Dry skin
Dry skin, in short
Dry skin makes too little of its own oil, so water leaves it faster than it should. It feels tight, looks dull and flakes at the edges of the face. It needs two things: humectants to draw water into the surface layers, and lipids to hold it there. The routine below does both in three steps.
This page is part of the skin types guide.
What dry skin looks and feels like
- Tight after cleansing, especially after hot water.
- Fine flaking around the nose, the brows and the outer cheeks.
- A rough surface that makes foundation catch and settle.
- Fine lines that look more visible by the afternoon.
- A flat, matte look, because a rough surface scatters light instead of reflecting it.
Dry and dehydrated skin differ. Dry skin is short of oil and stays that way. Dehydrated skin is short of water, and it can be oily at the same time. If your skin shines by noon but feels tight after washing, read the oily skin page first.
Why it happens
The outer layer of skin holds water in two ways. Inside each cell, a mix of small water-binding molecules called natural moisturizing factor keeps the cell supple. Between the cells, a mortar of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids slows the escape of water to the air. Dry skin tends to have less oil at the surface and less of that lipid mortar, so it loses water faster and feels it sooner.
Cold air, low indoor humidity, hot showers and foaming cleansers all make it worse. So does age: oil output falls over the decades, which is why skin that was combination at 25 is often dry at 55.
What to look for in ingredients
- Humectants draw and hold water. Humectants include glycerin, hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA, which is part of the skin's own moisturizing factor.
- Barrier lipids fill the gaps between cells. Look for ceramides and squalane in creams.
- Comfort ingredients for skin that feels tight or warm, such as centella asiatica.
A Vegalab routine for dry skin
Cleanse, Treat, Seal, the same shape as the starter routine, tuned for dryness.
Morning
- Cleanse. Comfort Cleansing Milk, one pump, lukewarm water. On very dry days, rinse with water alone.
- Treat. Hyaluronic Skin Repair NanoSerum on damp skin, pressed in with flat palms.
- Seal. AquaCell Moisturizer while the serum layer is still slightly damp.
- Protect. A daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, any brand.
Evening
Cleanse and treat as in the morning. Seal with AquaCell Moisturizer, then add Barrier Repair Cream on the areas that feel tight. It goes last, and nothing goes over it.
Alternative serum. Hydrating NanoSerum. Choose it if you prefer a lighter feel. Use one NanoSerum per application.
Per-product notes
Ingredient notes describe the sealed vial set formulas.
- Hydrating NanoSerum is a humectant serum. If you want sodium hyaluronate as a lead ingredient, choose Hyaluronic Skin Repair.
- Neither Hyaluronic Skin Repair nor Hydrating NanoSerum contains fragrance.
- Hyaluronic Skin Repair NanoSerum contains silk proteins (sericin and fibroin), which matters if you avoid animal-derived ingredients.
When the basics are settled, the advanced routine adds a toner and a second serum.
What to avoid
- Hot water and long showers. Lukewarm, short, then moisturize right away.
- Cleansers that leave skin squeaky. Squeaky means the surface lipids are gone.
- Scrubs and brushes on flaking skin. They remove the flakes and the layer beneath them.
- Stacking several acids in one routine. One gentle exfoliating step, occasionally, is enough.
- Letting a humectant serum dry on bare skin in dry air without a moisturizer over it.
Related concerns and skin types
For professionals
The dry-skin hydration protocol separates dryness from dehydration at consultation and builds the home routine from session one. The winter barrier support protocol covers the seasonal version. Before booking resurfacing such as dermaplaning or hydradermabrasion, settle the skin with a simple routine first.
When to see a dermatologist
See a dermatologist if your skin cracks, bleeds or itches persistently, or stays rough and scaly after several weeks of a gentle routine.
Frequently asked questions
Is dry skin the same as dehydrated skin?
No. Dry skin makes too little oil and is a skin type. Dehydrated skin is short of water and is a temporary state that any skin type can be in, including oily skin. Dry skin needs lipids to hold water in; dehydrated skin needs water put back first.
Should a hydrating serum go on wet or dry skin?
Damp skin. Humectants draw water toward them, and on damp skin that water comes from the surface film you have just applied. Follow within a minute or two with a moisturizer so the water stays where you put it.
Can dry skin use exfoliating acids?
Yes, occasionally and gently. Rough flakes are dead cells that have not shed, and a mild acid helps them go. Keep acids to evenings, never on the same night as a scrub, and stop if the skin stings.
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