Go-To’s for Dry Skin: The Ultimate Hydration Routine 🌊✨

Dealing with dry, flaky skin can be frustrating, and I understand how challenging it is to find effective products. As someone with dry skin, I know how overwhelming it can be to find products that actually deliver results. After trying countless options and figuring out what works (and what doesn’t), I’ve put together a list of my personal favourite skincare products that I swear by for dry skin. In this blog, I’ll be sharing my full routine and recommending products that have truly made a difference for me. Let’s dive into these essentials that can take your skin from dull to dewy! ✨🫧

Step 1: Cleanser 🧼 Gentle and Hydrating 🧼

Cleansing is crucial, but dry skin needs gentle formulas that hydrate while removing impurities. Here are some ideal cleansers:

🫧 CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser (£10-12): Enriched with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, this cleanser helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier. Ceramides lock in hydration while hyaluronic acid attracts moisture to the skin. Use it morning and night for a gentle cleanse that won’t leave your skin feeling tight.

🫧 La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser (£12-14): This cleanser includes glycerin and niacinamide. Glycerin draws water into the skin, while niacinamide soothes and repairs the skin barrier. Ideal for sensitive, dry skin, use it twice daily for a calming, hydrating cleanse.

🫧 The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (£10): Rich in oat kernel oil, this balm is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, making it perfect for soothing dry, irritated skin. The balm-like texture deeply moisturises while cleansing, making it great for nightly use to remove makeup and impurities.

🫧 Eucerin Dermoclean Cleansing Milk (£9-11): With panthenol and natural oils, this cleansing milk soothes and hydrates the skin. Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) has healing properties that are perfect for sensitive skin. Use daily in the evening for gentle, hydrating cleansing.

Step 2: Exfoliant ✨ Smooth and Refine ✨

Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells, allowing your hydrating products to penetrate more effectively. Dry skin requires gentle exfoliants to prevent irritation.

🫧 Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (£28): This exfoliant uses salicylic acid to gently clear away dead skin cells and smooth the skin’s texture. Use 1-2 times a week to keep your skin looking fresh and bright without drying it out.

🫧 The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA (£6): Lactic acid gently exfoliates while hyaluronic acid hydrates, making this a great option for dry skin. Use this product 1-2 times a week for smoother, more radiant skin.

🫧 Byoma Brightening Toner (£13): This toner combines exfoliating acids and hydrating ingredients to both smooth and hydrate the skin. Use it 2-3 times a week for an even, bright complexion.

🫧 REN Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic (£28): Featuring lactic acid and willow bark extract, this toner provides gentle exfoliation while boosting radiance. Use 1-2 times a week to achieve a smoother, brighter complexion.

Step 3: Toner 💧Prepping the Skin for Hydration 💧

Toners are essential for dry skin as they add a layer of hydration and help the skin absorb serums and moisturizers more effectively.

🫧 Caudalie Moisturising Toner (£15-18): Formulated with organic grape water and vinolevure, this toner soothes and hydrates, providing an antioxidant boost. Its lightweight texture absorbs quickly, making it perfect for morning and evening use.

🫧 Avène Gentle Toning Lotion (£11-13): Featuring Avène’s signature thermal spring water, this toner calms and hydrates sensitive, dry skin. Its minimal ingredient list reduces the risk of irritation, making it ideal for daily use, both morning and night.

🫧 The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£8): Glycolic acid exfoliates dead skin cells while Tasmanian pepperberry soothes potential irritation. Since it’s a stronger formula, use it just 1-2 times a week at night to prevent over-exfoliation.

🫧 Tir Tir Milk Skin Toner (£18): This milky toner combines niacinamide and peptides, promoting skin hydration and elasticity. Use daily for a balance of hydration and gentle exfoliation, morning or night.

Step 4: Serum 🌊Concentrated Hydration 🌊

Serums deliver high concentrations of active ingredients, crucial for deeply hydrating dry skin.

🫧 Byoma Hydrating Serum (£12-14): Packed with ceramides, glycerin, and niacinamide, this serum deeply hydrates while repairing the skin barrier. It absorbs quickly, leaving skin plump and soft. Use twice daily, morning and night.

🫧 Caudalie SOS Thirst Quenching Serum (£26): Hyaluronic acid and organic grape water in this serum provide intense hydration. It’s perfect for morning use to ensure all-day hydration, leaving skin fresh and dewy.

🫧 Medik8 Hydr8 Liquid Rehydration Serum (£40): Featuring multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, this serum delivers moisture at multiple skin layers. Vitamin B5 also aids in skin repair, making this ideal for very dry or stressed skin. Use morning and night for optimal hydration.

🫧 The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (£6): An affordable yet effective serum, this combines hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 for moisture and skin repair. The different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid allow it to hydrate multiple layers of the skin. Use twice daily before moisturizing.

Step 5: Moisturiser 🧴Locking in Hydration 🧴

Moisturizers are essential for sealing in the hydration from your serums and keeping your skin nourished throughout the day.

🫧 La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturiser (£18): Lightweight but deeply hydrating, this moisturiser is rich in ceramides and niacinamide, helping to repair the skin barrier and lock in moisture. Suitable for use both morning and night.

🫧 CeraVe Moisturising Cream (£9): Known for its rich, hydrating formula, this cream contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, making it ideal for very dry skin. It’s perfect for night-time use or during the day in colder months.

🫧 First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (£25): Colloidal oatmeal and shea butter make this cream especially soothing for dry, irritated skin. Its thick, creamy consistency is perfect for evening use when your skin needs extra nourishment.

🫧 Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream (£12): This cream offers rich hydration, making it perfect for dry patches and irritated skin. Use it at night or as needed for targeted moisture.

Step 6: Sunscreen 🌞 Daily Protection 🌞

Dry skin still needs protection from the sun, and these sunscreens offer broad-spectrum protection while hydrating the skin.

🫧 La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen SPF 60 (£18-20): This sunscreen offers strong sun protection with a hydrating, non-greasy finish. Ideal for daily use, especially on sunny days, it absorbs quickly without leaving a white cast.

🫧  Very High Protection Cream SPF 50+ (£15): Enriched with Avène’s thermal spring water, this sunscreen is lightweight and hydrating. It’s great for sensitive skin and offers strong protection, making it suitable for everyday use.

🫧 Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30 (£17-20): This weightless, invisible formula works well under makeup and is perfect for those who dislike the feel of traditional sunscreens. Apply daily for lightweight, effective sun protection.

🫧 Aesop Protective Facial Lotion SPF 25 (£35): This premium sunscreen combines hydration and protection, making it perfect for dry skin. Its light texture makes it ideal for everyday wear, particularly when you want a luxurious feel.

With this well-rounded routine, your dry skin will be hydrated, nourished, and protected. Each product has been chosen for its specific benefits, helping to address dryness while promoting overall skin health. Follow these steps regularly for a glowing, healthy complexion.✨🩵