Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here’s the good news: It’s quite easy to keep your skin hydrated, especially if you do so via multiple avenues. Here, the best and most effective ways to keep your skin hydrated: Instead, opt for gentle washes that protect your barrier while helping remove particulate matter at the end of the day. If you have really dry skin, you may even consider skipping a wash entirely come morning (this is totally fine, and you can just splash your face with water before applying your daily lotions and tonics). However, you should never skip the night rinse: You need to wash your face so gunk doesn’t sit in your pores causing free radical damage. “You still need to remove dirt, oils, residues of past skin care products, and air pollutants that may clog pores, cause irritation, and contain free radicals that lead to oxidative damage of the skin cells,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. “After you cleanse, you want to lock in all that watery goodness,” says board-certified dermatologist Angelo Landriscina, M.D. “The humectants in your products, like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, will have an easier time holding on to moisture if you’re providing it.” So for those whose main goal is moisture, you can achieve that by using serums with humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Humectants are ingredients that attract and hold water in the skin, helping it stay supple throughout the day. Hyaluronic acid is perhaps the most famous: “It draws water into the stratum corneum, the top layer of the skin. As a humectant, it gives an immediate improvement in the way the skin looks—less ashy, dry, dull,” says holistic dermatologist Cybele Fishman, M.D. Emollients include things like ceramides (“ceramides are fatty molecules that make up the natural skin barrier and help to retain moisture,” elaborates Marisa Garshick, M.D., FAAD. “Specifically, ceramides serve as the glue that helps keep the skin cells together”), squalane (“squalane is a natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands in your skin. It plays a role in skin hydration and barrier protection,” says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D.), and certain botanical extracts like colloidal oat. And research shows that taking phytoceramides, or plant-derived versions, can help maintain the barrier. In one study, participants with clinically dry skin who took a phytoceramide-rich wheat extract oil for three months saw up to a 35% improvement in skin hydration3.* And you might not even have to wait that long for results; in another study, participants saw improved skin hydration after just 15 days4.* This is why, among other reasons, derms encourage people to use their most potent actives at night. Enter: a sleep mask, the ideal treatment for those with dull, dry skin. These pretty products are formulated to infuse your skin with a high dose of ingredients, like antioxidants or fatty acids, to soothe and condition skin. And in doing so, they are saving you from itchy skin, chapped lips, and thirsty hands in the process. If you don’t have the nifty technology on hand, you can try some DIY methods to increase the humidity in your home. Skin feeling a little tight at the moment? Don’t worry; these aloe vera masks will soothe them ASAP. Need to soothe and balance irritated skin? This yogurt and honey option will do the trick. Or just looking to infuse skin with some fatty acids and antioxidants? An avocado mask is ideal.
