Dry skin
Dry skin: the moisturiser that fixes it and how to use it
Updated 12 October 2026
Dry skin has lost the oils and fats that hold water in. Hot water, harsh soaps, air conditioning and winter wind all take them away faster than skin can make them.
The fix is simple: wash gently, and put the oils back with a good moisturiser on damp skin, twice a day.
Ingredients that repair dry skin
- Ceramides: the fats your skin barrier is made of.
- Glycerin and hyaluronic acid: draw water into the skin.
- Urea or lactic acid: soften rough, flaky patches (body, heels, elbows).
- Petrolatum or shea butter: seal it all in, best at night.
How to apply it
Wash with lukewarm water, not hot. Pat the skin half dry and put the moisturiser on within a minute, while the skin is still damp. A cream holds more than a lotion; a lotion holds more than a gel.
Use a gentle, soap-free cleanser. If your face feels tight after washing, the cleanser is too strong.
Do not forget sunscreen
Dry skin burns and ages faster. A cream or lotion sunscreen doubles as your morning moisturiser on most days.
