THE ULTIMATE SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR DRY SKIN
We’ve talked about how hydration is key to helping dry skin feel more comfortable before. Now’s our chance to share the best routine to help you do that. Whether your skin is feeling tight or dry because of the weather or a compromised skin barrier function, our step-by-step guide will help nourish skin it to its healthiest and happiest.
STEP 1
Cleanse Away Impurities with our Best Face Wash for Dry Skin
You’ll need a cleanser that’s not only hydrating but effective to keep your skin barrier functioning properly. Ultra Facial Cleanser’s mild foaming formula is suitable for all skin types. It gently dissolves excess oil, dirt and debris from the skin’s surface without overdrying or stripping the skin of natural oils. Use in the morning to prepare your skin for the hydrating ingredients to come next. For a thorough cleanse before bed, remove your makeup and any dirt or oil built up during the day with Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil. It transforms into a cleansing milk when combined with water to melt away unwanted impurities that could interfere with your skin’s natural overnight recovery mode.
STEP 2
Exfoliate Dull, Dry Skin Using a Gentle Scrub
To help remove dead skin cells, which can encourage skin to appear dull and stop nourishing ingredients getting to where they’re needed, you can also use an exfoliating scrub, like Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion Scrub. It sloughs away dead skin cells, exfoliating skin for a smoother look and feel. Use up to three times per week. For men we recommend Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub. The efficacious formula sloughs away dead skin, dirt and oil and helps to soften tough facial hair for a more comfortable shave.
Kiehl’s Top Tip: Play it safe with your skin and work up to more frequent exfoliation. If you never exfoliate, it’s best to start with only including a scrub in your skincare routine once per week. Once you see how your skin responds, you can build up your frequency over time.
STEP 3
Soothe Skin with Our Best Toner for Dry Skin
Toners have a bit of a bad reputation for overdrying skin, with many believing that they are just drying formulas suitable in an oily skin routine. This isn’t the case if you get the right one though. Look for soothing alcohol-free formulas to clear skin of any impurities missed by your cleanser. Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner is a Kiehl’s cult classic. Since the Sixties, its combination of handpicked Calendula petals and Burdock root extract has been soothing and refreshing the look and feel of problem skin.
STEP 4
Target Using a Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Hydration and Radiance
Once you’ve prepped your skin, layer on a lightweight facial serum full of hydrating ingredients to give it a big boost of moisture and help strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier function. Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum is formulated with our smallest form of hydrating powerhouse Hyaluronic Acid to deeply penetrate the skin’s surface layers and encourage cell turnover. It helps skin to feel more resilient and reduces the appearance of fine lines and premature signs of ageing.
For a double dose of potent serums, follow with our Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate in the morning. This hydrating serum is infused with 15% Glycerin and can penetrate up to 10 surface layers deep to plump skin with moisture and help smooth the appearance of fine lines. Discover our serums for your skin type here.
STEP 5
Layer with a Face Oil for Dry Skin to Replenish Moisture Overnight
Sleep benefits the body in a number of ways, including improving heart health, allowing cells to repair and grow, supporting healthy brain function and regulating emotions to name just a few. Sleep also impacts our skin health, playing a pivotal role in ensuring a healthy skin barrier function. Before bed, follow the Super Serum with a layer of Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Formulated with 10 naturally derived botanicals including Squalane, it supplements your natural overnight repair and recovery process to help you wake up to more rested, younger-looking skin.
STEP 6
Nourish the Delicate Eye Area
No skincare routine for dry skin would be complete without a nourishing eye cream. As the delicate skin around your eyes can be drier, look for an emollient eye cream first. Our Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado is enriched with Shea Butter and Avocado Oil and releases a quick burst of hydration upon application, replenishing the skin’s moisture levels. Gently tap around the eye area with your fingertip without pulling the skin. Read more about our top tips to help digital eye strain and screen fatigue.
STEP 7
Lock in Hydration with a Cream or Lotion for Dry Skin
Trap in all the hydrating ingredients of your serum with a layer of a hydrating moisturiser. Our bestselling Ultra Facial Cream has more than 3,900 5 star reviews for a reason. Tested in everyday and extreme environments, it’s our ultra-hydrator, formulated with Glacial Glycoprotein and Olive-derived Squalane to balance hydration levels and leave skin 2.3X more hydrated.* Enjoy up to 24-hour lasting hydration for soft, smooth, healthy-looking skin.
*Instrumental test at 22C and 20% (±5%) Relative Humidity vs. unmoisturised skin.
STEP 8
Protect Skin Against UV Rays with Broad-Spectrum SPF Protection
There’s nothing better than prevention when it comes to skincare concerns. To protect against environmental stressors including harsh weather, pollution and the sun and to keep your skin barrier function happy, finish any skincare routine – no matter your skin type – with a layer of SPF. Find the right sunscreen for your skin type here.
Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA++++ is a lightweight facial sunscreen with our highest level of advanced UVA/UVB technology and pollution protection to defend against aggressors and premature signs of ageing. Add some extra protection to Step 7 with our Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30.
BONUS STEP
Add an Extra Burst of Hydration
For many, self-care and skincare go hand in hand. Indulging in a face mask adds a little bit of luxury to your skincare routine. A nourishing overnight mask can also help to restore balance and soothe skin feeling while you sleep. Try our Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask with 10.5% Squalane. The efficacious formula locks moisture in overnight and stabilises skin’s moisture barrier function to help treat dryness, tightness and flaky skin. Our Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask helps prevent excess water loss by sealing in moisture and nourishing skin with its combination of Avocado Fruit Extract, Avocado Oil and Evening Primrose Oil.
Our body can often get overlooked but it’s just as susceptible to dryness – especially in hot or cold weather. Avoid harsh, drying soaps and too-hot water and combat dryness with a layer of body lotion after your shower. Creme de Corps is a rich non-greasy lotion enriched with Cocoa Butter, Beta-Carotene and Squalane. The formula nourishes skin, leaving it feeling beautifully softer, smoother and hydrated.
Apart from your face, your hands are probably the most exposed to the elements so keep a thick hand salve close by too. Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is a rich formula perfect for daily care.
Chapped lips are also often a sign that winter is coming. Rehydrate yours overnight with an intensely hydrating lip product like Butterstick Lip Treatment. Suitable for use all year round, it melts onto lips, leaving them feeling softer and smoother. Enjoy up to 12 hours hydration.
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Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men
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Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner
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Midnight Recovery Concentrate
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