The Ultimate AM & PM Skincare Routine for Dry, Hydrated Skin
Your Complete AM & PM Guide to Healthy, Hydrated Skin
Building a skincare routine for dry skin should include plenty of skin-loving ingredients to protect your natural oils and reinforce your skin's moisture barrier.
In fact, the best products for dryness will promote skin hydration, minimize flaky skin, and ensure your skin feels comfortable and healthy throughout the day.
Your routine should ideally look something like this:
Morning:
Night:
But let me be clear: you don’t need all of these steps or products. Some of us have bigger skin issues than others, while some of us also just enjoy the act of skincare and trying out new products.
Don’t get overwhelmed! You don’t generally need much more than a cleanser/moisturizer unless you want.
Whether you're new to skincare or refining your current routine, this article will explain everything you need to know to build the best skincare routine specifically tailored for dry skin.
Morning Facial Routine for Dry Skin
Step 1: Gentle Cleanser (AM & PM)
Unlike people with oily skin, dry and sensitive skin types can skip the morning cleanse in favor of rinsing with water.
That being said, if you prefer using a cleanser in the morning, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a great choice, and so is Prequel’s Glycerin Cleanser.
These are excellent for cleansing without stripping your skin barrier of its natural oils.
Step 2: Vitamin C Serum (AM)
Vitamin C is a morning skincare essential, and Medik8’s C-Tetra is a smart, gentle option for visibly brightening the skin.
Formulated with 7% stabilised vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) and vitamin E, this lightweight serum helps even out skin tone, smooth fine lines, and defend against free radical damage, all while remaining friendly to sensitive skin.
Jojoba seed oil gives it a non-greasy, nourishing feel, making it perfect for daily use and for anyone new to vitamin C.
Step 3: Hydrating Serum (AM & PM)
People with dry skin are genetically prone to lower lipid production which increases transepidermal water loss.
This is why dry and dehydrated skin often go hand in hand!
Beyond discomfort, over time, this dryness and dehydration speed up fine line and wrinkle formation.
To prevent this, check out Experiment Super Saturated Serum to keep your skin hydrated!
Step 4: Moisturizer (AM & PM)
Everyone with a dry skin type knows that a good moisturizer is essential.
Dieux Instant Angel has a lovely, silky texture that leaves you with smoother skin and helps your skin stay hydrated.
It has a power-packed ingredient list and it’s fragrance free!
To maximize its efficacy, be sure to apply Instant Angel to damp skin.
Step 5: Sunscreen (AM)
The last step of your morning skincare routine should be a broad spectrum sunscreen for daily sun protection.
Supergoop Zinc Screen 100% Mineral Lotion SPF 40 is a lightweight, tinted mineral sunscreen that blends easily into the skin with little to no white cast.
It has a thin, watery texture that feels barely there, making it great for everyday wear.
While the fluid consistency can make it tricky to measure out the right amount (the usual two-finger rule doesn’t quite work here), it still offers solid protection when applied generously.
If you're looking for a mineral formula that won’t feel heavy or greasy, this one is a strong pick.
Side note - I didn’t used to have this problem, but I’ve noticed in the last few weeks that my Zinc Screen is “flakier” than it used to be. That said, I don’t know if this is a function of it being close to expiration now or that my skin is drier or something else.
Night Skincare Regimen for Dry Skin
Follow this evening daily skin care routine to protect your dry skin.
Step 1: Cleansing Oil
If you’re wearing sunscreen and heavy makeup during the day, you might want to start off with a cleansing oil.
Cleansing oils break down those heavy, lipid and silicone-based products which can contribute to rough skin and breakouts.
Tatcha The Camellia Cleansing Oil contains Japanese camellia oil to melt away makeup and provide antioxidants, rice bran oil to gently remove buildup while nourishing, and Hadasei-3 to support the skin barrier.
Step 2: Gentle Cleanser
Even if you didn't use a cleansing oil, you still need an effective, gentle cleanser to remove daily dirt and impurities.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is a milky cream cleanser designed for normal to dry, sensitive skin.
Enriched with prebiotic thermal water, niacinamide, and ceramide-3, it effectively cleanses while preserving your skin's moisture barrier and natural pH balance, leaving your skin comfortable and hydrated.
Step 3: Retinol Serum
Every good skincare routine includes a retinol serum for mature skin care concerns.
Retinol and its derivatives have benefits like:
Stimulating collagen production
Turning over dead skin cells
Fighting fine lines and wrinkles
FaceTheory Sensitive Clarifying Serum uses a unique derivative of retinol called sodium retinoyl hyaluronate.
This ingredient is more effective than retinol itself and less irritating, making it ideal for people with dry skin. You can also upgrade to tretinoin for even more potent anti-aging effects.
For more information on retinoids, check out these articles: Retinol vs. Adapalene vs. Tretinoin: Which One Is Right for You?, Beginner's Guide to Retinol: 5 Tips You Can't Miss, Can You Use Salicylic Acid with Retinol? & Can You Use Retinol and Vitamin C Together?
Step 4: Hydrating Treatment
A good hydrating product is essential after applying retinol to protect your natural moisture barrier.
Laneige Cream Skin Toner has a lovely, milky texture that absorbs into skin easily and leaves you feel plump and glowing.
Plus, the formula includes ceramides and green tea to fight itchy skin and flakiness.
Step 5: Moisturizer
One of my all-time favorite moisturizers, Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm is a god-send for people with dry skin.
You won’t find many moisturizing creams with an ingredient list like this one!
Thanks to skin-loving ingredients like magnesium beta glucan and black seed oil, this Naturium Moisturizer is sure to be your dry skin’s new best friend.
Step 6: Facial Oil
No skincare routine for dry skin is complete without a facial oil.
Thanks to their lipophilic nature, oils help prevent water escaping from your skin. Plus, they help nourish your protective skin barrier!
The Ordinary Rosehip Oil is an awesome, affordable choice to finish off your evening routine.
Conclusion: Dry Skin Care Routine
Caring for dry skin requires a specific blend of techniques and products that work for you!
Beyond the routine I laid out above, some other tips to keep in mind include:
You don’t have to use a cleanser in the morning if you don’t want to! Cleansing too often can dry you out
Choose cool or lukewarm water over hot water when washing your face
Moisturize 1-2 times per day
Avoid drying alcohols and essential oils if they cause redness, dryness, or flakiness for you
And remember, be patient with your skin! After all, it’s the only one you live in.
Cheers,
Nice recommendation