Learn more about the best ingredients for a glowy and hydrated skin routine.
Got dry skin? Here's the ultimate skin care routine to achieve healthy, hydrated, and glowy skin.
After years of dealing with dull, lifeless, and dry skin, I've perfected a comprehensive skin care routine to keep my skin healthy, hydrated, and glowing. This routine is designed to nourish and strengthen the skin barrier while delivering deep, long-lasting hydration, because those of us with dry skin need a little science to help optimize our routines.
According to Dr. Corey Hartman, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist, the key to managing dry skin is strengthening the skin barrier.
“Dry skin occurs when the skin barrier is weak,” explains Dr. Hartman. He adds that using the right moisturizers with emollients and barrier-supporting ingredients is essential for trapping hydration and protecting your skin.
Your skin barrier acts as a protective shield that keeps moisture in and irritants out. People with dry skin typically have a naturally thinner barrier that needs extra support through proper skincare.
By focusing on barrier health rather than just temporary hydration, you'll develop a more resilient complexion that maintains moisture naturally.
Here are some must-know ingredients when it comes to building a skin care routine for dry skin.
What they do: Draw moisture from the environment into your skin, increasing hydration in the upper layers of the skin.
Examples: Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Aloe Vera, Honey
Tip: Apply to damp skin for best results
What they do: Fill in rough patches on the skin's surface with lipids, creating a smooth texture and improving skin barrier function.
Examples: Squalane, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Ceramides, Rosehip Oil
Tip: Use after humectants to lock in moisture
What they do: Form a physical barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss and seal in other skincare ingredients.
Examples: Shea Butter, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Beeswax, Lanolin, Mineral Oil
Tip: Apply as the final step in your routine, especially beneficial at night
The most effective moisturizers for dry skin typically combine all three types of ingredients for comprehensive hydration and protection.
Here is my practical, no fuss, skin care routine for moisturized skin and a healthy skin barrier.
If your pores get easily clogged, like mine, be cautious with makeup remover balms and oil cleansers. Many oil cleansers contain oils that can easily clog pores.
When I need to remove makeup or sunscreen, I use pure jojoba oil to loosen everything up, then rinse with a washcloth before moving to step 2.
This oil cleanse lifts the product, and gently dissolves makeup and sunscreen without stripping my skin's natural oils.
After about 30-60 seconds of gentle massage, I wipe away the dissolved makeup with a soft, damp washcloth, which provides mild physical exfoliation without irritation.
Recommendation: Any affordable non-pore-clogging (non-comedogenic) oil. My favorite is jojoba, and it’s safe around the eyes.
Foaming cleansers often contain stronger surfactants that can leave dry skin feeling tight and uncomfortable, so choose gentler options that cleanse while maintaining hydration.
Opt for cleansers that are “milky,” “hydrating,” or cream-based.
Recommendation: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Star ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin
Pro tip: Don't dry off your skin completely after cleansing. The goal with dry skin care is to trap moisture, so keep your face wet for the next step.
Toning is an often misunderstood skin care routine step. For those with dry skin, though, it's a great opportunity to add an extra layer of hydration before your serums. Unlike the astringent, alcohol-based toners of the past that stripped the skin, modern toners for dry skin are packed with humectants that help prepare your skin to better absorb subsequent products.
Think of toners as the first drink of water for your thirsty skin—they help balance your skin's pH after cleansing while delivering beneficial ingredients.
Recommendation: COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
Star ingredients: Propolis extract, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate
Pro tip: Skip the cotton pad—it's wasteful. Instead, shake a few drops into your hands and smooth over your face and neck.
(Throughout the routine, I bring the product down my neck and chest. I put the “extras” on the back of my hands.)
Any hyaluronic acid face serum works well here. If you're on a budget, The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum is excellent at only $9.
Toners, hydrating serums, and lotions should be layered in quick succession so they all get absorbed together.
Star ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
Pro tip: Applying humectant serums to wet skin is essential because they'll trap existing surface moisture into your skin rather than potentially drawing water up from deeper layers.
Because I have dry skin, I use multiple lotions/creams/oils, always moving from thinnest to thickest. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion is my go-to baseline lotion—it's hydrating, lightweight, and packed with hyaluronic acid.
Apply to wet skin. (Are you sensing a theme?)
Star ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
This is where the glowy part comes in.
Most people would benefit from using some form of retinol, but those with dry and sensitive skin might be wary because of its potentially drying nature.
I've found that the best approach is to never apply retinol directly to my bare skin, but to sandwich it between two moisturizers and wait 15 minutes after cleansing for a completely dry face.
Recommendation #1: I opt for Strut’s lowest dose of tretinoin cream (0.025%), using a pea-sized amount smoothed across my face while avoiding the corners of my nose and mouth.
Tip for dry skin: Tretinoin creams are generally gentler than gels. Always moisturize before and after.
Recommendation #2: If tretinoin causes excessive dryness, consider vitamin C as a gentler alternative. I personally love Strut Brightly, which combines potent ascorbic acid for anti-aging benefits with sodium hyaluronate (a more hydrating form of hyaluronic acid) to maintain moisture while improving skin texture and brightness.
Tip for dry skin: Daily use is often too much for my skin. Finding that balance is different for everyone, but try to aim for twice a week to see some benefits.
As we learned earlier, dry skin often stems from a compromised lipid barrier. This protective layer serves two crucial functions: keeping harmful bacteria out while locking essential moisture in.
If you struggle with dry skin, making barrier health your top skincare priority will yield the most dramatic improvements in hydration, comfort, and overall skin health.
Recommendation: La Roche-Posay's Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Cream. It's rich, locks in moisture all day, and sits well under makeup. This acts as a great occlusive.
Star ingredients: Fatty acids, niacinamide, ceramides, glycerin, shea butter
After completing the above routine, you'll likely feel like a glowy, hydrated princess, but your skin might still need more. If your skin still feels thirsty, apply a little more hydrating lotion and seal it with jojoba oil.
Jojoba oil is one of my favorite skin care products for dry skin. It closely resembles our skin's natural sebum and won't clog pores. Try to keep a dropper bottle of organic jojoba oil handy—nothing fancy, just pure oil.
This star dry skin ingredient supports a healthy skin barrier and locks in moisture by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
If you want to add some glow to your skin, consider trying tretinoin or vitamin C serums. Layer them in your dry skin routine, and your skin will thank you.
If you want prescription skin care through Strut Health online, simply complete our quick online questionnaire (it takes less than 5 minutes) and one of our US-licensed medical providers will review your information. If appropriate, we'll formulate a custom moisturizer or tretinoin cream specifically for your dry skin concerns.
Your personalized formula will be shipped directly to your door.
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