Skincare routine for dry skin: morning and night

A skincare routine for dry skin has two jobs: add hydration, then seal it in. The order does most of the work. Below is a morning and night routine using the products in our range whose own pages name dry skin, with honest notes on scent, and the few we would leave out. If you want the general rules for any routine first, read skincare routine steps.

What dry skin needs, according to dermatologists

The American Academy of Dermatology's tips for dry skin come down to a handful of habits:

• Use warm, not hot, water and a gentle cleanser, and only as much as you need.
• Pat skin dry, then moisturize while it is still damp.
• Use a cream or ointment rather than a lotion.
• Look for ingredients such as jojoba oil, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid and shea butter.
• Avoid alcohol and fragrance on dry skin, and choose products labeled "fragrance-free".

Morning routine for dry skin

The Hydrating Toner goes on straight after cleansing, swept on with a cotton pad or pressed in with your hands. It is water-light, has no added fragrance and sits at pH 4.70 to 5.10. Keep it away from your eyes.

The Hydrating Serum follows while your skin is still damp from the toner. It is a silky, light fluid: three-quarters of it is organic aloe leaf juice, with jojoba oil to soften and two forms of hyaluronic acid. Its directions end with "follow with moisturizer to seal in the hydration", and that is the step people skip. It is scented (soft cotton and flowers).

Night routine for dry skin

1. Take makeup off with the Oil-to-Milk Cleanser. Massage it on, add water so it turns to a milk, and rinse. On bare-faced days, the morning wash is enough. See cleansing oil for dry skin.
2. Toner, as in the morning.
3. Serum. Hydrating Serum again, or the Peptide Serum, a creamy serum made for normal to dry skin with 2% hexapeptide-11 and hyaluronic acid.
4. Night cream. Ceramide Night Cream, to finish.
5. Oil, on the driest nights. A few drops of Glow Face Oil pressed over the cream.

The Ceramide Night Cream is a rich night cream, and its page says it plainly: for dry skin. It has 0.2% ceramides, with organic cocoa and shea butters to seal in moisture and aloe leaf juice as the hydrating base. Warm a small amount between your fingertips and massage it over your face and neck.

It is scented: white flowers and lavender. If you avoid fragrance, use the Fragrance-Free Moisturizer at night as well. Our guides on choosing a night cream for dry skin and what ceramides do go deeper.

Glow Face Oil is made for normal, dry and mature skin. It is a light blend of organic jojoba, argan and avocado oils, with borage and evening primrose oils for skin that feels dry. It is scented, and it contains sweet almond and apricot kernel oils, so skip it if you have a nut allergy.

What to go easy on

• Prebiotic Face Mist. It suits all skin types as a quick refresh, but alcohol is its second ingredient and it is scented. On dry skin, do not let it stand in for a moisturizer.
• Caffeine Gel Booster. Made for mature or oily skin, with alcohol second on its list. Not the pick for dry skin.
• Clay Mask. Its job is absorbing excess oil. If you use it, keep to the 1 to 2 times a week on its page and follow with the night cream.
• Volcano Scrub. Once or twice a week, massaged gently. There is no need to press hard.
• Hot water and long washes. Free to give up, and near the top of the dermatologists' list.

Every product we list for dry skin, face and body, is in one place: skincare for dry skin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best moisturizer for dry skin?

Dermatologists recommend a cream or ointment rather than a lotion, with ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil or shea butter. Apply it to damp skin. For the face at night, ours is the Ceramide Night Cream.

What is the best skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin?

Keep it short and fragrance-free: a gentle cleanse, then a moisturizer with no fragrance. Our Fragrance-Free Moisturizer is made for all skin types, including dehydrated and sensitive skin. Patch test anything new.

Should I wash my face in the morning if I have dry skin?

You can use a gentle wash or rinse with lukewarm water. Either way, apply your toner, serum and moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp.

Is petroleum jelly good for dry skin?

Petrolatum, the ingredient in petroleum jelly, is on the American Academy of Dermatology's list of ingredients that help dry skin. We do not make an ointment; our products are creams, serums and oils.

Can I use a face oil in place of a moisturizer?

Our Glow Face Oil can be used alone or over moisturizer. For dry skin, we suggest over: cream first, oil last.

When should I see a dermatologist about dry skin?

If your skin is still dry after following these steps. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that very dry skin can have an underlying cause that needs a professional.

Sources

American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
American Academy of Dermatology. How to pick the right moisturizer for your skin. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/pick-moisturizer
Product details are taken from the exokiss product pages. This article is general information, not medical advice.