Because your skin is moisture deprived, choose products that boast extra emollience
Dry, parched skin ages you. Your beauty goal: Moisturize like crazy. Quick tip: Because your skin is moisture deprived, choose products that boast extra emollience. There’s no such thing as too much hydration for you!
Cleanse in the morning and at night using a cream-based, alcohol-free cleanser. Afterward, your skin should be clean, but not squeaky.
Give hydration a boost by layering on two moisturizing products during the day: a soothing facial oil or serum, topped by a rich cream. Try cream products containing ceramides, glycerin or shea butter, all of which help lock in the oil or serum.
Yeah, yeah, we know: Black don’t crack. But dry skin does tend to show wrinkles faster. (Bonus: You don’t suffer as many breakouts.) Because of this it is crucial that you slather on SPF. Apply one that has moisturizing properties after your cream. If your dry skin is also sensitive, opt for a physical mineral block (it usually contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) rather than a chemical one. “Dry skin is prone to tiny micro-cracks in its surface that can make chemical formulas sting,” says Ellen Marmur, M.D., vice chair of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Nighttime is the right time to treat your dry skin. But use care with retinoids like Retin-A. Your dermatologist will probably OK a mild retinol for use three or four nights a week. Apply your day cream first to dilute the strength. On alternate nights, use just the cream. If your skin is extra dry, mix a tiny amount of a moisturizing balm into your moisturizer at night.
