Why Is My Skin So Dry Even Though I Moisturize?

Dry skin can be caused by a number of factors, such as using incorrect cosmetic products for your skin type, harsh weather conditions, aging, dehydration, and lifestyle habits. But what do you do when the thing that should help doesn't seem to? If you're moisturizing regularly but still experiencing dry skin, there could be a few reasons why.

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You're Moisturizing Incorrectly

While using a moisturizer seems pretty simple and straightforward, it's actually a little more complicated than that. So many people moisturize incorrectly, which is why issues like excessive dryness and irritation, even though you've been moisturizing regularly, can occur.

If you're experiencing dry skin no matter how much you moisturize, you need to do the following:

Don't Dry Your Skin after Cleansing

Whether you use a cleanser or only wash your face with water, the one thing you need to stop doing is drying your skin with a towel after wetting it. Towels are bad for the facial skin for many reasons, including being harsh and harboring bacteria that can cause breakouts. But rubbing them on the skin will also remove the moisture that's left after cleansing and be counterproductive when trying to help your skin stay hydrated.

So, instead of drying your skin with a towel after cleansing, leave it to dry slightly but never fully on its own. You want your skin to be damp before following up with the rest of your skincare routine.

Alternatively, if your skin gets dry before you can even start your skincare routine, consider spraying a hydrating mist that contains antioxidants and vitamins to help your skin retain hydration better and not dry out so quickly.

Product To Try: Caudalie – Beauty Elixir Prep, Set, Glow Face Mist, $20

Apply a Hydrating Toner or Serum

Apply a hydrating toner or serum that contains components known as humectants while your skin is still damp after cleansing or spraying a hydrating mist. Humectants are naturally occurring substances that attract moisture and help your skin retain it. These can include glycerin, urea, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, and other ingredients commonly found in toners and serums.

Product To Try: Paula's Choice – Advanced Replenishing Toner with Hyaluronic Acid, $26

Apply a Moisturizer

Before the toner or serum fully dries out or absorbs into your skin, and while your skin is still damp from the previous step, apply a moisturizer. Moisturizers contain ingredients known as emollients or occlusives, and these components create a seal or a protective barrier on the skin's surface and lock in the moisture from the toner or serum and prevent it from evaporating. This will help slow down transepidermal moisture loss and keep your skin hydrated and comfortable for longer than usual.

Product To Try: Embryolisse – Lait-Creme Concentre, $16

Your Moisturizer Doesn't Suit Your Skin Type

The second reason your skin might constantly be dry even when you moisturize is that the moisturizer you’re using doesn't suit your skin type or current skin needs. For example, if you have dry skin that's also a little dehydrated and you live in a cold climate, using a lightweight moisturizer that might be good in summer won't cut it when it comes to keeping your skin hydrated and comfortable in winter. You need a moisturizer that's thicker and more emollient-based to help trap moisture in your skin during cold weather.

Additionally, while your skin type is important when it comes to determining the right moisturizer, so are your environment and the current needs of your skin, which are susceptible to changes depending on factors like hormones, lifestyle, stress levels, climate, time of the year, etc. So, take all these factors into account when selecting a moisturizer to avoid the damage and discomfort that comes with dry and parched skin.

Product To Try: Drunk Elephant – Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer, $68

You're Using Drying Skincare Products

The third reason your skin might be dry even when you moisturize is that you're using other skincare products that have drying ingredients. For example, cleansers, toners, and serums that contain drying ingredients like alcohol or irritating components like fragrance, astringents, or even strong actives such as retinoids and exfoliating acids will all contribute to excessive dryness and irritation.

So, make sure to go through the ingredient list of the products you're currently using and try to spot any of these components. The best thing to do if you find them is to replace the products with fragrance and alcohol-free alternatives to avoid skin dryness and discomfort.

Product To Try: Kate Sommerville – Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser, $44

Closing Thoughts

Most of the time, not moisturizing correctly and using the wrong moisturizer for your skin type and needs can be the cause of dry skin, which is why this condition usually improves when you tackle those two issues.

However, while moisturizing products can help, it's important to also pay attention to other aspects of your skincare routine, such as the type of cleansers and other products you're using, as chances are these might be contributing to the problem as well.

Finding the right balance between only using products your skin needs and using them correctly is key to achieving comfortable, healthy, and nourished skin.

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