How To Create a Targeted Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, you’re likely familiar with the skin concerns—such as flakiness, dullness, and a general feeling of tightness—that tend to accompany it. Moisturizing may help alleviate these concerns temporarily, but to keep your skin looking and feeling its best all the time, you’ll need to establish a skincare routine for dry skin. Prioritizing hydration is key, as is steering clear of products and habits that could strip your skin of much-needed moisture. If you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help. Ahead, learn how to build a dry skincare routine and discover some of our top skin tips for dry skin.

How To Tell If You Have Dry Skin

Dry skin is a skin type characterized by a lack of sebum (your skin’s natural oil). When your skin doesn’t have enough sebum, it can’t hold onto moisture as effectively as it should, resulting in dryness. Dry skin may feel rough or uneven or appear dull and lackluster. In some cases, it may even crack, flake, or peel. 

Even if you don’t have a dry skin type, however, your skin may become drier as the seasons change. Dryness is especially common during the winter months, even for those with combination or oily skin. The key difference is that people with dry skin experience some degree of dryness year-round, while those with oily or combination skin may find their skin tends to “bounce back,” so to speak, as temperatures (and humidity) rise in the spring and summer. 

Your 5-Step Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

If you’re reading this, chances are good that you’re wondering how to care for dry skin and keep your complexion looking (and feeling) its best. Here are five steps to follow in your skincare regimen for dry skin.

1. Cleanse to remove impurities

No matter your skin type, your skincare routine should always begin the same way: with a gentle yet thorough cleanse. This first step in your skincare regimen helps remove impurities like dirt, oil, and makeup residue, and prepare your skin for the rest of your products. That being said, cleansers aren’t always one-size-fits-all. For the best results, it’s important to pick a cleanser that aligns with your skin’s unique needs. For dry skin, we recommend using a cream cleanser, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser. The nourishing formula removes dirt, oil, and makeup and gently exfoliates to promote soft, smooth-feeling skin. 

2. Pat on a hydrating serum

Skincare for dry skin is all about hydration—since your skin lacks moisture, you’ll want to reach for products that help restore moisture. After lathering up, gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel, then reach for a hydrating facial serum. During the day, try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. It instantly replenishes hydration and helps plump the skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. Plus, it absorbs quickly, with no greasy or tacky residue.

In the evening, you can swap out your serum for a nighttime face serum, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Skin Care Cell Renewal Anti-Aging Midnight Serum. The potent formula contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and a patented antioxidant complex and helps boost the skin’s renewal processes overnight when it’s most receptive to repair. 

3. Apply eye cream or serum

Locking in moisture doesn’t just apply to your cheeks, forehead, and chin. The delicate skin around your eyes needs a little extra TLC when you have dry skin, too, which is where applying an eye cream or serum comes in handy. For lightweight hydration, we love the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum. It layers well under makeup and helps hydrate, plump, and smooth the eye area for younger-looking skin over time. You can also pair it with a richer eye cream in the evening for added moisture if desired. 

4. Moisturize your face and neck

Applying moisturizer will—you guessed it—help add moisture back into the skin. Since dry skin lacks sufficient moisture, look for formulas that help hydrate and trap in moisture without leaving your skin feeling greasy or slick. 

One of our top picks for all skin types is the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream. It boasts a water-based formula and provides deep hydration to promote smooth, supple-feeling skin. You can use it morning and night, but if you’d like something a bit richer to use in the evening, try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer Fragrance Free. It provides up to 24 hours of hydration and helps visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.

5. Finish with SPF

We can’t stress this enough—no skincare routine for dry skin is complete without sunscreen (and yes, you need to use it every day). Follow the American Academy of Dermatology's (AAD) advice and opt for a broad-spectrum formula with an SPF of at least 30, like the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion. This non-greasy sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays, helps defend against aging free radicals, and absorbs easily, leaving the skin feeling fresh and moisturized. Plus, it helps prime the skin well for makeup and won’t leave behind a chalky white cast. Apply your sunscreen at least 15 minutes before heading outdoors and remember to reapply it at least every two hours, or after sweating, swimming, or toweling off. 

8 Skincare Tips for Dry Skin

Knowing what to use for dry skin is undeniably important, but your lifestyle and habits can also play a role in how your skin looks and feels on a daily basis. Keep reading for eight dry skin tips you’ll wish you knew sooner. 

1. Wash your face with lukewarm water

While hot water may feel relaxing (or downright life-changing in frigid temps), it’s really not great for your skin. Hot water can strip your skin of essential oils, leading to or exacerbating dryness and discomfort. Instead, switch up your dry skincare routine by cleansing with lukewarm water whenever possible. This goes for showers, too—just turn down the temp. 

2. Don’t be afraid to exfoliate

People with dry skin are often afraid to use exfoliating products because they’re worried about making dry skin even drier. We’re here to assuage your fears. Skipping exfoliation in your skincare regimen for dry skin can cause dead skin cells to build up on your skin’s surface, leading to dull skin, flakiness, and clogged pores. Still, finding the right approach is a must. Instead of scrubbing your face with a harsh scrub, we suggest using a gentle chemical exfoliant product, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 5% Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner. The gentle formula is suitable for all skin types and can be used daily to help promote smoother, brighter-looking skin. 

3. Select your moisturizer wisely

When it comes to adding a moisturizer to your dry skincare routine, really, it’s all about the formula. If you have dry, sensitive skin, look for face creams and moisturizers with gentle formulas that help enrich and nourish the skin without making it feel weighed down. It’s also be a good idea to avoid fragrances, as they can be irritating for some.

One option we love for both day and night is the L’Oréal Paris Collagen Filler Moisture Filler Anti-Aging Moisturizer Fragrance Free. The ultra-gentle formula provides up to 48 hours of hydration and helps restore the skin’s moisture balance without clogging pores or leaving the skin feeling greasy or slick.

4. Apply moisturizer to damp skin

Whether you’ve just hopped out of the shower or finished washing your face, don’t immediately reach for the towel. According to the AAD, the best time to apply moisturizer is after cleansing, while your skin is still damp. Doing so helps trap moisture in your skin, boosting hydrating and improving the feelings of dryness and tightness. 

5. Use a night cream

If you have extremely dry skin, you’ll definitely want to use a richer moisturizer to replenish moisture while you sleep. That’s where a night cream comes in handy. The thicker texture helps provide intense hydration, which is great in a bedtime skincare regimen for dry skin. Slather on a layer of the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Skin Care Cell Renewal Midnight Cream, Antioxidants before you get your zzz’s—it provides all-night hydration and leaves the skin feeling nourished and more comfortable after a single use. 

6. Don’t forget to hydrate your lips

When you have dry skin, your face isn’t the only area that needs hydration. Your lips can also be prone to dryness, so one of the top skin tips for dry skin is to keep your lips moisturized. One way to do this is by applying a lip balm whenever necessary. If you wear lipstick, opt for nourishing formulas like the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick with Pomegranate Extract, which hydrates the lips while providing sheer, buildable color and dewy shine.

7. Use a humidifier

Your environment—both inside and outside—might not be doing your complexion any favors. Whether it’s naturally cold and dry (hello, winter), or you’re spending a lot of time cozying up to your air conditioner, the lack of moisture in the air can make dry skin feel even more parched. Counteract it by investing in a humidifier. Turn it on while you sleep, and you’re likely to notice a difference in the way your skin feels when you wake up.

8. Use hydrating makeup formulas

Ultra-matte makeup can contribute to and emphasize dryness. One of the top dry skin tips is to choose hydrating makeup formulas, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum. This skincare-makeup hybrid is perfect for dry skin because it hydrates while providing sheer coverage, leaving the skin with a natural, radiant-looking glow.

Next Up: 8 Skincare and Makeup Tips To Transform Your Skin Into a Dewy Dream

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris