The 8 Best Grooming Products to Replenish Dry Skin, From Cleansers to Serums
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.
It’s no surprise that dry skin needs a regimen focused on hydration. But with that comes a focus on gentle exfoliation and cleansers, which can do their job without further dehydrating skin.
Some exfoliants and cleansers will also have ingredients that aid in hydration efforts, like lactic acid, which lifts away dead surface cells but also helps skin retain moisture better. If you have dry skin—perennial or just seasonally—then it’s important to consider the many benefits of these kinds of ingredients, rather than just the one benefit they’re best known for.
It’s also important to consider alternatives to otherwise aggressive ingredients, especially if your dry skin is sensitive. For example, instead of using a retinoid as your primary anti-aging, skin-firming product, you should consider substituting in a gentler alternative like bakuchiol; like retinoids, bakuchiol provides exfoliating benefits, but in a much less aggressive fashion, says board-certified dermatologist Kaveri Karhade, M.D., in Palo Alto, California.
Click here to read the full article.
Then there are the most obvious ingredients that focus on attracting and retaining moisture. Karhade lists hyaluronic acid as the primary choice here; squalane, glycerin, ceramides, aloe vera, and shea butter are terrific hydrators, too. But don’t forget that retaining moisture is as important as adding moisture. For this, Karhade suggests focusing on “hydrating vehicles such as creams, rather than lotions.” While lotions have more water in their formulas, creams are denser and form a better barrier on the skin to trap moisture inside. Balms take things even further yet and will be essential in winter or dry environments, especially at bedtime.
Here’s a bonus tip, too: Use a humidifier in your bedroom if it’s not otherwise humid—even in the summer if you’re air conditioning your room, you may need that extra moisture in the air (or consider switching to a fan if it isn’t insufferably hot. Sleeping in a humid room will work wonders for your skin, and your hair too, since your skin won’t lose as much moisture to the surrounding air.
For now, read on for the best products for a dry skin regimen.
Best of Robb Report
