Reader question: My skin is really dry—what would you recommend as a cleanser and moisturizer? - Sue de Battista If years’ worth of dermatologist and esthetician visits (and being a beauty editor) have taught me one thing, it’s this: Dry skin is ridiculously complicated. While it’s certainly not the rocket variety, there is a science to keeping skin hydrated. That’s because having dry skin usually means a lot of different things: (A) redness, (B) flakiness, (C) dullness, or (D) all of the above. And let’s not forget about breakouts, which don’t seem to discriminate between dry and oily skin. Dry skin is also frequently misunderstood, so first it’s important that we distinguish the difference between dry and dehydrated skin. To put things simply, dryness refers to a skin type, and dehydration refers to a skin condition. “When you have dry skin, your face has fewer oil-producing glands; therefore less sebum is present,” says Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Dehydrated skin is a condition when your skin lacks water, as opposed to an impaired skin barrier.” People with dehydrated skin don’t necessarily have dry skin—it could be oily, combination, or normal skin that is simply lacking hydration. When dealing with dehydrated skin, you should be adding a moisturizer with humectants to attract and bind water molecules. This can draw water to the skin from the environment and enhance water absorption from the top layer of the skin. However, if you have dry skin (usually characterized by flaking and cracking of the top layer of the skin), the key is creating a skincare routine geared towards repairing the skin barrier. People with dry skin are also more likely to experience disruptions in pH. True soaps have an alkaline pH and can be damaging to the skin, so the most important thing is finding a gentle cleanser that is pH-balanced to the skin’s acid mantle. As for moisturizer, you’re going to want to apply a ceramide-rich cream within 60 seconds of washing. And I know you didn’t ask about facial serums, but I’m going to strongly advocate for one here. It’s the best way to get the heaviest hit of hyaluronic acid, which works by drawing in moisture to give your skin barrier a smooth, almost plumped out appearance (making fine lines and wrinkles less prominent). In other words, it’s great for your hydrating and anti-aging goals. Now that we’ve reviewed the basics, let’s get into specifics. Keep reading for an affordable, editor-approved list of the best products for dry skin.
