For ages, whenever someone had dry skin, the only way to get rid of dryness would be to moisturize or hydrate it. But science today suggests that moisturizing isn’t enough – especially when there are numerous diverse factors that contribute to dryness. From not using the right moisturizers for dry skin to not applying the skincare products in the correct order, there’s a slew of little things that can overturn your skincare routine and slow down (or totally stop!) the elimination of dry skin.
But now that you know that skincare for dry skin is not as simple as it sounds, let us assure you that it isn’t as difficult as well. There are a number of reasons why your skin is so parched even after layering moisturizer after moisturizer on your face. Once you get to the root of these factors, you’ll realize that tackling dry skin is not a mammoth feat. So keep scrolling to discover 5 reasons why your skin is dry and how to properly hydrate your skin.
1. The first culprit is over-cleansing
Cleansing your face to draw out all the dirt, oil, and makeup remnants is the first, most basic, and most essential step in every skincare routine. But too much of anything causes harm; and cleansing is no exception.
Over-cleansing can lead to the scraping of the protective layer of the skin, making it feel parched and craving for hydration. And even if you are just cleansing your face twice a day, you may be over-cleansing.
A harsh cleanser, with strong ingredients like sulfates, used even once a day, can cleanse your skin a bit too literally, turning it into a dry, irritated surface that needs instant moisturization. So, one alternative is to use a gentle cleanser twice a day for gentle yet effective results.
If you feel like your skin can do with just a splash of water rather than a rinse with a cleanser in the morning, then avoid the cleanser at the start of the day. Listen to your skin, and you will be happier than before.
Looking for gentle cleansers that don’t leave your skin irritated and dry? These products below deliver just that. Try your hands at one of these picks.
Model Off Duty Beauty Dewy Me Vitamin C Cleanser
Model Off Duty Beauty Dewy Me Vitamin C Cleanser
A gentle gel cleanser with an equally gentle foam that draws out all impurities from the skin without drying it – it’s filled with Vitamin C, after all!
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
A cleansing balm that effortlessly transitions into soft, soothing oil that removes every impure, oil, and makeup particle from the face but leaves the skin more hydrated and nourished than before.
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser
Want to melt away dirt, oil, and makeup without banishing the moisture from the skin? Here’s a paraben-free cleanser that does just that with the power of Meadowfoam Seed Oil.
2. Hot water is just not cool for dry skin
Long, relaxing showers with hot, steamy water might feel heavenly; but if you have dry skin, they are just not good for you. Hot water will rip off all that fatty substance from your skin that is instrumental in retaining essential moisture. But, giving up a steamy shower is never the answer – we all live in a cold country, after all! However, here’s what you can do to enjoy your hot showers without stripping away the moisture from your skin.
- Wash your face with lukewarm water at the skin before your step into the shower.
- Apply a calming face oil with ingredients like jojoba oil, squalane, or blue tansy to protect your skin from the hot water.
- Try not to exceed your shower for more than 10 minutes at a stretch. The lesser time you spend in the shower, the more you can shield your skin from the drying effects of steamy water.
Wondering which face oils will help you add a layer of protection to your dry skin before you enter the relaxing shower? Consider one of these options below.
Model Off Duty Beauty Supreme Even Skin Blue Tansy Face Oil
Model Off Duty Beauty Supreme Even Skin Blue Tansy Face Oil
A lightweight, calming face oil that protects and heal sensitive, acne-prone, dry skin with wonderful ingredients such as Blue Tansy, Squalane, and Jojoba Oil swimming within.
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil
An anti-oxidant rich face oil that moisturizes and balances your skin with omegas 6 and 9 that provides a youthful glow.
Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil
Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil
An organic oil that nourishes, moisturizes and soothes the skin to steal away the dryness and lock in essential hydration in the skin’s surface.
3. You are missing out on exfoliation
Just because your skin is dry, it doesn’t mean you should never try your hands at exfoliation. No matter what the skin type, exfoliation is a must because every skin has dead skin cells that need to be removed. When the dead skin cells aren’t tackled with, they form a layer that acts as an obstacle for other skin products – and your entire skincare routine risks the chance of going down the drain!
If you are searching for gentle exfoliators for dry skin, scroll below to find some great options.
Model Off Duty Beauty Pure Rose Face Polish Exfoliator
Model Off Duty Beauty Pure Rose Face Polish Exfoliator
This exfoliator does what every exfoliator does, but with the power of purifying pumice. To top that, this exfoliator makes the skin soft, smooth and even-toned. It’s a win-win situation to be honest.
OLEHENRIKSEN Transforming Walnut Scrub
OLEHENRIKSEN Transforming Walnut Scrub
A facial exfoliator that not only exfoliates the skin, but also purifies the pores, brightens the skin, and makes it soft and even-toned.
Fresh Sugar Face Polish Exfoliator
Fresh Sugar Face Polish Exfoliator
Half face scrub, half facial mask, this skincare product not only cleanses the skin of all the dead skin cells, but strawberries and brown sugar, as the powerhouse ingredients, also hydrate the skin for a plump look.
4. You are using harsh skincare ingredients in your daily routine
It’s ironic that ‘skincare’ ingredients can ever be harsh. But it’s true, there are certain ingredients in skincare routine that are too concentrated, and eventually, they end up making your skin drier than before. Ingredients like retinol, L-absorbic acid (in higher concentrations), and hydroquinone turn your skin dry and even cause a few allergic reactions.
If you want to steer away from harsh ingredients in your skincare and opt for natural ones like bakuchiol, green tea, or aloe vera, check out the products that have these swimming within them below.
Model Off Duty Beauty Bakuchiol Glow Booster Serum
Model Off Duty Beauty Bakuchiol Glow Booster Serum
This serum with bakuchiol – retinol’s natural alternative – is just the right skincare product that makes your skin glow without stealing any essential hydration. It’s so gentle, it’ll feel heavenly, to say the least.
Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser
Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser
A face wash with superfoods like green tea, spinach, kale, and much more to cleanse your face gently yet effectively. Trust us, it can’t get better than this.
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer
Packed with Japanese purple rice and several other natural ingredients, this moisturizer does what it says – plumps and hydrates the skin, making it dewy and glowing.
5. Your skin is addicted to moisturizing
What if we say that a major reason for dry skin is your skin being overly addicted to moisturizer?
If your skin is overly dependent on moisturizers, then it might stop maintaining its own levels of hydration. And we are just saying what dermatologists have been saying since forever. Over-moisturization can turn the skin drier by sending signals to your skin to stop hydrating itself from within.
To avoid this, you can switch from heavy moisturizing creams to skincare products with hyaluronic acid and maintain your skin’s hydration levels better than before.
Scroll below for the best skincare picks when it comes to hyaluronic acid.
Model Off Duty Beauty Clarifying Age Reverse Mask
Model Off Duty Beauty Clarifying Age Reverse Mask
This age reverse mask with hyaluronic acid, green tea, and charcoal targets impurities so that your skin can regain its healthy moisture, glow, and tone.
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum
This skincare product that contains a powerhouse of hyaluronic acid within not only strengthens the skin but also reduces anti-aging stressors and corrects aging signs.
Fresh Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Moisturizer
Fresh Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Moisturizer
A lightweight moisturizer that’s partly cream-based and partly gel-based, filled with hyaluronic acid, that releases hydro patches at regular intervals for a dewy, plump skin.
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