Dry skin can be a complex and unpredictable concern, often requiring a tailored approach for effective management. As a licensed esthetician, I’ve gathered expert insights on how to manage dry skin that go beyond the common advice of simply drinking more water. Here are key strategies to address dry skin, backed by professional experience:

• Exfoliate: While this does sound simple, exfoliating dry skin can be extremely tricky because dry skin needs gentle exfoliation. This means starting with enzymes or gentle AHAs like mandelic acid or lactic acid. Enzymes will help to dissolve the skin cells and gentle acids will help to slough off dead skin cells. I recommend starting with enzymes as they are the more gentle option and it is very easy to over exfoliate dry skin. Removing the dead skin cells will allow all of your hydrating products to penetrate the skin deeper and be more effective.

• Just Add Water: Introducing more water based products into your routine is always the answer. Whether this be in the form of toner or serum , your skin will thank you for it. If chosen wisely, these water based products will also contain nourishing ingredients like peptides and antioxidants to repair your skin from within and enhance its ability to retain moisture.

• Lay It On Thick: There’s nothing like a thick moisturizer to lock it all in. Ideally, your moisturizer would contain ceramides, lipids and/or retinol to create a healthy environment for your skin barrier to thrive. If needed, a layer of an occlusive such as Aquaphor or Vaseline Can be applied for additional support. Using a moisturizer is mandatory as it will fortify your skin.