It’s a common experience that many of us are familiar with - dry, tight skin that can feel flaky or rough throughout the day, and doesn’t seem to respond well to your usual skincare routine.

If you’re experiencing dry, sensitive skin, here’s what causes it - and how to relieve and hydrate your skin back to looking and feeling healthy.

What is dry skin?

In essence, dry, tight skin occurs when your skin doesn’t have enough moisture and natural oils to stay soft, smooth, and hydrated. This can lead to discomfort and sensitivity, flaking, and even irritation.

While dry skin can affect any part of the body, your face is particularly vulnerable due to its constant exposure to environmental factors like weather changes, pollution, and harsh soaps or skincare products.

Recognising the signs of dry skin

If you’re wondering whether you have dry facial skin, here are some common signs to look out for:
 

• Tightness and discomfort: Your skin may feel tight and sensitive, especially after cleansing.
• Flakiness and peeling: Small, visible flakes may appear, particularly around the nose, cheeks, and forehead.
• Dull or rough texture: Dry skin often causes your complexion to look dull and lifeless, and feels rough to the touch if you gently rub a fingertip along it.
• Redness and irritation: Dryness can lead to irritation, causing redness and sensitivity. You might also find that dry skin - especially on your face - can feel painful and itchy.
• Fine lines and cracking: A lack of moisture can accentuate fine lines and, in more severe cases, cause cracking.

The causes of dry, flaky skin on your face

There’s no single answer to what causes dry skin – however, dry facial skin can be a sign of a compromised skin moisture barrier. When your skin is lacking in ceramides, the moisture barrier can become weakened, which may leave skin feeling dry, tight and irritated.

Dry skin can be caused by a mixture of factors that work together to strip your skin of much-needed hydration:
 

• Weather changes: Cold temperatures and low humidity levels can strip moisture from the skin.
• Overwashing: Washing your face too frequently or using harsh cleansers can disrupt the skin's natural barrier. Alcohol-based toners, harsh acids, or fragrances can worsen dryness.
• Over-exfoliating: Using harsh, abrasive scrubs and exfoliators can harm your skin’s delicate lipid barrier - leading to dryness, flaking, or irritation.
• Hot showers: Prolonged exposure to hot water can remove essential natural oils, known as sebum, from the skin. It’s better to use warm water and take showers, not baths, if you’re struggling with dry skin on your body.
• Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can reduce skin hydration from within.
• Ageing: As we age, our skin produces less oil needed for the skin to retain water, making it more prone to dryness.
• Underlying skin conditions: Skin issues like eczema and psoriasis can cause excessive dryness.

How to care for dry skin on your face

If you’re dealing with dry skin, here are some simple, effective ways to care for stressed skin.
 

• Use a gentle cleanser: Avoid harsh soaps and opt for fragrance-free cleansers that keep skin soft and help protect essential ceramides.
• Moisturise immediately after washing: The first 60 seconds after washing and rinsing your face are vital. After cleansing, your skin is particularly vulnerable to moisture loss through a process called transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and applying moisturiser to freshly-washed skin helps lock in hydration.
• Moisturise well: Choose a deeply hydrating moisturiser which is formulated with ceramides and designed for dry skin. You can also use a moisturising facial mist to give your skin an instant boost of moisture throughout the day.
• Limit exfoliation: Over-exfoliating can worsen dryness. Stick to gentle skincare treatments to repair your skin barrier without worsening dryness.
• Use a humidifier: Adding moisture to the air can prevent skin from drying out, especially in winter.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water can support skin health from the inside out.

 

Can double cleansing and moisturising help dry skin?

The Japanese skincare ritual of double cleansing and double moisturising is a long-standing tradition that’s followed to deeply cleanse skin, then prepping it to absorb much-needed moisture.

Our science-backed four-step process of purifying, cleansing, priming and nourishing dry skin is designed to unlock radiant, healthy-looking skin with each step and helps to relieve sensitive, dry skin.
 

• Step 1 and 2 - Purifying and cleansing: An oil-based cleanser is used first to gently dissolve and remove make-up, SPF, and sebum, then clean your skin with a delicate water-based cleanser to wash away any remaining impurities. Double cleansing deeply cleans the skin, allowing moisturisers to work more efficiently.
• Step 3 and 4 - Priming and nourishing: First, a pre-moisturising liquid known as an essence is applied to prep your skin to better absorb the moisturiser. Finish with a deeply-hydrating moisturiser to lock in moisture and leave skin feeling soft and supple. By using products with different consistencies, double moisturising helps maintain an optimal moisture balance, which prevents the skin from becoming too dry and sensitive.

Can I exfoliate dry skin away?

It can be tempting to exfoliate to remove dry, sensitive skin on your face - but it’s not a method we’d recommend. Exfoliating can help remove dry, flaky skin, but using harsh scrubs or chemical exfoliants, or over-exfoliating may worsen irritation. Physical scrubs can cause micro-tears, making dryness and sensitivity worse.

A gentle skincare routine with nourishing cleansers and rich moisturisers can effectively revitalise your skin without stripping essential moisture.

The best products for dry facial skin

When dealing with dry skin, choosing the right products can make all the difference. Here are some recommended options:
 

• Gentle make-up removers: Our Make Up Cleansing Gel is a silky gel formula that thoroughly removes makeup and gently cleanses your skin while preserving its natural ceramides from being washed off.
• Hydrating cleansers: Choose soft, creamy cleansers like our Foaming Facial Wash, which gently washes away impurities without stripping your skin.
• Ceramide-infused moisturisers: Lightweight yet deeply nourishing formulas like our Intensive Moisture Facial Cream are enriched with ceramides to restore essential hydration and help repair the skin barrier.
• Moisturising sprays: Our Deep Moisture Spray is a cult favourite, and can be applied anytime, anywhere. Its ceramide-infused micro-mist provides lightweight, easily-absorbed moisture and absorbs quickly to give a natural-looking finish without a greasy residue. You can apply it all over your body – and even over make-up.
• Hydrating eye creams: The skin around your eyes is thinner than the rest of the skin on your face, so it needs extra care. Our Moisture Repair Eye Cream is a rich, concentrated formula that strengthens the skin’s barrier function and gently nourishes the delicate skin around the eyes.