A Beginners Guide to Starting a Skincare Routine for Dry Skin | Muse Health

Beginning and more importantly sticking to a skincare routine can be a very daunting task. From not knowing which products to choose to the steps needed to get through a routine, it can sometimes feel like skincare is not worth it. With so many different tools out on the market, a beginner may ask themselves, “does my skin really need charcoal?”

While there are those who take skincare to the extreme with the use of rare serums, eye creams, toners, and more, a routine for your skin is much easier than you think. Especially during winter months, having a skincare routine that is easy and reliable will help you avoid dry skin and keep your glow. Dry weather can also result in eczema, blackheads, and unwanted pimples.

Knowing where to start can be challenging which is why we’ve put together a guide. So before making that trip to Sephora, learn more about how to take care of your skin and protect it against dryness.

How to take care of skin on your face

When it comes to skincare, there are certain items that every person should have. As you begin your skincare journey, you’ll begin to understand and experiment with different products. You should first begin by laying down a strong foundation with products that serve a function. This function should be specific and help create a chain reaction. In other words, one product should lead to the next and not compete with the other.

In its most basic form, you should look for products that accomplish three things: clean the skin, moisturize, and protect skin from the sun. These products will become a part of your daily routine, meaning that you’ll want to take the time to research these products before putting them on your face.

Because dry skin lacks moisture, investing time in finding a great moisturizer will help you in the long run.

Before beginning a skin care routine, it may be in your best interest to consult a dermatologist. Equipped with knowledge about the skin, dermatologists can help patients come up with a specific game plan for their skin. Through examination and a consultation, you’ll be able to learn about your skin’s deficiencies as well as gain insights into products that work well.

Skin on the face is much more sensitive than skin on the body. That is why unwanted blemishes and acne are most common on the face. Making sure to have an easy to follow routine handy, helps to minimize the risk of having anything less than a glowing complexion.

How to develop a skincare routine for dry skin

Dry skin affects many people. Whether predisposed to dryness or because of environmental factors, dry skin often results in flakiness or a dull appearance. The thing to remember with dry skin is that skincare should revolve around the concept of hydration. Hydration is the ultimate foil to dryness by helping your skin keep its functionality and overall appearance. Hydrated skin also helps fight against aging. In order to develop a skincare routine for dry skin, you need to break down your process into easily repeatable steps.

Cleanse and tone face skin

The first thing you should do after waking up is to wash your face with water. This first rinse is just to help awaken and provide moisture to the skin. During sleep hours, your body is at rest. And while there are many benefits to getting enough sleep, one disadvantage is a loss of moisture. Many times, people wake up in the morning feeling thirsty. That same thirst or dehydration manifests itself in other places on your body like the face.

After waking up the skin and giving it hydration, cleansing the face is your next task.

Depending on your skin type, the cleanser you choose will make a major difference in results. As a rule of thumb, try purchasing a cleanser that is created specifically for dry skin. These cleansers tend to place a higher emphasis on hydration. The cleanser should be gentle and not have any harsh chemicals that could result in even dryer skin.

Most cleansers come with instructions for use on the bottle. Make sure to wet your skin before applying a cleanser and gently massage it into your skin. The action of massaging ensures that all areas of the skin are equally attended to.

Once the cleanser has been applied, rinse it off and dry your face.

Another major aspect of skincare is using a toner. Helping to remove dead skin cells, toners help to fight against dullness, breakouts, and dark spots by providing light exfoliation. Most toners have ingredients like salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, and other light chemical exfoliants to exfoliate acne-prone skin. One major drawback of toners is that many use ingredients that leave the skin dry. While this might work for people who have oily skin, those with already dry or combination skin may feel like this step is risky.

For those who want to avoid dry skin, look for toners that have minimal alcohol or incorporate ingredients like rose water. With a cotton pad, use some toner to go over areas of the face and neck.

Moisturize Daily

The next major step after cleansing and toning is moisturizing. As the name suggests, the purpose moisturizing is to hydrate by preventing the loss of moisture from the skin. A common misconception about moisturizers is that they add water to skin. Moisturizers create an environment where the water that evaporates from the skin is minimized.

Well formulated moisturizers contain ingredients that create a shield from which evaporation of moisture is much harder.

The moisturizing process should be quick and simple. All you need is a thin layer of moisturizing cream to place all around your face. If you suffer from very dry skin, there are moisturizers out there for all needs. Look for new products with ingredients like antioxidants, ceramides, urea, or aquaporins. The topical beauty products you choose should work to address skin needs, whether for sensitive skin or normal skin.  

Use quality products with moisturizing ingredients

Although obvious, the best way to fight against dry skin is to use products that incorporate moisturizing ingredients. Moisturizing ingredients work by capturing and locking moisture into a surface; in this case skin. Some ingredients that have moisturizing properties are glycerin, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, vitamin E, and petrolatum.

Glycerin is incredibly common and is known as a humectant. This means that it draws and retains water to itself. This makes it the perfect ingredient to help keep skin hydrated. To learn more about glycerin, click here.  

Another skin care product you should look for is sunscreen. Even during winter, UV rays from the sun still affect the skin. As part of your skincare regimen, find a sunscreen lotion that has (at least) an SPF 30 classification. With skin cancer being one of the most avoidable illnesses, take time to find a sunscreen that is hydrating, brightening, and addresses skin concerns like the development of dark spots.

Whichever skincare products you choose, make sure to take time to read customer reviews. In reviews, you can see how others feel about the product and whether its claims match results. As you test out more products, you’ll begin learning about your skin and the things that work best for it.