Dry Skin

How do you recognize dry skin?

Dry skin produces too little sebum, so it lacks a protective layer of lipids. You'll notice the effects within minutes of washing your face.

Common symptoms of dry skin are:

• a tight feeling right after cleansing;
• flaking and rough patches on the cheeks and around the nose;
• fine lines that look more pronounced in the morning and ease during the day;
• a dull look with no glow;
• makeup that collects in dry patches;
• stinging with products that other skin tolerates without any problem.

You'll first notice flaking and tightness of dry facial skin around the nose, on the chin and forehead, and in winter often on the neck too. Dry skin isn't the same as dehydrated skin. Dry skin lacks lipids, dehydrated skin lacks water, and often it's both at once.

Caring for dry skin doesn't start with a rich cream

A common mistake with dry skin is harsh cleansing. It strips away what little oil your skin has, and a rich cream can't fully make up for that.

That's why caring for dry skin starts with your cleanser. In the evening, use a cleansing oil that dissolves SPF and makeup without drying out your skin. In the morning, lukewarm water or a mild foam is enough.

Then comes hydration in several layers: toner or essence on still-damp skin, a hydrating serum, and only then a cream that seals it all in. With dry skin, this order matters even more.

Which ingredients to look for with dry skin

Dry skin needs two kinds of ingredients: ones that bind moisture and ones that hold it in. They work best together.

In Korean skincare for dry skin you'll find:

• hyaluronic acid, which binds water, ideally in several molecular sizes;
• ceramides, which fill the gaps in the skin barrier and are the first choice for tight, flaky skin;
• squalane, a plant lipid that softens skin without a greasy feel;
• panthenol, which soothes irritated skin and speeds up its recovery;
• snail mucin, ginseng and rice water, which nourish your skin and restore its bounce.

You don't need all of them at once. A hyaluronic acid serum and a ceramide cream are often enough for dry skin to stop feeling tight within a few weeks.

A simple routine for dry skin

Morning:

• lukewarm water or a mild foam, without rubbing;
• toner or essence on still-damp skin;
• a hydrating hyaluronic acid serum;
• a face cream for dry skin;
• SPF with hydrating ingredients.

Evening:

• cleansing oil, followed by a mild foam if needed;
• toner or essence;
• a serum with hyaluronic acid, ceramides or PDRN;
• a richer cream with ceramides or squalane, in a thicker layer in winter.

Once or twice a week, add a face mask for dry skin, either a hydrogel or a sheet mask. Use a gentle exfoliant on dry skin no more than once a week so you don't weaken the barrier.

What about very dry skin and a damaged barrier?

Very dry facial skin feels tight despite cream, stings with an ordinary toner or flakes in patches. At that point, the skin barrier is often damaged. Simplify your routine, don't add to it.

For two weeks, drop exfoliants, acids and retinol. Cleanse only in the evening with a cleansing oil, and use just a hydrating serum, a ceramide cream and SPF. A cream for very dry skin is a rich barrier cream with squalane, ectoin and ceramides. In the evening, apply it in a thicker layer or over a hydrating serum. Once your skin stops feeling tight, bring back active ingredients gradually, one at a time.

Dry skin needs SPF too

The sun dries out dry skin even more and speeds up the formation of fine lines, so don't skip sun protection. Korean SPF creams have an advantage here: most contain hydrating ingredients and don't leave a white cast or a tight feeling.

Apply it as the last step of your morning routine, over your face cream. Choose an SPF with hydrating ingredients, such as birch juice or hyaluronic acid.

Dry skin care at dglow

For dry skin care at dglow, you can choose from cleansing oils, toners and essences, hydrating serums, creams for dry skin, hydrogel masks, eye care, lip care and sun protection. Among the most popular are the TORRIDEN hyaluronic serum and sheet mask, the rich BEAUTY OF JOSEON cream with ginseng and rice, the DR. ALTHEA barrier cream with ceramides and squalane, and the ANUA rice and ceramide serum.

Don't buy as many products as you can. First figure out what your skin is missing. If it feels tight after cleansing, switch your cleanser. If it flakes, add ceramides. If it's also sensitive, choose a fragrance-free face cream for dry, sensitive skin with centella or panthenol. If it looks dull and tired, add hyaluronic acid and a hydrogel mask. For your basics, choose a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum, a cream for dry skin and SPF.