Dry skin can be a challenge, often feeling tight, rough, and sometimes flaky. It’s essential to follow a comprehensive skincare routine to maintain hydration, strengthen the skin barrier, and achieve a radiant complexion. Here’s a detailed 10-step routine tailored for dry skin, including double cleansing, exfoliation, and intense hydration.
Understanding Dry Skin
Dry or Dehydrated Skin?
Before diving into the routine, it’s crucial to distinguish between dry and dehydrated skin:
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- Dry Skin: A skin type characterized by a lack of oil (sebum). It often feels rough, flaky, and can be more sensitive.
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- Dehydrated Skin: A skin condition resulting from a lack of water. Any skin type (including oily skin) can be dehydrated, showing signs of dullness, tightness, and fine lines.
If your skin lacks oil, you have dry skin. If it lacks water, it’s dehydrated. Both conditions can coexist, so hydration is vital.
The 10-Step Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
Double Cleansing
Double cleansing ensures that your skin is thoroughly clean without stripping away natural oils, which is crucial for dry skin.
Step 1: Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm
This balm effectively removes makeup, sunscreen, and impurities while nourishing the skin. Take a small amount and massage it onto dry skin and emulsify for about 1 minute. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
This gentle gel cleanser removes any remaning residue and refreshes the skin without over-drying. Apply to damp skin, massage gently and rinse thoroughly.
Step 3: Exfoliation
Regular exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and promotes better absorption of subsequent products.
Exfoliator: Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad
A gentle exfoliating toner pad that contains PHA, mild exfoliating ingredient to delicately exfoliate dead skin cells and reduce the appearence of blackheads and whiteheads. Apply to a cotton pad and gently swipe over the face 2-3 times a week.
This hydrating toner soothes and preps the skin, making it ready to absorb the following products better. Pat the toner into your skin using your hands.
Step 5: Essence
Essences provide a concentrated dose of hydration and active ingredients.
Essence: Mixsoon Bean Essence
Rich in antioxidants and nutrients, this essence hydrates and revitalizes the skin. Apply a few drops to your face and neck, patting it gently into the skin.
Step 6: Ampoule
Ampoules offer intense treatment with highly concentrated ingredients.
Ampoule: Artichoke Intensive Skin Barrier Ampoule
This ampoule strengthens the skin barrier and deeply hydrates the skin. Apply a few drops to your face and gently pat until absorbed.
Sheet masks provide an extra boost of hydration and nutrients.
Sheet Mask: Keana Rice Mask
Infused with rice extract, this mask hydrates, soothes, and brightens the skin.Apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Remove and gently pat the remaining essence into your skin.
Step 8: Eye Cream
The delicate skin around the eyes needs special care to stay hydrated and firm.
Eye Cream: COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
This eye cream hydrates, reduces puffiness, and brightens the under-eye area. Apply a small amount around the eyes and gently pat with your ring finger.
Step 9: Moisturizer
Moisturizers lock in hydration and protect the skin barrier.
Moisturizer: Anua Heartleaf 80% Soothing Cream
This moisturizer deeply hydrates, soothes, and strengthens the skin barrier. Apply a generous amount to your face and neck, massaging gently until fully absorbed.
Step 10: Sunscreen
Daily sunscreen use is essential to protect your skin from UV damage, which can exacerbate dryness and aging.
Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+
A lightweight, hydrating sunscreen that protects the skin while providing additional moisture.
