When it comes to developing the perfect skincare routine, you want to make sure that you’re meeting the specific needs of your skin type. There are a few major skin types, including oily, dry, normal, and combination skin, and each one needs different products and practices to ensure that you’re able to keep your skin as smooth and healthy as possible.
If you’re looking to create the perfect routine for managing the effects of your dry skin, 10PM Curfew is here to help. We’re your go-to for the latest female lifestyle news, hacks, and tips — today, we’ve got a closer look at what all the hottest trends recommend when it comes to skincare routines for dry skin.
How To Care for Your Dry Skin
There are several different reasons your skin may be experiencing dryness and discomfort, and it’s important to get to the root cause of the dryness, if possible. Most of the time, it’s environmental, caused by dry air, allergens, or exposure to the sun. Sometimes, it can be the result of the products that you’re using or even due to genetics.
The more you know about what’s causing the dryness in your skin, the easier it will be to create a routine that meets your needs and helps you keep your skin smooth and healthy for years (and years). Here are steps you can take to create the best skincare routine for your dry skin.
Keep Your Skin Clean
Whether you’re setting your daytime or nighttime skincare regimen, you want to start by cleaning your skin with a face wash or gentle cleanser. During the day, sweat, oil, dirt, and grime find their way into your pores, where they make themselves comfortable. (We know — ew).
Cleansing will help remove some of this grime, giving you a smooth and clean canvas for your other favorite products.
Since cleansers can strip the skin if you’re not careful, make sure you pick a hydrating cleanser that will help you avoid that feeling of dehydrated skin.
Use Vitamin C
The next step you’ll want to take on your nourishingskincare routine is to use vitamin C, an antioxidant with many healing benefits. A vitamin C serum is safe for all skin types, even if you have very sensitive skin, and it can help to prevent skin dryness and enhance moisture retention of the surface of the skin. That means that when you use your favorite lotions or moisturizers, you’ll actually be able to hold onto the moisture for longer than normal.
You can also find vitamin C serums that actually protect your skin against pollutants that cause impurities by strengthening the function of your skin barrier. That will help you to both manage the effects of dryness and prevent it in the future.
Moisturize
Of course, when it comes to dry skin, the very best step you can take is to moisturize. You want to make sure that you’re picking out a hydratingmoisturizer and one that is designed to get below the surface of the skin and hydrate in a lasting way to get that healthy skin feeling.
It’s important to consider your environment and the season when choosing the right moisturizer for your face. For instance, winter weather is drying because of the exposure to cold outside and the exposure to heat inside, whereas summer weather is drying because of the heat from the sun and other environmental pollutants.
If you have skin prone to dryness, you’ll want to pick out different types of moisturizers than if you have dryness from your environment. Look for ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and ceramides for skin hydration.
Protect
There’s no better way to protect your skin than with broad-spectrumsunscreen, which is essential whether you have dry skin, oily skin, or a type in-between.
Regular sunscreen application protects your skin from UV rays and can help ward off the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Sunburns can cause significant dehydration and dryness, as well as related complications, so sun protection is a crucial step. Ideally, choose a fragrance-free variant.
You have a few different types of sunscreens to pick from, so it’s important to consider your skin type and skincare needs before you buy. Some sunscreens, like mineral sunscreens, contain zinc oxide, which can actually cause your skin to dry out further. Sunscreens that contain SPF are better for protecting your skin against dryness and damage.
Face Oils
If your regular moisturizer just isn’t doing the trick, you may want to consider adding a face oil to your lineup to support the natural oils that your skin produces. People with oily skin types or acne-prone skin will want to avoid facial oils, but they can be very useful for individuals with dry skin since they help to remove products and pollutants and can even get below the surface to hydrate the skin where it needs it most.
When picking out a face oil for your needs, it’s best to stick to the ones with natural ingredients and makeup, like jojoba oil, coconut, or argan oil. Synthetic oils contain chemicals that can make your skin drier, so they’re often best avoided.
What Are Some Tips for Protecting Dry Skin?
In addition to adding the right skincare products to your routine, you’ll want to take a few simple steps to reduce the feeling and appearance of dryness and to get the relief you deserve, including the following.
Skip the Hot Water
Listen, we all love a good soak or dip into the volcanic waters of our shower, but if you have dry skin, you’ll want to turn the temp down. Hot water, for bathing or cleansing, is one of the main reasons our skin can become dehydrated, and cooler showers can help to provide instant relief.
Use a Sheet Mask
What’s better than a spa night at home? If you have dry skin, you’ll want to stock up on sheet masks, especially ones designed to give that extra hydration. You can use them as often as three to four times a week, depending on your skincare needs.
Look specifically for hydrating masks with ingredients like aloe, chamomile, peptides, and glycerin.
Avoid Alcohol
A lot of skincare products actually contain alcohol as the first ingredient, and these are probably best avoided if you’re managing the effects of dry skin. Large amounts of alcohol can lead to significant dryness on the surface of the skin, and may even contribute to other types of damage or irritation.
Exfoliate Regularly
There are many benefits to exfoliating your skin, especially if it’s dry. When you exfoliate, you help to remove the dead skin cells and build-up that can make your skin feel rough or dry, and you can add extra glow and brightness to your skin for a more dewy and healthy look.
Typically, you want to exfoliate no more than two times a week and only when your skin is wet. Take care when exfoliating if you have a dry skin type, as it may be more sensitive, but a gentle scrub can make a big difference.
Use Hydrating Products
Whether you love a 12-step skincare routine or you just want to get out of the house in the morning, there’s a skincare product for your dry skin. The trick is to use hydrating products designed specifically for managing the effects of dry skin.
In addition to giving you a smoother skin feeling, these products are designed specifically to get below the surface to help your skin better absorb and retain moisture — and that can make all the difference. From facial cleansers to toners to moisturizing creams and night creams, be sure to look for products with hydrating ingredients, so you can get long-term relief and support.
Conclusion
Creating the perfect evening or morning skincare routine can be very personal. You’ll want to consider your skin type, environment, and needs and pick out products and practices that meet those needs.
If you’re looking to manage the effects of dry skin, you have options. You’ll want to make sure you’re cleansing the impurities and pollutants off your skin, moisturizing and protecting your skin from excess sun exposure, and picking out products with active ingredients designed to nourish below the surface.
You can also help reduce the development of dryness and irritation by skipping the scalding hot showers, using hydrating face masks, and avoiding skincare products that contain alcohol, which is known for drying out the surface of the skin.
You can get that smooth and healthy skin feeling with the support of 10PM Curfew and our favorite beauty bloggers and influencers. Explore our different channels for beauty support and ideas, and learn about the ways you can begin working with our 10PM Curfew team today.
Sources:
Antioxidants: In Depth | NCCIH
Sunscreen and Your Morning Routine | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Are Face Oils Good for Your Skin? | Cleveland Clinic
How to safely exfoliate at home | American Academy of Dermatology Association