Our best moisturizer for dry skin

Our Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin

Do I Have Dry Skin?

There are a few telltale signs that your skin is lacking moisture. Those with may notice areas that appear dehydrated or rough. Dry skin may occur on the entire face or instead only in a few specific areas. The appearance of dry skin may be exacerbated by extreme weather, like strong wind or harsh conditions. You may also find your skin looks irritated after a hot shower or if you sit in air conditioned or heated office. Dry skin can also feel tight and uncomfortable.

Aside from taking a close look at your environment, another way to help find out if you have dry skin is with the blotting paper test. To conduct the test, first cleanse your skin at night. Then go to bed without face moisturizer — this is maybe the only time we’ll tell you to skip a night cream. In the morning, blot your face with blotting paper at the cheeks, t-zone, and chin. If the blotting paper comes away without oil on it, and your skin feels tight, you may have dry skin.

Once you’ve recognized dry skin as your skin type, you can get started on developing a skin care regimen that can help you address this specific skin concern.

How to Help Manage Dry Skin

One of the best ways to help address dry skin is with a skin care regimen specially designed for your skin type, with every product working towards nourishing your skin with moisture. One of the key products for dry skin types is a face moisturizer, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the other steps that can help create a complete skin care routine. Your skin care routine should include a facial cleanser, face exfoliator, and moisturizer.

Every good skin care regimen begins with a facial cleanser. For dry skin types, it’s important to find a face cleanser that’s not too abrasive, harsh, or drying for your skin. The AAD recommends that those with dry skin “apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, but avoid using so much that you see a thick lather.” If your skin looks dry and feels tight or “squeaky” after cleansing, that’s a sign that your current facial cleanser may be too harsh. We recommend a gentle cleanser that helps remove dirt and impurities from your surface skin without stripping away natural oils from your skin. Garnier Micellar Water All-in-1 is formulated for all skin types, even sensitive skin. It’s strong enough to remove makeup but gentle without over-drying skin. We also recommend The Gentle Sulfate-Free Cleanser, which is formulated without sulfates, alcohol, fragrance, or soap. It’s also rich in glycerin and helps keep skin moisturized. It also helps remove impurities. If you experience dry skin, this gentle cleanser is formulated to help clean your surface skin and is dermatologist tested for gentleness.

It may seem counterintuitive, but exfoliation can actually be helpful in addressing dry skin. It’s important to help remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin to make room for the newer, fresher-looking skin underneath. Dead skin cells can also clog your pores and make it more difficult for that much-needed moisture to be absorbed into the skin’s surface. Opt for a gentle face exfoliant. We like Garnier Clearly Brighter Argan Nut Exfoliating Cleanser, which is formulated with finely ground Argan Nut Shell, Antioxidant Vitamin C, and a multi-fruit acid, and helps to gently exfoliate the skin.

Once you’ve cleansed and exfoliated your face, the next (and most fundamental for dry skin types) step is to moisturize. Ahead, a further breakdown of how to find the best moisturizer for you to help address your dry skin.

Face masks can also help provide moisture for your dry skin. Some sheet masks can only take 15 minutes and can help provide you with an instant boost of skin moisture, especially if you have a big day ahead or have found yourself having an especially rough day. To use a sheet mask, first cleanse the skin, then lay the mask flat and tight over the contours of your face. Look for a face mask that is formulated with hyaluronic acid and helps hydrate dry-looking skin. We recommend Garnier Moisture Bomb Super Hydrating Sheet Mask – Hydrating to help provide moisture and hydration to dry skin. Or you can opt for Garnier Moisture Bomb Super Hydrating Sheet Mask – Soothing which can help nourish skin with moisture and calm skin with its calming formula. Lip balm can also help to address dry skin on the mouth that can come with visibly chapped lips.

Once you understand the steps necessary to help manage dry skin, it’s important to pay special attention to the number one agent that can help dry skin — moisturizer.

How to Help Moisturize Dry Skin

The good news for those with noticeable dry skin is that there are plenty of face moisturizers specifically formulated to help soothe dry skin. Face moisturizers may come in face creams, gel moisturizers, face lotions, face serums or facial mists. The best moisturizers for dry skin are often on the thicker side and are non-comedogenic, which means that it’s formulated to help reduce the chances of clogged pores.

Before you buy a face moisturizer, take a look at the label to make sure it’s formulated for dry skin. We love Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb, which is formulated to help moisturize dryness as well as encourage overall youthful-looking skin. It’s a gel-cream formula that can help hydrate dry skin. It is formulated with Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid, two superhero ingredients, and can help keep skin moisturized. If you love gel-cream textures, we also recommend Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream for Dry Skin. The face moisturizer is specifically formulated for those with dry skin types. If you prefer a moisturizer with SPF, Garnier Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer is formulated with broad spectrum SPF 15 along with Vitamin E, and can help protect and moisturize your skin. To find the best moisturizer for dry skin for you, try different textures and types of moisturizer before settling on a go-to product.

Moisturizer should always be applied after cleansing. First, cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser of your choice. (We love Garnier Micellar Water, which helps you address any potential dryness and helps cleanse and remove makeup with a no-rinse formula.) Pat — don’t rub — your skin dry after cleansing and apply face moisturizer while skin is still damp. When applying face moisturizer, pat it lightly on your face, starting with the t-zone and working outwards. Try to avoid rubbing it in or spreading it, which can spread the dead skin cells that clog pores.

In addition to applying face moisturizer in the morning, be sure to end your day with a night cream that can help nourish skin while you sleep. We love , which is formulated with hyaluronic acid and lavender essential oil.

After you’ve tried the different types of moisturizer and found the one that works best for your dry skin, consider ways to help reduce your chances of experiencing visible skin dryness going forward. These skin care tips can include simple skin care routine hacks, ways of handling your skin, and more.

How to Help Reduce Your Chances of Experiencing Dry Skin

Skin types can change as we age, live in different climates, or go through seasonal changes. Although you can’t control your skin type, there are a few steps you can take to alter your daily skin care routine and help reduce your chances of experiencing dry skin. One helpful hack is to avoid using scalding hot water in the shower. Instead, opt for a lukewarm temperature that won’t further dry out skin. Try not to spend an excessive amount of time wetting your face in the shower. Once you’re done, moisturize immediately after the shower to help lock in any moisture. Moisturizer should go on your skin while it’s still damp. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) also recommends for those with dry skin to “wear soft fabrics that breathe, such as 100 percent cotton.” If you do want to wear a rough fabric like wool that could irritate the skin, the AAD suggests wearing a cotton or other soft fabric underneath.

If your hands are dry in addition to your face, the AAD recommends applying a hand cream after each time you wash your hands. The same logic applies to face cleansing — you should always layer on a facial moisturizer when skin is damp directly after cleansing your face every morning and evening.

Since climate can affect dry skin, you can help by setting your air conditioners and radiators to maintain a neutral temperature. In the winter, try to avoid blasting yourself with hot air as soon as you get into your car. In the summer, as tempting as it may be, try not to let ice cold air blow directly in your face. If you live in a climate that goes through seasonal changes, it may be helpful to invest in a humidifier to ensure the air contains a moisture level that’s appropriate for your skin.

Hydration can also play a role in your skin care routine. We recommend drinking water regularly throughout the day. A hydrated body is a happy body, and your skin can be happy too.

How to Care for Dry Skin

One of the most helpful ways to care for dry skin is with a complete skin care routine that’s customized to your skin type. Be sure to include a facial cleanser, face exfoliant, SPF, and of course a face moisturizer in your dry skin routine. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) cites moisturizing as one of the most important steps you can take to help address dry skin. The AAD recommends “applying a moisturizer frequently throughout the day can help [dry skin.] It can make the skin softer, smoother, and less likely to crack.”

Moisturizer can even have benefits that extend beyond soothing dry skin. As the AAD points out, a face moisturizer can be an effective anti-aging product— so if and when any visible dry patches on your face become nourished with hydration, keep moisturizing twice daily.

With your skin care routine optimized and your new favorite face moisturizer for dry skin in hand, you’re only steps away from helping better manage your dry skin. Bye, flakes!