How To Soothe Extremely Dry Skin

When your skin is dry, it can mess with every facet of your skincare routine. Dry skin is harder to moisturize, more prone to irritation, and more likely to show the effects of premature aging. Not to mention the fact that it can be downright painful in many extreme cases. Searching for dry skin remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms and also strengthen the skin barrier against future damage should be priority number one for anyone suffering from dryness.

That can sometimes be easier said than done, as there are myriad moisturizing products to choose from and not all are equally effective, depending on the severity of your dry skin and your environment and routine. To help you sort through the noise and find something that can actually help, we’ve put together this how-to for soothing extremely parched complexions. Keep reading to learn what you can do to turn your skin from flaky and parched to supple and smooth.

Exfoliate

Many people have come to associate exfoliation with excessive oiliness and breakouts, but the reality is that getting rid of flakes is a key component to effectively moisturizing your skin. That’s because build up of dead skin cells makes it harder for any moisturizing products you do apply to penetrate the skin’s surface. Gentle exfoliation two to three times a week with a product that uses a gentle exfoliator — like the Quinoa Husk Extract in our Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate — will help get rid of the dead skin that has overstayed its welcome. For those with dry skin that has veered into the red and raw stage, exfoliators (even the mildest ones) might be a bit too harsh. You still need to get rid of the dead skin, so try gently massaging a wet washcloth onto your face to dislodge those cells and uncover fresh skin beneath.

Turn Down The Heat

A long, hot shower is one of the simple pleasures in life — and a major contributing factor to dry skin. Hot water is notorious for stripping the natural oils from your skin. With those oils gone, your skin barrier may be weaker, making your skin more likely to be dry or susceptible to damage and irritation. Keep the water warm, not scalding, and you’re skin barrier won’t wind up as depleted. Another easy switch is to only wash your face in the evening — unless you have some sort of retinol or acid treatment on your skin, you don’t really need to wash in the a.m. A quick splash of cool water to refresh your complexion will suffice. In the evening, opt for a rich cleanser like our Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil — a makeup-removing oil cleanser with Evening Primrose and Lavender Essential Oils , plus squalane , to simultaneously clean and replenish skin.

Switch To A Cream

Lotions with humectants are great for dehydrated skin, but dry skin needs something a little richer and with ultra-nourishing oils to lock in moisture. Try the Centella Sensitive Cica-Cream , a skin barrier cream that soothes irritation, strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier, and restore skin’s healthy appearance. Or, check out our best-selling Ultra Facial Cream , which is uniquely formulated with squalane, a botanical lipid that helps skin’s natural moisture balance to keep skin soft and supple.

Don’t let dryness get the better of your skin. Make these simple switches to soothe and comfort your complexion and replenish lost moisture. Goodbye flakes, itching, cracks, and redness!