreen
It is SPF 35 and protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
With a peachy hue to eliminate the chance of white cast on the skin and ingredients like antioxidants that will help shield your skin from blue light damage, what’s not to love?
Specialty products:
Sometimes it’s nice to have additional add-ons for your skin care needs or just for fun!
Facial mist
A face mist instantly refreshes skin and can be worn under makeup or used to refresh makeup throughout the day.
My rec: Florence by Mills Jasmine Face Mist
Lip mask
I’ve already sung the praises of the Lip Mask that has been in my skincare routine for 5+ years but the feeling of waking up with pillow-y soft lips will never get old.
Tools of the trade
You don’t need to stock up on lots of gadgets but some skin care tools you’ve already got in your stash, can help address the special needs of dry skin.
Ice roller
If in addition to dryness you struggle with redness or dullness, ice rolling your face in the morning can help combat those skin concerns while improving blood flow.
My rec: Amazon Ice Roller
Reusable eye makeup remover pads
Eye makeup remover pads help you put the makeup removing solution where it will do the most good.
The more you can take off with gentle pressure to the eye area, the less you’ll chance irritating delicate skin when beginning your regular cleansing.
Specialty face masks
These deep treatments can concentrate the efforts of a particular product, whether its locking in moisture, evening out texture, or even soothing redness.
Entire face
This mask contains the dream team of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide meaning your skin is in for a very hydrating treat.
My rec: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Face Mask
Under eye masks
Not only do these provide an instant cooling sensation (and I store mine in the fridge for an extra cold blast) but they contain soothing ingredients like chamomile and aloe.
I hope this post detailing my dry skin skincare routine helped you and gave you some ideas for what products to buy to help your dry skin thrive!
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yours,
Austen