Dry skin: how to bring back comfort

Short answer: cleanse with a cream or balm, then apply a moisturiser that combines humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea) with barrier lipids (ceramides, shea butter) on slightly damp skin, and avoid hot water and fragrance.

Dry or dehydrated?

Dry skin makes too little oil: it is a skin type. Dehydrated skin lacks water: it is a temporary state that any skin type can have, including oily skin. Both feel tight; dry skin also tends to flake.

The routine

• Morning: cream cleanser or just water, moisturiser, cream sunscreen.
• Evening: balm or cream cleanser, a richer moisturiser.
• Lips and hands: a balm with shea butter or beeswax, reapplied during the day.

What to avoid

• Hot water and long showers.
• Foaming cleansers that leave the skin tight.
• Fragrance and alcohol-heavy products.