You may have heard that finding the right skincare routine can make a difference to the health, feel and look of your skin. But how do you know what the “right” skincare routine is? With all the products, treatments and advice out there, it can be hard to know where to start.
Plus, it can be even harder if you have dry skin. If you’re finding your skin is dry, tight and easily irritated, using the right products, treatments and skincare routine is even more important to ensure you’re not making things worse.
Here, we’re going to dive into how to choose the right skincare routine for dry skin. At Face Dr, our experts have decades of experience in the skincare world. So, we know how frustrating it can be trying to find products and treatments to help heal dry skin.
What is dry skin?
Dry skin is often easy to diagnose. Look out for:
- Dry patches
- Redness
- Flaky patches
- The skin that feels inflamed or irritated
- Soreness or tightness, especially after cleansing
Dry skin is caused by a variety of things like hot or cold weather, harsh products or skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis. In rare cases, dry skin can actually be a sign of something more serious like diabetes or hypothyroidism.
To figure out just how severe your dry skin is, you may want to speak with a skincare professional. At Face Dr, we offer free online skincare consultations where a member of our team can help to determine if your dry skin can be treated through your skincare routine, with in-clinic treatments or, if needed, they can refer you to a GP.
Choose the best skincare routine with a skincare consultation
Choosing a skincare routine is hard enough without the added challenge of having dry, sensitive or easily irritated skin. Why not turn to a professional to get the best advice. At Face Dr, we offer free online consultations via video from anywhere.
During your consultation, one of our skin experts will analyse your skin, assess the severity and recommend the things you can be doing in your routine to help. This can include recommendations for skincare products from brands we know and trust and in-clinic treatments that can provide long-term results.
How exactly do you decide your skincare routine for dry skin?
Luckily, most of the time, dry skin can be helped through a tailored skincare routine. Here’s how to build the ideal routine for you.
The most important thing to consider when building a skincare routine is also one of the hardest things to figure out: just how dry your skin is. Dry skin can vary wildly between small slightly dry patches to more serious conditions like eczema.
To figure out how severe your dry skin is, consider speaking with an expert who can analyse your skin. Alternatively, make a note of any symptoms, how they feel and how long they last for, plus how readily your skin reacts to products and treatments.
Mild dry skin
For those on the less severe side, you’ll probably have slightly dry skin that can be a little uncomfortable. You may also have dry patches that come and go. For mild cases, you may even need to make just a few small tweaks to see a difference in your dry skin.
Start with your environment and take steps to avoid excess heat. This includes cutting down on long showers and using warm, not hot, water when washing your face.
When it comes to your skincare routine, switch up your skincare products and go for those which are designed with dry skin in mind. Toners, in particular, can be drying and you should cut out any overly harsh products with alcohol, fragrances or very strong exfoliators or peels.
Keeping things simple by switching to a high-quality hydrating cleanser and moisturiser may be all it takes to keep skin hydrated.
Products to consider:
- ZO Skin Health Hydrating Cleanser ZO Skin Health’s policy says stockists are not able to share prices. Get in touch at hello@myfacedr.com to find out more information about this product.
- PCA Skin Hydrating Toner £12
- iS Clinical Moisturising Complex £74
Medium dry skin
For those with slightly more persistent dry skin, these small steps may not be enough. As well as cutting down on hot water, consider buying a humidifier if you live in an area with dry air.
For skincare, after cutting out overly harsh products, pay special attention to your moisturiser and go for a thicker cream-based product. You can also add a serum or mask to your routine that can provide an extra dose of moisture-boosting ingredients.
Serums can be applied every day and can help with things like boosting hyaluronic acid levels—a key ingredient when it comes to dry skin. Serums can also gently exfoliate away rough patches and help skin become less sensitive over time.
Masks can be applied once or twice a week to soothe irritated skin and boost hydration further.
While you may still be able to use exfoliators, be sure to go for a gentle product that’s not overly drying and perhaps start with using it just once a week.
Products to consider:
- iS Clinical Hydra-Intensive Cooling Masque £70
- SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Serum £90
- ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish
Severe dry skin
For more severe dry skin, products and environmental changes may not be enough. Start with making some lifestyle changes, like avoiding heat and harsh weather where possible. Next, invest in high-quality products designed for dry skin. Make the most of serums and masks which can help to top up your skin’s hydration levels and promote healing beyond daily moisturising.
Next, consider an in-clinic treatment that can use higher-grade ingredients and expert techniques to boost your skin’s hydration even more.
Facials are a great treatment that can provide gentle exfoliation and ultra-hydrating products. Microdermabrasion can help to exfoliate away rough patches and red LED light therapy can boost circulation to bring more moisture to the skin and promote healing.
Depending on just how dry your skin is and how it responds to treatments, you may find that one or two are enough to soothe the skin. Alternatively, you may need to bring in-clinic treatments into your routine to really tackle the problem. Sometimes treatments, especially facials, for example, are the most beneficial when you get them every six to eight weeks. A skin expert can advise on how often or how many treatments you’ll need.
Treatments to consider:
- ZO Ultra Hydration Treatment a hydrating facial which calms irritated skin and gently exfoliates rough patches. Price £85
- Red LED light therapy treatment a non-invasive treatment where light boosts circulation and healing. Price £40
- Microdermabrasion which gently breaks down and removes dead skin cells and flaky patches. Price around £65
Next steps
Choosing a skincare routine for dry skin can be tricky, so hopefully, we’ve shed some light on the topic. If you need more advice or have any burning questions about what exactly to include or avoid in your routine, why not reach out to an expert.
At Face Dr, we know how confusing the world of skincare can be, so we offer free online skincare consultations with our skin experts. These are via video from the comfort of your home. One of our skin experts can analyse your skin and give you tailored product recommendations and advice on the best routine for you. Plus, if you decide to try any of the product recommendations, we’ll send them straight to your door.
If you have dry skin along with other skincare concerns—like ageing, hyperpigmentation or acne—we can recommend the best products to tackle those, too. Plus, we only ever recommend brands and products we’ve tried and tested first-hand, so you know you’ll be getting something that works.
