If your skin leans toward the “dry” end of the spectrum, you’re probably no stranger to a cracked, red, and flaking complexion. That’s why it’s vital to settle on a skincare routine for dry skin that fits your needs: keeping your skin moisturized is the best way to help it look and feel healthy and refreshed. 

What is dry skin?

The top layer of our skin it’s called epidermis, and has a delicate barrier that protects and hydrates our skin by holding in water. But sometimes, due to several factors, it may lose moisture rapidly showing signs like feeling tight, itchy, flaky, or even developing little cracks. There are different types of dry skin and ways to prevent dryness.

Below, you’ll find two skincare routines – one for morning and one for night – designed to protect and support dry skin.

Morning Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

Because dry skin is typically more complex than skin lacking moisture, it deserves a tailored skincare routine. 

1- Cleanser

Choose a gentle, fragrance-free facial cleanser to lather up in the morning. Look for options formulated with hydrating ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid) that suck moisture deep into the skin. Steer clear of cleansers with harsh ingredients or sulfates, which are known to strip the skin of its essential natural oils.

You can target the skin on your body with a slightly more powerful yet still hydrating and soothing product like OffCourt’s Deep Cleansing Body Wash. Its sulfate-free formula contains glycolic and lactic acids to gently remove sweat and dirt build-up without irritating. It’s also gentle and affordable enough to be used multiple times a day without stripping the skin, which is great for athletes with dry skin.

Deep Cleansing Body Wash Trio Pack

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2- Toner

Toners are a matter of preference. Their role is to remove the remaining oil and dirt from your skin, so if you don’t have oily skin or unless you sweat a lot while you sleep is very likely that you can skip this step in your morning skincare routine.

3- Serums

Serums are light easily absorbed oil, or water-based liquids that you spread on your skin. They typically come in small bottles with a dropper, and you only need a few drops to treat your whole face. They are highly concentrated formulations that are designed to sink into the skin quickly, delivering an intensive dose of ingredients that can address common skin complaints

4- Eye Cream

Dryness can also affect the skin that is around our eyes, especially because this skin is among the thinnest on the body. Always opt for products with gentle, nourishing ingredients such as peptides, antioxidants (like vitamin C or E), and botanical extracts.

5- Moisturizer

There may be no step in any skincare routine for dry skin that’s more important than moisturizing. Dermatologists recommend applying moisturizer immediately after cleansing or hopping out of the shower while the skin is still damp to maximize the hydration you deliver to your skin. 

A soothing and lightweight moisturizer like our Facial Hydrator protects your skin barrier without weighing down your skin and clogging pores. If you have a very dry skin, you may choose face moisturizers that tend to be on the heavier side.

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6- Sunscreen

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine. Choose an SPF of at least 30 to protect your skin. Even when sunscreen might not seem necessary, harmful UV rays still penetrate the skin, potentially worsening dryness and leading to premature aging. 

Nighttime Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

As you prepare for your evening, it’s time to remove the sweat, oil, and dirt that may have accumulated during the day. Your skincare routine can look similar to what you use in the morning, with some potential extra steps as needed.

1. Cleanse

Make sure to thoroughly purge your skin of all makeup, sweat, and pollutants. Look for something formulated without harsh actives like exfoliating acids; ingredients like green tea, vitamin C, and tree tea oil can help soothe your skin and brighten it. 

2. Toner

If you’d like, you can use a hydrating, alcohol-free toner to wick away any lingering dirt that might be trapped in your pores. Toners can also be a great purifying step for dry skin, helping later products absorb more effectively and penetrate pores deeply. 

3. Exfoliate

If your skin can tolerate it, gently exfoliating about one to two times weekly with an ingredient like lactic acid can help remove dead skin cells. For mechanical (physical) exfoliation, consider options like OffCourt’s Exfoliating Body Soap, which features a medium-grit texture perfect for scrubbing away old skin.

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4- Serums

A nighttime serum is another opportunity to add more hydration to your dry skin and treat fine lines. Again, choose hydrating serums with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, peptides, or ceramides. These ingredients moisturize and repair dry skin after a long day.

5- Retinol or other Targeted Treatment

If you use an active ingredient such as retinol or spot treatment for breakouts, apply this as your first step after cleansing. Ideally, wait at least 20 minutes after cleansing and drying off before you apply your treatment. This will ensure that the skin is completely dry when you apply your active ingredients, which reduces dryness and irritation.

6- Eye cream

For this step, you can apply the same eye cream used in your morning routine to ensure that this sensitive area of skin stays hydrated throughout the night.

7- Moisturizer or Night Cream

Apply a rich moisturizer to help your skin heal overnight. For extremely dry skin, rich facial moisturizers are recommended. it's particularly important to use a night cream because that's when your skin enters its rest and recovery phase.

8- Face Oil

This is optional, but you may opt to incorporate a face oil as the final step in your evening routine. Omit this if you have acne-prone skin. Locking in your moisturizer with a face oil isn’t always necessary, but can be a nice added step at the end of your skincare routine to ensure that your moisturizer stays in the skin where it is needed most.

More Tips for a Dry Skin Care Routine

Making some lifestyle changes can help you keep your skin healthy and happy. Below are some more tips to help you get started.

- Stay hydrated. What you see on the outside reflects what’s going on inside. Give your body what it needs to keep your skin soft and healthy by drinking plenty of water. 

- Wash sweat away quickly. While sweat can be good for the skin, it can also be drying when left to sit. Use a post-workout skin care routine focused on cleansing and soothing the skin to keep it hydrated all day long.

- Keep it cool. Avoid using hot water when cleaning your skin. The hotter the water, the more oil it can strip from your skin. 

- Use a humidifier. Adding a humidifier to your home helps add moisture to the air that may prevent your skin from drying out too much.

- Limit exfoliation Over-exfoliation can strip away the skin's natural oils and protective barrier, leading to increased sensitivity, irritation, and redness. 

- Choose gentle laundry products Products that touch your skin can further irritate dry skin. 

Final Thoughts

Dry skin is a skin type that can be fairly easy to manage with the right products and methods. Take steps to keep your body hydrated and care for your skin gently to help it thrive.

Look no further than OffCourt for skin-friendly products that can cleanse and hydrate your skin, no matter how dry or sensitive it may be. Check out our full range of products to discover more ways to help your skin be healthy.

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