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Skin type
Dry skin
Dry skin naturally makes too little sebum, the natural oil that keeps your skin supple. Moisture escapes more easily, so your skin feels tight or rough. With the right care it is easy to bring back into balance.
Sound familiar?
- Your skin feels tight after washing, especially on your cheeks.
- Small flakes or rough patches around your nose, eyebrows or mouth.
- Pores are barely visible.
- Make-up clings to dry patches.
- It gets noticeably worse in winter or after a hot shower.
What causes it?
Dry skin is often genetic and usually gets drier as you age. Cold air, central heating, long hot showers and high-pH soap make it worse. Scrubbing too often or using too many active ingredients at once can also weaken your skin barrier.
A simple routine
Morning
- Rinse with lukewarm water only, or use a gentle cream cleanser.
- A hydrating serum on slightly damp skin (for example with hyaluronic acid or glycerin).
- A richer cream with ceramides or shea butter.
- Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher.
Evening
- Cleanse with a gentle, soap-free cleanser or a cleansing balm.
- Hydrating serum.
- A nourishing night cream; on very dry patches, a few drops of facial oil or squalane on top.
Start with the basics and add new products one at a time. Give each product a few weeks before judging whether it works.
Ingredients that suit it
Best avoided
- Foaming cleansers with harsh sulphates.
- Toners high in alcohol (alcohol denat. near the top of the ingredient list).
- Grainy scrubs; a mild exfoliant such as lactic acid now and then is kinder.
- Hot water and long showers.
See your GP if…
- Your skin itches a lot, is red or breaks open (this may be eczema).
- Dry patches persist for weeks despite good care.
- The dryness came on suddenly and severely.