Dry skin needs hydration and a strong barrier to hold it in. The fix is rarely one rich cream — it’s layering the right humectants and occlusives.
Understand the two needs
- Hydration (water): humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin draw water in.
- Moisture (barrier): ceramides and richer creams seal that water in. Without this step, hydration evaporates.
A simple dry-skin routine
AM: gentle (or no) cleanser → hydrating serum on damp skin → rich moisturiser → sunscreen
PM: gentle cleanser → hydrating serum → rich moisturiser (add a facial oil on top if needed)
Support your skin barrier with niacinamide and ceramides, and avoid stripping foaming cleansers.
Actives, gently
Dry skin can still use actives — just buffer them. Exfoliate sparingly with a gentle AHA like lactic acid (see glycolic vs lactic vs mandelic), and introduce retinoids slowly. Our dryness hub and routine builder help you put it together; if you’re starting out, see building a routine from scratch.