Is your skin starting to get a little ‘flaky’ like that one friend who always ditches Sunday brunch with the girls? If you're getting all too familiar with the uncomfortable sensation of dry, tight, or rough skin, it might be time to take a look at your skincare routine and think about adding in some more hydrating products that will replenish your skin. Whether you constantly struggle with dehydration or experience the occasional dry spell during the winter months, finding the right formulas to smooth, soften, and restore balance is essential.
Dry skin requires some extra special care and attention to restore and maintain its natural moisture balance. A well-crafted skincare routine can be your secret weapon for combating dryness and achieving a nourished, hydrated, and flawsome complexion.
Let's get started on building a skincare routine that is specifically designed for your dry skin. Trust us, your skin will thank you!
What is dry skin?
Dry skin is a common concern that most people encounter at some point in their lives. Ultimately, dry skin is simply skin that holds less water, making it, you guessed it, dry. Here's a fascinating fact: our skin is composed of approximately 64% water. Surprising, isn't it? The remaining 36% consists of essential components such as proteins, fats, and minerals that contribute to its overall health and vitality. Understanding the role of hydration in maintaining healthy skin can help us address and combat dehydration more effectively.
What does dry skin look like?
As mentioned before, dehydrated skin occurs when your skin is lacking water. A few telltale signs in the appearance of your skin include:
- Dry patches
- Itchiness
- Dullness in appearance
- Redness
- Inflamed skin
- Flaky or scaly
- Premature signs of ageing
- Dark under-eye circles
- Acne/breakouts
How should I build a skincare routine for dry skin?
When it comes to building a skincare routine, it's essential to approach it with intention and a clear understanding of your skin's needs. Start by identifying your skin type and specific concerns (in this case, dryness), and then tailor your routine accordingly. The keyfocus here is finding hydrating and nourishing products that provide ample moisture to help replenish your skin. Incorporate non-drying cleansers, hydrating serums, and moisturisers that help your skin retain water. Don't forget to include sunscreen as a vital step to protect your skin from harmful UV rays (even though we know you would never). Consistency is key, so make sure to follow your skincare routine morning and night and adjust it as needed based on your skin's response. For example, if you find your skin is becoming overly greasy or oily during the day, maybe you need to reassess your morning moisturiser. Building a skincare routine that caters to your skin's unique needs can take some time to figure out, but this is important as it will lay the foundation for healthy, hydrated skin
How do you prepare your skin?
This might sound strange, but it is particularly important to ‘prep’ dry skin in order to maximise the effectiveness of your skincare products and ensure optimal hydration. Firstly, start by gently cleansing your face using a non-stripping cleanser to remove any impurities without further drying out your skin. Avoid hot water and opt for lukewarm instead, as hot water can strip away your natural oils. Next, exfoliate regularly to shed away dead skin cells and promote better product absorption.
Side note: in case you weren’t aware, physical exfoliants, aka the ones with the little granules in them that make your skin feel like it's just been scrubbed with sandpaper, are SO 1999. Instead, opt for a chemical exfoliant (even though it sounds scary), like salicylic or glycolic acid (BHA or AHA). But be careful not to overdo it, start slow and work your way up so you don’t damage your skin's barrier. This kind of product should only be used 2-3 times a week, not every day.
Next, you have the option to use a hydrating mist or spray as a ‘prep’ for your serums and moisturisers. Applying products to already damp skin can actually help with the absorption, plus it’s a little bit of extra hydration for our dry skin girlies. Once you’ve sprayed your thermal mist or simply just sprayed yourself with some water, follow up with your favourite hydrating serum.Our rebound serum is the obvious choice (DUH), but more on that later. Finally, seal in all the hydration with a rich, nourishing moisturiser suited for dry skin. If you have extremely dry skin, consider using facial oils or occlusive ingredients like shea butter or ceramides to create a protective barrier and prevent moisture loss. But keep in mind that if you have acne-prone skin, these kinds of products may not get on so well with your skin type, as they can block your pores and lead to breakouts (so proceed with caution).
The best skincare routine for dry skin
Your best option for dehydrated skin is to invest in a routine that’s going to give your skin the opportunity to drink up a whole lot of water. It’s just like when you come home from a long walk on Sunday morning and head straight to the tap as soon as you get in the door because you’ve been dying of thirst and forgot to pack your water bottle! . That’s how your skin feels when it’s dry. Here’s what you should do:
Non-drying cleanser
A cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils is going to be the best option. You want something that's going to allow your skin to hold onto its natural moisture, as well as give it a good clean. The anti-bacterial cleanser cleanses your skin and removes congestion without stripping it of its natural oils!
Serums
The fun part of any skincare routine – using a hydrating serum. This is going to inject your skin with so much additional moisture and really give it the best opportunity to say bye-bye to dehydration. While you could be basic and use a plain old hyaluronic acid serum, we’re sure you want to give your skin the best it deserves! Our rebound serum is a wonderful little multi-tasker and is great when it comes to increasing the skin's hydration levels. It also supports the skin barrier, so why not kill two birds with one stone and do both at once? It hydrates and smooths the skin's texture, and also incorporates key ingredients at the right concentration all in one serum, so you don't have to buy five different bottles to reach your hydration and barrier support needs.
Moisturiser
This is probably going to be the easiest step you can take to achieve nourished skin and avoid that dry flakiness. Applying moisturiser to your face and any other dry parts of your body every day is a great way to increase hydration. The thirst trap moisturiser slows the rate of water loss from the skin. Moisturiser is a key product to have in your daily routine as it locks in the water that keeps your skin barrier in tip-top shape. If you didn't already know, your skin barrier is also a vital element of your skin's health (and you can read more about that here).
SPF
Honestly, what would be the point in looking after your skin and stopping it from becoming dehydrated if you weren’t going to protect it from the sun? The sun causes dehydration – not to mention skin cancer and melanoma. Do yourself a favour and invest in skin shady SPF50+. Not only does it sit beautifully under makeup, but it also doesn’t leave that annoying white cast on the skin that so many other SPFs do! So you’ve really got no excuse not to be using a daily SPF!
Skincare for sensitive, dry skin
When it comes to sensitive skin, selecting the right skincare products becomes crucial. Pay close attention to the ingredients and choose formulations that are gentle enough for your skin type. Using the wrong product can potentially trigger unwanted reactions, further exacerbating your skin's sensitivity. And let's be clear, that's something we definitely want to avoid. So, take a proactive approach by being mindful of the products you introduce to your skincare routine and introduce new products slowly, one by one. Opt for gentle, soothing options that cater to your sensitive skin's unique needs. Your skin will thank you for the extra care and consideration!
For a full guide to sensitive skincare, read here.
Summer skincare for dry skin
Wondering how to keep your skin moisturised during the summer? We've all been guilty of basking a little too long in the sun without proper protection (tsk-tsk) or taking a dip in a chlorine-filled pool, only to find our skin feeling as dry as the Sahara desert afterwards. But fret not, bestie! We've got you covered with some tips to boost hydration without turning into a greasy mess either. Here's the lowdown:
Slip, slop, slap
Prevention is key, bestie! Don't wait for sunburn to strike – take proactive measures to shield your skin. Remember the golden rule of slip, slop, slap, seek, slide: slip on a shirt, slop on a generous amount of skin shady SPF50+ (at least ¼ of a teaspoon, no skimping!), slap on a stylish hat, seek some shade, and slide on some sunnies. Anything less would be a criminal offence against your skin's well-being!
Moisturiser to the rescue
Hydration is the name of the game, folks. Your skin, like any living system, thrives on water. In fact, there's even a fancy term for water loss from the skin: Trans-Epidermal Water Loss. Research suggests that skin affected by acne loses water at a faster rate, making it crucial to keep your skin hydrated throughout the warmer months. Enter thirst trap, it's the perfect hydration hero for your summer skincare routine!
Serum up for extra TLC
When the summer sun showers your skin with its intense UV radiation, your skin's protective barrier may suffer. This can lead to itchiness, dryness, and even the dreaded peeling (yikes!). To shield and nourish your skin's natural barrier, our secret weapon is the rebound serum. This magical potion is a game-changer, working wonders to hydrate and smooth texture, soothe irritation, reduce redness, and support that precious barrier function. Consider it your summer skincare superhero!
Easy skincare routine for dry skin:
Here’s a very simple, easy, and straightforward routine that you definitely won’t forget:
- Cleanse: anti-bacterial cleanser
- Support: rebound serum
- Moisturise: thirst trap moisturiser
- Protect: skin shady SPF50+
Keep in mind that one of the biggest parts of re-hydrating your skin is consistency, so don’t slack off, besties!
