The Best Skin Care Routine for Dry Skin

Whether you’ve known for a while that you have dry skin or you’re beginning to think that you might, we’re here to fill you in on everything you need to know about what dry skin is and how to work with this common skin type - not against it.

Here we’ll be covering some of the most asked questions, as well as sharing the skin care routine for dry skin that we use daily.

Let’s get started...

What is dry skin?

Unlike dehydrated skin, which is a temporary condition, dry skin is a skin type. It’s based on your genetics and is something you’ll generally have throughout your life.

It can, of course, vary depending on things like the weather, hormones, ageing and stress. However, it’ll pretty much always return to its usual dry condition.

As a skin type that produces fewer natural oils than others, people who have dry skin will experience things like dullness, itching, flaking and potentially more visible fine lines and wrinkles.

This can be especially noticeable in winter, when the combination of cold, dry air and toasty central heating can dry your skin out even more.

If your skin is not only dry but also very reactive, then you could also be dealing with sensitivity.

Finding the right skin care routine for dry sensitive skin will help you soothe and restore your skin.

Our entire skincare range is designed with sensitive skin in mind. There’s no colour, perfume or harsh chemicals. Each product has been dermatologically tested, so you can use it on delicate skin knowing it’ll be super gentle.

Don’t usually experience dryness but are at the moment? That’s a sign that you’re likely dehydrated right now instead. You can read up on the signs of dehydrated skin here.

 

Some of the main characteristics of dry skin include:

• Feeling tight or itchy
• Rough texture
• Flaky patches
• A lack of radiance
• More visible fine lines and wrinkles

What products can I use daily for dry skin?

You should use everything you’d usually use for other skin types (think cleansers, toners, serums and moisturisers).

The main thing to look out for when you’re shopping for your new skin care for dry skin regime is to look for gentle, ultra-nourishing formulas.

Alongside your daily skincare steps, a few times a week it’ll also really help to treat your skin to a face mask. We like to pop on a sheet mask for 15 minutes as a quick, easy and intensive skin reset. Our Water Boost™ Sheet Mask is the perfect choice to leave skin feeling supple and looking dewy.

What skincare is best for dry skin?

The best skin care regimen for dry skin is one loaded with hydrating ingredients that replenish and lock in moisture. Plus, Humectants that draw moisture to the surface of the skin.

Glycerine, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin B5 and Ceramides are all some of the most buzz-worthy ingredients right now to quench thirsty skin.

Is Vitamin C serum good for dry skin?

Yes, Vitamin C is a great ingredient to use as part of your skincare routine for dry skin as it has lots of different skin-supporting benefits.

Our Simple Booster Serum 10% Vitamins C + E + F contains 2% of a skin-kind derivative of vitamin C that won’t irritate your dry skin (or sensitive) skin.

1% Vitamin E boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin C and nourishes your skin, while 7% Vitamin F moisturises and strengthens your skin barrier.

Like all Simple® products, our Booster Serum is formulated to be kind to even the most reactive complexions and is dermatologically tested. So yes, you can use it as part of your skincare for dry, sensitive skin.

 

What not to do with dry skin?

As you might have guessed by now, the main thing not to do with dry skin is to dry it out even further. That means staying away from anything with overly harsh ingredients, or skincare products designed for people who are more on the oily skin spectrum. These could irritate your skin leading to further dryness and potentially reactions like redness or rashes.

Our face care routine for dry skin

Now you know what dry skin is and some of the main dos and don’ts, you’re ready to start building a dry skincare routine.

You can use this routine in both the morning and evening, the only part you need to switch up is your moisturiser, but we’ll explain more below.

Here are the skincare steps we follow and some of our favourite products...

1. Cleanse with care

Just like any other skin type, it’s important to wash away pollution, dirt, makeup and more that can build up throughout the day to keep skin looking and feeling healthy.

The cleansing goal for dry skin is to purify it without drying it out, which is why finding the right product is so important. This is because the wrong formula will strip the skin and can cause moisture barrier damage, which can lead to everything from irritation to potentially even breakouts and infections.

If you're not sure what to use for dry skin, then try our NEW Active Skin Barrier Care cleansers.

There’s two to choose from. Our Replenishing Cream Cleanser is powered by 11% Ceramide Boosters and Hyaluronic Acid, which helps replenish skin’s natural lipids and protect against hydration loss.

Our Smoothing Gel Cleanser meanwhile contains 5% Lactic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid, which gently renews skin. So, it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking to boost radiance and buff away the dead skin cells that can cause flaky-looking skin.

How to use: Lather up a small amount onto damp skin in a circular motion. Gently remove with a face cloth and rinse with warm water before patting the skin dry.

In a rush? Try a little of our Micellar Cleansing Water on a reusable cotton pad. Its clever micelles are smart enough to attract and lift make-up and impurities.

It also instantly hydrates your skin by up to 90% - all without harming your skin’s barrier and leaving no residue behind.

You can read more about finding the best cleanser for your skin type here.

Top tip: Avoid taking too many hot showers if you have dry skin, as they can strip skin of moisture - especially on your face where the skin is at its most delicate.

2. Supercharge with serums

People often overlook serums when they’re thinking about skin care for dry skin but they’re an amazing way to boost your overall regime.

Serums contain high concentrations of active ingredients that target specific skin needs.

You can mix and match our Booster Serums to create your perfect combination:

Vitamin C

As we mentioned earlier, a Vitamin C serum is the perfect choice for tackling dull skin. Along with boosting overall radiance, Vitamin C has a host of benefits including:

• Brightening dark spots
• Boosting overall skin radiance
• Reducing redness
• Making skin feel firmer
• Promoting collagen production
• Balancing an uneven skin tone
• Smoothing the appearance of fine lines
• Helping prevent moisture loss, keeping the skin more hydrated
• Supporting the skin's natural defence mechanisms

Learn more about our 10% Vitamin C serum.

 

Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrating face serums blended with ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid are ideal for replenishing dry skin. That’s because Hyaluronic Acid has the remarkable ability to retain up to 1,000 times its weight in moisture.

Along with nourishing powerhouse Hyaluronic Acid, our 3% Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin B5 Booster Serum also contains skin-conditioning Vitamin B5 and PENTAVITIN™ to intensely hydrate, soften and smooth.

Learn more about our 3% Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin B5 Booster Serum.

Niacinamide

Our 10% Vitamin B5 Niacinamide Booster Serum is formulated to give you real results, while still being ultra-gentle on skin.

Niacinamide serums are great for all skin types because they deliver many different skin benefits with a low risk of causing reactions.

Some of the benefits include:

• Supporting your skin barrier
• Promoting clearer-looking skin
• Minimising enlarged pores
• Reducing the appearance of dark spots
• Regulating oil production
• Helping to protect against environmental aggressors
• Evening out skin texture

Learn more about our 10% Vitamin B5 Niacinamide Booster Serum

How to use: After cleansing well, apply a few drops of your chosen serum (or blend them together) and apply onto the skin before your moisturiser.

3.  Boost hydration

Potentially the most important part of finding the best face care for dry skin is choosing moisturisers that really work for your skin.

Along with intensely hydrating ingredients, when you’re picking a moisturiser for your morning face routine, try to make sure it contains sunscreen.

Our Kind to Skin™ Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15, helps protect your skin against invisible, damaging UV rays while hydrating skin and giving it a natural-looking glow.

In the evening, you can skip the SPF and go for a rich night cream that can sink in while you sleep.

We’re reaching for our NEW Active Skin Barrier Care Repairing Rich Cream at the moment. It’s enriched with 22% Cica and Ceramide Boosters and supports the skin’s natural repair processes.

The skin around your eyes is at its thinnest, especially if you have dry skin. So, to brighten and nourish your delicate under eyes, you can apply a little eye cream.

 Remember, if the formula is richer than your face cream to apply it after so that it doesn’t affect how your moisturiser absorbs.

For moisturisers to work their best, apply them within a few minutes of cleansing. This way, your skin draws in moisture from the air around you and retains it in your skin.

Looking for more skin care advice?

So, there you have it. That’s everything you need to know about the best skincare for dry skin.

Want to get even more clued up on how to get the best out of your skincare products, the latest launches and more? We’ve got lots of articles for you to check out right here on our blog.

Don’t forget to join us on our social channels for even more updates and advice - see you there!