How to Nourish Dry Skin 

Finding a skincare routine that works for you is no small feat. Those of us who have dry skin can find it even more frustrating to find a skincare routine that doesn’t make the dry skin on the face worse. Luckily, there are some tips and tricks that can help you care for your dry skin.

With a little education about what causes dry skin in the first place, you’ll be able to choose what is best for dry skin on the face and body so you can replenish moisture and leave the skin feeling hydrated and healthy in no time. 

Causes for Dry Skin

Dry skin is a skin type that is classified by flakiness, a feeling of tightness and low oil production. In a lot of cases, dry skin types will also have redness and irritation and may even feel itchy. Dry skin often overlaps with sensitive skin, as many people who have sensitive skin are in a constant state of inflammation, which inhibits the skin’s natural outer protective barrier from regulating oil production and keeping the skin hydrated as it normally does.

Dry skin can also be indicative of an underlying issue such as an allergy or hormone imbalance. More often than not, it’s a result of the skin’s natural barrier being worn down from using too many harsh ingredients and not enough moisturizer with sufficient hydration. The good news is that in most cases dry skin can be managed with the right products for dry skin on the face. 

Turn Facial Dry Skin Luminous

Since dry skin has trouble keeping moisture in, the key to moisturizing your dry skin is to find a face lotion for dry skin that can prevent water loss and lock in hydration levels within the skin. 

Our skin’s hydration levels can fluctuate and be depleted based on whether our skin barrier is functioning normally. When the skin’s barrier is functioning as it should, it can naturally regulate oil production and restore skin to its equilibrium where its moisture and hydration levels are normal. 

When treating dry skin it’s important to specifically look for a face moisturizer for dry skin as these types of face lotions will be formulated with ingredients to help restore the skin barrier to function as it normally should. Once the skin barrier returns to normal, the skin can regulate oil production for a healthy complexion that has plenty of moisture.

Moisturizers for Dry Skin

The best face lotion for dry skin on the face is ultimately going to be the moisturizer that your own unique skin can tolerate without causing further dryness and one that you can commit to using regularly. The key to restoring moisture and hydration levels in the skin is to stick to a skin care routine.

Best Face Moisturizer for Dry Skin

One of the first types of face lotions that dry skin sufferers turn to is face creams such as calming nourishing night cream, repair creams and oil-based creams. These types of moisturizers for dry skin are all characterized by having a thicker, creamier formula and aren’t as lightweight as face lotions for combination skin and oily skin. 

Face creams and moisturizing creams are often formulated with oils such as jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil and coconut oil. The addition of oils in moisturizer functions not only to have a soothing, emollient (or softening) effect on the skin but helps to lock in hydration and everything underneath.

For most of us with dry skin, a face cream or moisturizer like the Obagi Hydrate Luxe for dry skin is more than enough. But what about those of us who have dry skin in addition to other skin concerns we’re trying to treat? You can go the extra mile in restoring hydration levels in dry skin and bringing out a healthy complexion by choosing a type of moisturizer for dry skin that also targets your other skin concerns. 

Best Moisturizer for Dry and Aging Skin

Those with mature and aging skin tend to be dry. In fact, this type of combination skin is very common and can be particularly concerning since fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging are only emphasized the dryer the skin is. 

Fortunately, most moisturizers for dry skin are some of the best moisturizers for aging skin and will function well as face lotions for anti aging, since healing dry skin and smoothing out wrinkles are both accomplished by replenishing moisture within the skin. 

The Obagi SuzanObagiMD Retivance Skin Rejuvenating Complex is one of the best moisturizers for dry aging skin and has retinol, a powerful anti aging ingredient. Retinol can be irritating and cause dryness of the skin, however, when formulated specifically as an anti-aging cream, its irritation is offset by soothing, moisture rich ingredients to make it an ideal formula for treating dry aging skin. 

Best Moisturizer for Dry and Acne Prone Skin

Dry skin and acne is a tough combination to beat, as excess oil can cause buildup and contribute to breakouts. Yet, not having enough oil is what causes dry skin. This sounds like an impossible vicious cycle to break, but luckily, new moisturizers for dry skin have come out that can deeply hydrate without exacerbating acne.

Light face lotions for dry skin and gel creams such as the Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer for dry skin are a lightweight gel formula that combines the hydrating emollient powers of a cream with the light, non-greasy feel of a water gel. Together, gel creams are one of the best moisturizers for dry skin that also suffers from acne as they can lock hydration in and prevent water loss without the use of oil. 

Many gel creams and water gel moisturizers for dry skin contain the ingredient hyaluronic acid, a humectant that binds water to the skin to hold it in without feeling heavy, making it perfect for dry skin that's acne prone. Hyaluronic acid moisturizers like Strivectin Re-Quench Water Cream Hyaluronic + Electrolyte Moisturizer are one of the best moisturizers for sensitive skin, too, as hyaluronic acid is an ingredient that’s safe for sensitive skin since it’s a lightweight, natural substance. 

Best Face Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin

Many of the skin care ingredients that are the best for dry skin on the face are also good for sensitive skin. Ingredients that are known for their soothing effects on redness and irritation also have the ability to protect dry skin and help maintain hydration levels.

Natural plant extracts are a wonderful ingredient to look for in a good face moisturizer for sensitive skin as they aren’t as abrasive as their chemical counterparts and often have antioxidant properties to protect the skin against environmental stressors, which can worsen dry skin. 

Calendula flower extract is a naturally-derived ingredient that’s antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial, and can treat sensitive irritated skin. Calendula flower extract can often be found in calming nourishing night creams for babies like the Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Lotion and make excellent moisturizers for anyone with dry skin to use at night when you’re letting your skin rest from the day. 

Dry Skin Care In A Nutshell

While moisturizing dry skin is essential to a good skin care routine for dry skin, there are a few other things to keep in mind. Be sure to properly cleanse your face to keep the skin clear of any dirt and buildup that accumulates throughout the day before applying your moisturizer at night. The reason for this is that our skin does most of its regeneration at night, and this is when you’ll get the most benefits from your face cream. 

If you’re using any spot treatments or serums, be sure they’re safe for dry skin. Many serums and spot treatments contain harsh ingredients such as chemical exfoliants that, while they are powerful and do their job, make dry skin worse. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever use them again, but discontinue use until you get your dry skin under control and can tolerate them again. 

Last but not least, the key to keeping dry skin moisturized is to wear a sunscreen like the Obagi Obagi360 HydraFactor Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Wearing a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30 doesn’t just fend off a nasty sunburn, but protects the skin barrier from the stress of UV exposure that can lead to a weakened skin barrier that's dry, irritated and lackluster complexion. 

Finding a skin care routine that will nourish your dry skin is challenging, but not impossible. Just because a moisturizer is made for dry skin doesn’t mean it will necessarily work for your dry skin. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different moisturizers and formulas! From thick moisturizing creams for dry skin to lightweight gel lotions, there is a dry skin moisturizer for everyone.