1 Have a Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise Routine, using products adapted to your skin type
We all know the importance of a regular CTM (Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise) routine, and the most important factor here is to choose products that are adapted to your skin type. See below for a few tips on how to adapt your routine for dry skin:
Consider doing a thorough double cleanse every night – I use an oil based cleanser first to remove the majority of my make-up, then finish with a milk cleanser. However, don’t cleanse more than twice a day as the natural oils produced by the skin are required to nourish it, and over-cleansing will only exacerbate the dryness.
Oil cleansing is one of the most simple and effective beauty tips for dry skin.It cleanses skin without disturbing the natural skin’s oils, and you can easily adapt a few of your regular household products to give a completely natural cleanse – all you need are a few drops of olive oil and coconut oil or sweet almond oil.If you have dry skin, ensure that you use a gentle cleanser that contains no harsh agents – there are a number of gentle cleansers in the stores and some of them, such as Dermatologica Ultra Calming Cleanser and Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with orange extract which soften skin while deeply cleansing
Don’t skip the toner stage. Toners are supposed to be used right after cleansing the skin in order to restore the skin’s pH balance. I know that some people are worried that toners will strip the skin but a good skin toner should actually nourish the skin and provide antioxidants and fatty acids to give a fresher, smoother and younger appearance, as well as removing any remaining impurities. Many beauty brands now formulate toners especially adapted for dry skin, such as the Fresh Rose Floral Toner or the Kiehl’s Calandula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free toner.
Another little tip is to keep your toner in the fridge to give an instant glow. (You can even freeze some toner in ice-cube trays, and then rub one quickly over your face and neck for a quick pick-me-up, but be careful to wrap the ‘toner cube’ in tissue and keep it moving as ice-burn is not a good look!)
Wait at least three months when testing new products (unless of course you have a bad reaction to a product in which case you should stop using it immediately!). Also, when switching products, only change one at a time so you can see what the actual impact is.
2 Exfoliate regularly
When it comes to topical skin care, most of us concentrate on cleansing, toning and moisturizing and completely ignore exfoliation. But, if you don’t exfoliate then you may just be putting moisturiser onto dead skin cells which seems pointless!
Exfoliation helps in cleaning clogged pores and hair follicles which prevents the breakout of acne, but it also improves skin texture by reducing the appearance of large pores. You may think that you don’t need to exfoliate if you have dry skin, but regular exfoliation makes it easier for the skin to absorb serums and moisturisers, and so all the moisturising products you are using will penetrate better.
However, if you have dry skin, then limit your exfoliation to once or twice per week, and avoid any products that have harsh beads or grains which could irritate your skin. Use either a gentle scrub or just use an exfoliating cleanser or toner from time to time. Have a look at this article for choosing an exfoliator adapted to your skin type.
3 Make sure to keep skin hydrated from the inside-out
beauty tips for dry skin
We all know the importance of boosting your beauty from the inside out by drinking lots of water and loading up on omega-3s (essential fatty acids found in foods such as salmon and walnuts, and which boost hydration), so try to aim for eight glasses of water per day and have a look here for the best foods to help with dry skin.
However, you can also help your skin by hydrating from the outside too! Make sure you pick a day cream that provides both hydration and protection, as well as anti-oxidants.
Moisturizers slow down water loss through the superficial layers of the skin and strengthen your skin barrier. Choose moisturisers that are specially adapted for dry skin, such as First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream or Clinique Moisture Surge for dehydrated skin.
You can choose moisturisers that incorporate sun protection if you wish (choose nonirritating physical sunblocks, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.) or add your sun protection separately.
4 Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum
If your skin is particularly dry, then you could add a serum, containing hyalauronic acid to your routine. Have a look below for a selection of serums, containing hyaluronic acid to target multiple depths and offers both short and long term rehydration.
5 Use a weekly hydrating mask
I also like to incorporate a weekly mask or sleep in mask into my routine to ensure that my skin remains moisturised: two of my favourite sleep in masks are Origins ‘Drink up and Youth to the People Glow Dream Mask with Vitamin C .
However, if you are looking for natural remedies then have a look at this article.
6 Be careful in the sun
The sun is a great source for vitamin D, and therefore it is important not to avoid the sun completely. However, strong UV rays can not only damage the texture of the skin but over exposure to these rays can result in skin cancer.
Buy an SPF 15+ sunscreen for daily use, ideally a sunscreen with no fragrance or oil. In the summer, I particularly like the power variety, which come with a handy brush. These are not only less greasy than a cream sunscreen, but the handy brush means that it is easy to reapply during the day.
See above for some of my sunscreen picks, including an easy to apply power, a stick format and protection for the lips and hair.
7 My little secret
A final little tip is to use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair with your foundation. I have often read to add a couple of drops of the Advanced Night Repair to your foundation to increase hydration, but I like to pat on the Advanced Night Repair after applying my foundation as I find it hydrates better and gives a dewy finish!
