Every skin type has its issues and battles to fight. People with dry skin struggle to keep their skin hydrated, especially in places with a dry climate like Arizona.
All skin types can suffer from dehydration, which makes the skin feel tight and flaky. However, the main problem is not the unpleasant feeling. Dry skin is prone to developing tiny cracks, leading to infections and making it more difficult to maintain moisture.
You need a skin care routine designed to treat and prevent dry skin. We are excited to share the ultimate tips and product recommendations for dry skin!
What Causes Dry Skin?
Your skin is a reflection of your genetics, overall health, environment, and lifestyle. Dry skin is a chronic condition caused by biological factors, while dehydration can affect all skin types and is due to external factors.
Here is a breakdown of the most common causes of dry skin:
- Genes. A mutation of the gene called filaggrin (FLG) disrupts the production of the filaggrin protein, which is responsible for maintaining the skin’s protective barrier and moisture. Lower production of this protein results in dry skin and is frequently passed on as a genetic trait.
- Hormones. Hormones, especially estrogen, play a significant role in regulating sebum production and skin hydration. Estrogen levels go down before each menstrual cycle and during menopause, resulting in dry skin. A drop in the levels of thyroid hormones and cortisol also causes dry skin.
- Environmental factors. Sun exposure and pollution are among the greatest enemies of your complexion, causing dry skin and other aging signs. A dry climate can also dehydrate the skin regardless of your skin type.
- Lifestyle choices. Smoking, sleep deprivation, and an unhealthy diet (e.g., vitamin deficiencies, excess sugar, and low water intake) harm the skin, causing it to appear dry, dull, and flaky.
- Medical issues and medications. There is a long list of medical conditions that may cause dry skin, including hypothyroidism, fungal infections, diabetes, and kidney disease. Some medications also cause dry skin, including laxatives, diuretics, acne medication, antibiotics, etc.
- Skincare products. Some skincare products contain ingredients that are too harsh for the skin because they irritate it or strip it of its natural oils. Examples include salicylic acid, glycolic acid, fragrances, alcohol, and more. Look for products that are formulated for dry or sensitive skin.
Note: Determine your skin type and find out how to treat it in our ultimate skin care guide.
The Best Skin Care Routine for Dry Skin
Your skin condition can change with age, the seasons, stress levels, diet, emotions, the weather, etc. You constantly need to reevaluate the effect of your skincare products. If you notice that your skin is tight, flaky, and itchy, it’s time to introduce products for dry and sensitive skin.
Day and night skincare routines differ. Day products should protect your skin from external factors such as pollution, free radical damage, and sunlight. At night, your skincare products should be helping your skin recover and promoting fibroblast activity.
The following tips are about when to use various products and which ingredients to look for.
1. Use a Cleanser
Cleansing is the first step in your skincare routine, both in the morning and the evening. Cleansers are designed to remove impurities from the skin, including products applied earlier, dead skin cells, pollutants, and oil.
Dry skin calls for a gentle and hydrating face wash. Avoid harsh ingredients that dry out the skin, such as alcohol, and intense exfoliators like glycolic and salicylic acid.
Look for a product with ceramides, vitamin E, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid – ingredients that fight dryness by helping balance moisture levels. If redness is a concern, find a cleanser with niacinamide. The only alpha-hydroxy acid you should be using is lactic acid, as this ingredient is well known for hydrating the skin without causing irritation.
Cream, oil, and gentle gel cleansers are suitable for dry skin. Our favorite cleansers for dry skin are ALASTIN Gentle Cleanser and ALASTIN Ultra Calm Cleansing Cream.
2. Tone the Skin
Toners remove cleanser residue and help balance the pH of the skin and they prep the skin to absorb serums and moisturizers. Avoid alcohol and harsh acids and look for rose water for its calming properties and hyaluronic acid for hydration. Molecules of hyaluronic acid (HA) can hold 1,000 times their weight in water, helping the skin hydrate deeply.
3. Apply a Serum
Serums are packed with highly concentrated ingredients used to target specific skin concerns. We recommend incorporating antioxidants into your morning routine to prevent free radical and sun damage. Look for these ingredients in serums:
- Vitamin C - provides powerful antioxidant protection, brightens dull skin, and prevents hyperpigmentation.
- Growth factors - reduce cell DNA damage, repair damaged skin, maintain firmness and elasticity, and provide added protection.
- Hyaluronic acid – boosts hydration and can be used during the day and night.
- Niacinamide – increases circulation, boosts the hydrating action of moisturizers, reduces enlarged pores, and reduces hyperpigmentation.
Osmosis MD Replenish Antioxidant Infusion Serum provides deep hydration to dry skin while protecting it with antioxidants and improving skin tone with niacinamide.
At night, you can apply the same hydrating serum as in the morning. Also consider adding a few other key players to boost your nighttime regimen:
- Vitamin A in the form of retinal or retinol, peptides, and vitamin B3 help stimulate the production of elastin and collagen to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
- Colloidal silver decreases inflammation and helps calm the skin.
If you have multiple issues you would like to address, use different serums, and apply them from the thinnest to the thickest. Water-based formulas go first, followed by oil-based ones.
4. Apply a Moisturizer to Lock in Moisture
Moisturizing to seal in hydration is an essential step. Look for these ingredients in your moisturizer: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, B vitamins, and glycerin. Choose an oil-free formulation that won’t clog your pores and avoid irritants such as perfumes.
The ideal day cream has a lightweight consistency, so it can penetrate your skin quickly and not feel heavy on your face.
Night creams focus on repairing any damage that may have happened during the day and should have a heavier consistency. An ingredient to look for in night moisturizers is vitamin A in the form of retinal or retinol. In combination with moisturizing agents it speeds up cell turnover.
iS Clinical Active Serum is a good choice because it provides moisture while deeply repairing dry skin.
5. Apply an Eye Cream
Face creams are usually not suitable for the eye area because the skin under your eyes is thinner, more sensitive, and delicate than the rest. Choose a product that will soothe, hydrate, and protect while minimizing the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles.
iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex provides intense hydration with copper tripeptide growth factors and hyaluronic acid and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
6. Use a Sunscreen During the Day
Ultraviolet radiation can cause a lot of damage to the skin and that is why sun protection is essential. If your daytime moisturizer doesn’t contain a mineral SPF, apply a sunscreen product on top. Look for a product with an SPF 30 or higher and mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Reapply every two hours.
We recommend Suntegrity “5 in 1” Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen.
7. Exfoliate a Few Times a Week
Chemical exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, allowing active ingredients in serums and moisturizers to penetrate deeper into the skin.
People with dry skin should opt for products with gentle ingredients such as lactic acid and plant enzymes.
Exfoliators are typically used at night because exfoliating enzymes can lead to sunburn if used during the day. We recommend exfoliating one to three times per week because daily exfoliation could dehydrate and damage the skin.
8. Occasionally Use Face Masks and Oils
Face masks are not part of a daily skincare routine but are good to incorporate into your weekly regimen. Masks can boost hydration and help products you’re using daily to penetrate deeper skin layers.
Look for HA and antioxidants like vitamin E, green tea, and aloe vera. We recommend Vibrant Skin Bar’s Clear Hydracell Mask that intensely hydrates the skin and restores elasticity and suppleness.
Face oils are a luxurious way to get deep hydration and reap the nutritional benefits of natural oils. Massage your face with your oil of choice for half an hour or sleep with the facial oil. You’ll wake up feeling fresh and hydrated.
How to Prevent Dry Skin?
You can’t change your genetic material or the environmental conditions you’re exposed to, but you can influence many external factors that cause dry skin.
- Hydrate from the inside out
Don’t underestimate the importance of internal hydration when addressing dry skin. Drinking water, specifically glacial or spring water, is essential for cell hydration. Your daily goal should be to drink half of your weight in ounces or more if you live in a dry climate or engage in strenuous physical activities.
- Incorporate fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats into your diet
Many fruits and vegetables have a high-water content that helps hydrate the body and skin. Healthy fats such as avocado, olive, and fish oil keep the skin plump and glowing.
- Avoid long, hot baths
Hot water and long baths strip your skin of essential oils and leave it uncomfortably dry, tight, and itchy. Quick showers with lukewarm water are much more skin-friendly.
- Don’t cleanse too often
Over-cleansing can also strip away the skin’s natural oils and cause dryness. Use a gentle cleanser in the morning and evening to remove skincare product residue and impurities. Cleansing more than twice a day is counterproductive.
- Consult your dermatologist if you have acne-prone dry skin
Many over-the-counter products for all types of acne include acids that dry out the skin. If you are prone to acne but also have dry skin, it’s best to consult your doctor about which product to use.
Conclusion
Dry skin is an uncomfortable condition that needs addressing with a special skincare routine. No product will work overnight, so be consistent and apply once or twice a day. After several weeks, your patience will be rewarded with hydrated, healthy, and vibrant skin.
