How To Deal With Very Dry Skin

I would classify my skin as the ‘needs work’ kind. Having struggled with bad acne from a young age, I went on medication to put a stop to that.

BAM, dryness kicked in. Unfortunately, as dryness was the most common side effect, this couldn’t be helped.

Over the years I have tried almost everything to combat incredibly dry skin and here’s what worked (and what didn’t) for me.

Products you’ll need

Moisturiser: You will not only need a daily facial and body moisturiser, but you’ll also need ones that are classified as ‘deeply nourishing’. I found the best thing to do was moisturise my whole body after a shower to replenish the moisture that had been lost, and to use a gentle moisturiser – particularly on my face.

Lip Care: When it comes to lips, your lips will most likely be the driest part of your skin. This means you need to go all out and find the most hydrating one of all and in my experience, this means Carmex. I made an effort to remember to remember to apply a heavy serving just before bed – that way I didn’t wake up in the morning to find that my lips resemble the Sahara Desert!

Hand Cream: Keeping your hands hydrated is hard in winter as the skin on your hands is a lot thinner than other parts of your body, and because you use your hands to do almost everything, they often get dry without you even noticing. It’s really important to regularly apply hand cream in order to rejuvenate your skin.

Eye Cream: You will find that the area around your eyes gets dry really quickly and regularly applying a hydrating eye cream will help alleviate the issue and leave skin feeling soft and moisturised.

What you need to look out for

Products that are classified as gentle:
When your skin is very dry, it can be extremely sensitive and products containing a variety of chemicals can damage your skin even more. Look for products classified as gentle or unscented as these will treat your skin much better whilst still doing the job it’s meant to.

Products that are deeply hydrating or moisturising:
It’s not enough to just use regular moisturiser on very dry skin; you need to look for products that say ‘intensive’ or ‘deeply moisturising’. Whilst some can get away with using regular products, those with dry skin need to look for extra nourishment to satisfy their skin.

Tips:

Moisturise your hands with a nourishing hand cream every time you wash your hands.
It also helps to wear gloves in winter in order to protect them from the wind and cold.
If you’re going to wear lipstick, first apply lip balm and wait for it to completely absorb before applying your lipstick
Always remember to apply a large amount of heavy-duty lip balm before going to bed.
If applying make-up, make sure you moisturise first and let it completely sink in before applying anything else.
Avoid having really hot showers – the hot water removes the layer of natural oil, stripping your skin of moisture. Try not to stay in the shower for more than about 10 minutes, too!
Never rub your skin dry after a shower or a cleanse – pat it dry instead as this isn’t abrasive and leaves some moisture in your skin.
Cold, dry air is the main cause of dry skin in winter. Try using a humidifier to replenish the moisture that has been removed by your heater.
Remember to apply sunscreen before leaving the house, as sun damage is one of the main causes of dry skin – even in winter!
It’s really important to cleanse your face well at the end of the day to get rid of all the products you’ve used but don’t forget to apply your night moisturiser just before you get into bed!

Do you have dry skin? How do you deal with it?

70 Member Comments

Margi59 26 Jul 2019 5:18 PM

Seem to suffer from very dry skin doesn't matter if it's Winter or Summer have used so many moisturisers now I am using Nivea with Shea Butter it does seem to be some improvement.

Also seem to suffer with dry and cracked nails trying not to use to much Nail Polish and Nail Polish Remover. Tried a moisturising Nail Polish Remover, and have used Nail Oil on them and it definitely helps.

Glad there are such good products out there to help with dry skin and nail care.

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sunjeanie 9 May 2018 5:31 PM

Only my face is dry, the rest of my body is normal and doesn't need much care. I find using facial oils helps the most.

Shop A Everyday 19 Mar 2018 12:41 AM

Extra hydrating masks are great too

keyuri chavda 12 Mar 2018 9:24 PM

Use almond body butter which is easily available online.Get healthy and younger looking skin with the Nyassa almond body butter. Filled with the natural goodness of sweet almond oil, it is an excellent choice for dry and extremely dry skin. Almond butter is an excellent moisturizer and offers effective sun protection. It is fortified with honey extracts which is a natural moisturizer with anti-aging properties.

keyuri chavda 7 Mar 2018 6:10 PM

I prefer using Nyassa body oil which is easily available online. Give your skin the nourishment it needs throughout the day with Nyassa Oil for Day. Formulated for both face and body, it is an essential skin care product that can’t be missed. The pleasant and uplifting fragrance of geranium oil in this skin care product keeps you feeling refreshed all day. Geranium oil is a natural oil that is known for improving your skin, mood and internal health.The rich blend of pure and natural coconut oil, geranium, olive, grape seed and jojoba oils penetrates the skin to leave it soft and supple. For more visit - http://nyassabathandbody.com/nyassa-stimulating-body-oil-for-the-day.html

Shop A Everyday 4 Jan 2018 12:34 AM

Carmex make excellent lip balms, really good at staying on your lips too

Shop A Everyday 4 Apr 2017 12:19 AM

My feet get super dry too, always have to apply a layer of cream at bed time

Shop A Everyday 2 Jan 2017 2:41 AM

Love to use hand cream a few times a day

Sweety7 14 Oct 2016 4:25 PM

Eye cream & Hand cream is something I started using just few months back. I love coconut oil for anything & everything. I also like aloevera gel to soothe and calm my dry skin.

Laura Amy 4 Jul 2016 7:48 PM

For dry chapped peeling, bleeding and painful lips - I've actually found the best product isn't a lip product at all - Bepanthen. Bepanthen is formulated to soothe, actively heal and protect your skin from irritations and wounds - so perfect for scrappy winter lips. I dispense a small amount in a lippy container and keep it in my purse and next to my bed. Best thing I've ever used!

Yohanna 28 Jun 2016 2:08 PM

At last I started to use cream on my hands (any random one i do not want to waste and can not use on my face/body anymore, as I get better ones ), over night, they are definitely looking better

Shop A Everyday 25 Jun 2016 6:33 PM

My areas of dryness are lips, feet and hands, mainly from being outside running

sootyblack_14 21 Jun 2016 1:56 PM

I love using straight coconut oil on my skin!!!!

Yohanna 28 Jun 2016 2:06 PM

I did this too! But then got bumpy skin and tiny piples on my body. Can not use on face whatsoever, straight away next day I break out and get loads of whiteheads...it is comedogenic, my big pores can not handle how heavy it is

Ethelinde 21 Jun 2016 12:19 PM

Just bought a little panda humidifier for my desk - it tends to get really warm where I sit and I have dry skin. Thanks for the article and tips!

Coconut Jayne 23 Apr 2016 11:16 AM

I always have moisturisers, hand creams and lip balms handy, no matter where I am!

lynx 26 Mar 2016 9:07 AM

It is definately Lanolips 101 ointment that is the best for lips and dry patches.

talk-a-lot 2 Feb 2016 7:16 PM

A nourishing moisturiser is definitely the way to go to combat dry skin. Lip balms are great for dry lips.

tf06@bigpond.com 2 Nov 2015 2:28 PM

I have very dry skin on the body.No matter what I use its still dry.But ill keep trying new things till i get results. Thanks for the tips.

Yohanna 12 Oct 2015 7:43 PM

I use to have, now I just do not use any kind of "cleansers" and my skin is back to normal! Just water...

Michelle240 10 Oct 2015 4:30 PM

I do have normal to dry skin that gets very dry in winters so some excellent tips to combat the dryness.

Growing old 9 Oct 2015 8:50 AM

I'm about to try glycerin (diluted in a spray bottle) yes the cheap glycerin u buy at the supermarkets. I watched a video from Wayne goss about fixing super dry skin...some of the routine scares me (Vaseline as the last step to form a barrier to prevent the glycerin and moisturiser from evaporating overnight) so I'm firstly just going to introduce the glycerin spray!!

sporty_ytl 6 Oct 2015 7:44 PM

Great article. I am facing the same problem too. I am so envious to those who have crystal clear skin as my face is never crystal clear.

lishy 4 Oct 2015 6:14 PM

Great tips!

Mariamne 2 Oct 2015 10:33 AM

For some reason my forehead is really dry but the rest of my face gets the greasies during the day.

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