The 5 best skincare ingredients for dry skin

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It can be incredibly hard to find a routine that works for your skin. There are so many products out there that it can often be difficult to figure out which ones will work for your skin type. Today I’ll be talking about some of the best skincare ingredients you should be looking out for if you have dry skin.

After reading this post, you should have a good understanding of what products will work well with your dry skin. You’ll have a load of great product recommendations that I’m sure will work wonders on your skin

Contents hide

1 Do I have dry skin?

2 The best ingredients for dry skin

Do I have dry skin?

First things first. How do you know if you have dry skin?

If you feel like your skin is quite dull and rough, or can easily become itchy and inflamed, chances are you have dry skin.

I know that around Winter my skin can become quite flaky and peel, common signs of dry skin.

These are just the obvious ways to quickly tell if you have dry skin, you may find that your skin is a combination of different types, or that your skin changes depending on the season – like mine.

Now that you know what skin type you have, here are the best skincare ingredients for dry skin.

The best ingredients for dry skin

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is probably the most popular ingredient when it comes to skincare products for dry skin.

I’d put money on the fact that if you looked at any of your skincare products that claim to be hydrating, you’ll find HA on the ingredients list somewhere.

This ingredient is a dry skin saviour as it’s able to attract and retain 1000x its weight in moisture, meaning that it will keep your skin super hydrated.

1 gram of HA can hold up to 6 litres of water – how amazing is that!

If you have dry skin and you’re just starting to get into skincare, this is the ingredient that I’d take a look at first.

Because it’s so popular you can find it in so many products, at prices to fit anyone’s budget.

Products with Hyaluronic Acid that I love

The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum Glossier dupe review

Squalane

Squalane is an ingredient that mimics the Squalene that’s naturally produced by our body that keeps our skin hydrated.

As we get older the amount of squalene produced drastically decreases, causing our skin to get drier, which is why I like to incorporate it into my skincare routine.

I find that Squalane works in a similar way to Hyaluronic Acid, the main difference being the texture.

Squalane is an emollient, oily texture that you would want to put on towards the end of your skincare routine because it has a larger molecular weight so anything you put on after it won’t be able to fully penetrate your skin.

Hyaluronic Acid is a lighter humectant that I would usually apply in the middle of my skincare routine.

No matter what one you use, your skin will love it. On the days when I’m dryer I tend to reach for Squalane, and on an everyday basis I’ll use Hyaluronic Acid.

Products with squalane that I love

Ceramides

Ceramides are molecules that are found in the top layers of our skin that help to retain moisture and support the skin barrier.

They are a super common ingredient in a lot of moisturisers because they can help nourish the skin while soothing and preventing things like rosacea and dryness.

Ceramides also have been proven to have anti-aging properties as they can hold the skin together and protect from moisture loss and environmental damage.

I find that ceramides are a crucial step in my skincare routine, no matter how my skin is doing. Because they occur naturally in your skin anyway, you can be sure that this ingredient will work for all skin types — even if you’re oily.

Products I love with ceramides

Vitamin C

A lot of the ingredients that I’ve mentioned so far are completely focussed on hydrating your skin, Vitamin C isn’t targeted towards this.

Although it’s not the most hydrating ingredient, it’s an ingredient that is an absolute must-have for all skin types, but especially dry skin.

When my skin is at its driest, it looks dull and tired. No matter how many hyrating products I put on, I’m just not able to bring life back to my face.

Until I start adding in Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is one of my favourite ingredients, it’s the ingredient that’s made the most difference in my skin.

Vitamin C helps to brighten the skin and reduce red spots and scarring, whilst fighting aging and pollution.

Used in combination with the other hydrating products I’ve mentioned, you’re going to notice some serious improvements in your skin.

Products with Vitamin C that I love:

Centella Asiatica

This is a fairly new ingredient that I’ve added to my dry skincare routine but one that has made the world of difference.

Centella Asiatica, also known as Tiger Grass, is a natural ingredient that’s pretty popular in Korean skincare products.

It’s a plant extract that is super hydrating and calming so not only will it keep your skin moisturised, it will also reduce redness and irritation — something I most definitely need in the Winter.

I enjoy using products containing Centella Asiatica mainly for it’s soothing properties, it’s not the product I depend on for hydration.

I use it in combination with Hyaluornic Acid or Squalane to keep my skin looking healthy, plump and bright.