Go-To Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

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Your Go-To Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

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Updated on June 19, 2025

What causes dry skin?  |  What does dry skin look and feel like?  |  Face Care Routine for Dry Skin  |  Body Care Routine for Dry Skin

moisturising baby skin

Dry skin is a common condition that occurs when skin can’t hold onto enough moisture – so skin hydration is decreased, and water loss may be increased1. When skin becomes dry it can feel tight and itchy, and appear dull and uneven. So, not only is dry skin uncomfortable, it can take away our glow and our confidence. The good news? You can help replenish dry skin and achieve a healthy glow with a few simple skincare tweaks.

What causes dry skin?

Our skin barrier is like a shield – it protects your body from outside threats (such as germs and dirt) and helps regulate moisture2. When this shield becomes weakened, due to external and internal factors like harsh products or genetics, it can’t maintain its optimal moisture level to stay soft and radiant.

Common causes of dry skin include cold weather, low humidity, certain skincare products, and hot showers that strip the skin of its natural oils2. Some people naturally have drier skin due to genetics, while others experience temporary dryness due to dehydration, ageing, or underlying skin conditions3. The first step to healthier, happier skin is understanding what may be triggering your dryness.

What does dry skin look and feel like?

Very dry or extremely dry skin is more than just a little tightness – it can become rough, flaky, cracked and even scaly3. Unlike oily or combination skin, dry skin produces less natural oil (sebum)4, so it struggles to retain moisture. Reduced sebum means less natural oils to aid our skin moisturisation levels which help keep our skin barrier healthy. This can leave skin looking dull and feeling tight, especially after cleansing.

With the right skincare routine with hydrating ingredients can revitalise your skin barrier; such as glycerin, ceramides, and gentle, fragrance-free moisturisers – you can revitalise your skin’s barrier and keep it feeling soft, smooth, and comfortable all year round.

Face Care Routine for Dry Skin

A gentle and balanced skincare routine is essential for keeping dry, sensitive skin in check. Learn how to hydrate your skin with these simple steps.

Step 1: Cleansing

To skip that after-wash tightness, choose a gentle cleanser with ingredients that are less likely to interfere with the skin lipids (natural fats and oils in the skin like ceramides and fatty acids) and skin proteins ( such as collagen)5.

Gentle, hydrating cleansers are the best option for dry skin. The moisturising ingredients such as occlusives (lock in moisture) and humectants (attract moisture) help to minimise damaging interactions between your skin structure, and cleanser5.

Secondly, look out for mild cleansers with a neutral pH as studies have found these face cleansers are more gentle for dry skin5. QV Face Gentle Cleanser is pH balanced and enriched with ceramides to help support the skin’s natural barrier.

Step 2: Boost hydration with a serum

Serums are a boost for skin that needs extra hydration. They have a thin, watery texture designed to penetrate deeply into the skin and contain ingredients to target specific concerns, such as safflower seed oil to help boost hydration.

The QV Face Hydrate and Renew Serum is packed with powerhouse ingredients designed to nourish and replenish dry skin in your facial skincare routine, such as Avemide 15™ (Purified Oat Kernel Extract) to help calm and soothe the skin, glycerin to attract moisture, and niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to help support the skin's barrier function.

Step 3: Moisturising

One of the best ways to nourish dry skin is with a rich, emollient (lock in moisture) moisturiser packed with lipids, fats and oils6. These lipids act as the ‘mortar’ between skin cells (the ‘bricks’), sealing in moisture and protecting the skin from environmental damage7.

An ideal moisturiser to revive skin overnight is the QV Face Nurturing Night Cream, with ceramides that help mimic the natural lipid structure of your skin for visibly firmer, smoother and more radiant skin.

Step 4: Sun protection with SPF

Exposure to sunlight can dry your skin out. To help prevent sun damage and dry skin, make sunscreen an essential part of your routine. Look for hydrating ingredients and a high Sun Protection Factor of 30-50. Try the QV Face Moisturising Day Cream SPF 30*.

*Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear to further reduce risk. Frequent re-application is required.

Hydrating Body Care Routine for Dry Skin

Step 1: Washing

Use a gentle, hydrating body wash that is free from fragrances as they can irritate dry skin. Dermatologically tested, the QV Gentle Wash helps cleanse your skin without leaving it feeling dry, making it suitable for daily use, even on sensitive dry skin. For an added hydration boost, pour a capful of QV Bath Oil into your bath – its non-greasy, water-dispersible formula helps restore the skin’s natural suppleness. Remember, lukewarm water is ideal as hot water can worsen dryness and irritation. For those with extremely dry or compromised skin, the QV Intensive Moisturising Cleanser offers an emollient-rich alternative that both cleanses and protects, helping maintain the skin’s moisture barrier during and after washing.

Step 2: Moisturising your body

Apply a rich body moisturiser immediately after your shower or bath, while your skin is still slightly damp, to help seal in hydration. For normal to dry skin, QV Cream provides long-lasting moisture without greasiness, helping to relieve and prevent dryness. Those with very dry skin can benefit from QV Ceramides Cream, which help support the skin barrier and lock in hydration with a triple-ceramide formula. For extremely dry or compromised skin, QV Intensive Cream or QV Intensive Body Ointment offer high-concentration emollient support, delivering deep, targeted hydration and barrier protection.

Step 3: Try a hand or foot cream

Hands and feet are often the driest parts of the body, so treat them with targeted creams. QV Feet Heel Balm uses a blend of an alpha hydroxy acid and rich moisturisers to improve the appearance of dry and cracked heels, while the QV Hand Cream has a non-greasy formula and is free from fragrance. For best results, apply before bed and wear cotton socks or gloves to help the product absorb overnight.

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References

1. Augustin M, Wilsmann‐Theis D, Körber A, Kerscher M, Itschert G, Dippel M, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of xerosis cutis – a position paper. JDDG J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2019;17(S7):3–33.

2. Ahmed IA, Mikail MA. Diet and skin health: The good and the bad. Nutrition 2024 [Internet]  [cited 18 March 2025] Available from: https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2023.112350.

3. Oakley A. Dry skin [Internet]. DermNet NZ [updated March 2022, cited 4 March 2025] Available from:https://dermnetnz.org/topics/dry-skin.

4. Thadanipon K, Kitsongsermthon J. Comparative study into facial sebum level, pore size, and skin hydration between oily-skinned and dry-skinned Thai women. Skin Res Technol. 2020 [Internet] [cited 18 March 2025] Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31562649/.

5. Ananthapadmanabhan KP, Moore DJ, Subramanyan K, Misra M, Meyer F. Cleansing without compromise: the impact of cleansers on the skin barrier and the technology of mild cleansing. Dermatol Ther. 2004 [Internet] [cited 18 March 2025] Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14728695/.

6. Proksch E, Berardesca E, Misery L, Engblom J, Bouwstra J. Dry skin management: practical approach in light of latest research on skin structure and function. J Dermatolog Treat. 2020 Nov;31(7):716–22.

7. Nemes, Z, Steinert, P. Bricks and mortar of the epidermal barrier. Exp Mol Med 31, 1999 [Internet] [cited 18 March 2025] Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/emm.1999.2.