How To Get Rid Of Dry Skin: My Routine

Dry skin can be uncomfortable and, if excessive, can also make some people self-conscious. Despite how common it is, dry skin is a condition that we can manage, if not avoid altogether. So I’d love to share my top tips on how to get rid of dry skin with you!

What is dry skin?

Typically, it presents as flaky textured skin. If your skin feels any of the following, then you may be experiencing dry skin:

• patches of itchy or scaly sensations
• flaky with a rough texture
• cracks in the surface

What causes dry skin?

Before we ask how to get rid of dry skin, we should probably understand why it happens in the first place. People always ask me what causes dry skin. The answers are as varied as the people who ask me! These are just some of the influences:

• Hormones 

Hormonal imbalance and hormonal changes inherent with pregnancy, menstruating, perimenopause and menopause can dramatically affect the moisture levels of our skin.

• Lack of hydration 

The skin needs water and naturally occurring oils to keep it healthy, soft, supple, and stretchy. Without moisture and oils, the skin can dry out.

• Ageing 

As we age, our skin naturally makes less oil. As a result, people over 40 typically tend to experience more drying issues than they would have in earlier stages of life.

• Your profession 

Yes, this one sounds unusual, but when you think about it, it makes sense. Professions that involve hands in hot water or lots of hand-washing (think nurses, hairdressers, waitresses, cleaners) mean the skin is regularly exposed to drying factors.

• Cold climates 

No, it’s not a typo! I didn’t mean to write hot climates. It might sound counter-intuitive, but it’s often colder climates that dry out our skin. Why? Because we will dial up the indoor heating and create an environment that literally dries the air around us and is perhaps sometimes more drying than a natural summer.

• Sun exposure 

This one is no surprise, is it? The heat of the sun can reduce our skin’s natural oil levels.

• Lifestyle 

Taking long hot baths, showers, using harsh deodorants and smoking can all wreak havoc on our natural oil levels and leave our complexion flakey and itchy.

How to help – my dry skincare routine

OK, so the bad news is there are many ways we can develop dry skin. However, the good news is, there are just as many ways we can develop a dry skincare routine. Here are some of the most effective ways to get rid of dry skin:

• Drink regularly

Aim for at least six to eight glasses of water a day, if not more, when undertaking excessive exercise or in an already drying environment. Drinking enough water throughout the day and staying hydrated can help keep your skin moist and maintain its water content. Aim to pee clear!

• Avoid long showers and/or baths

Water is good for the skin when you drink it. However, spending too much time in hot water can figuratively and literally leave your complexion in, well, hot water. Rinsing in hot water leaches out the skin’s natural oils, leaving skin with that dry, tight, uncomfortable feeling.

• Eat healthy food

Feed your face! This is a great – and essential – daily ritual for dry skincare. A healthy diet is vital to maintain necessary water content and enhance sebum production in the body. Foods rich in Vitamin E and C help maintain healthy skin.

Moisturiser for dry skin

It’s true that you need a specific moisturiser for dry skin. Ingredients that work well to hydrate, protect and nourish dry skin include:

• shea butter
• cocoa butter
• borage oil
• prickly pear oil
• argan oil

Moisturise your face and hands morning and evening and throughout the day if you feel your skin tightening or uncomfortable.

What is the best moisturiser for dry skin? 

Our Franchine Young Wonder Balm is the best moisturiser for dry skin, of course!  A blend of solidified oils that melt into a liquid when they contact your skin, Wonder Balm does not contain water. It absorbs best when applied to damp skin, and typically, you need only about a pea’s worth of balm to moisturise your entire face. Balms are especially beneficial for anyone with dry skin, but for the truly best moisturiser for dry skin, they layer beautifully with our prickly pear and argan oil. Adopt this extra layer of love before bedtime and wake up to a radiant, healthy complexion.

See our Mother Nature’s Method for a kind, gentle and effective approach to soothing dehydrated skin.

Remember – don’t use harsh chemicals or products

Harsh or scented skincare products can soak up necessary moisture from your skin. It is crucial to use gentle products that are free from nasty chemicals. Make it organic!

If you don’t take care of your dry skin, this is what can happen:

• Your skin may age prematurely
• Your skin may feel itchy and irritating
• Your skin may start producing excess sebum which can lead to clogged pores and acne
• Your skin will look dull, flaky and rough

If none of these tips work for you, please consult a dermatologist. I hope this has been helpful in answering your questions about how to get rid of dry skin. I’d love to hear about your skincare journey, so please do make contact!