How to Get Rid of Dry Skin on Face: 10 Effective Tips

Dry facial skin can be a real beauty bummer. Not only it doesn’t look and feel good, but it also ages faster than any other skin type. It’s important to get rid of dry skin using effective methods.

Symptoms and signs of dry skin: Skin gets irritated easily. As a result, it causes redness, itchy skin, and dry flaky skin. In some severe cases, dryness can cause painful cracked skin.

However, you only need a few products and a couple of skincare tips to thoroughly nourish your skin and keep it soft, healthy and glowing. Here are the 10 most important remedies for dry skin to keep combat dry skin:

1. Use plant face oil with plenty of oleic acids to get rid of dry skin

Dry skin needs moisture and nutrients. One of the best ways to provide that is to use natural oils rich in oleic acid to prevent dry skin.

Oleic acid, or omega-9 fatty acid, easily sinks deep into the skin and makes the skin soft, plump, supple and well-nourished. It soothes the skin barrier, restores it and helps repair damages of skin overnight. You can find oleic acid in many natural oils, including olive oil, argan oil, avocado oil, grape seed oil, macadamia oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, etc.

Also, it’s a great idea to include a small amount of essential oils that are great for dry skin, such as rose oil, lavender oil, Sandalwood oil and Helichrysum oil in your skincare routine.

2. Wash your face with warm or lukewarm water

Hot water strips the skin of its oils and that way it damages the skin’s lipid barrier. If you have dry skin, it would be best to use only lukewarm to warm water when washing your face. Also, don’t wash your face more than twice a day and apply a moisturizer right after.

For bathing or showering, only use warm water and limit it to under 5 minutes.

3. Use mild facial cleansers

Harsh foaming cleansers are amongst the greatest enemies of the cause of dry skin. Not only they can remove all the good fats of the skin, but the chemicals in them can disrupt the skin’s natural processes causing dry skin.

Try to use only gentle, creamy or oil-based cleansers with natural ingredients in your skin care routine. And don’t wash your face more than necessary.

4. Protect your skin against the sun

The sun’s UV rays can do a lot of damage. They can severely dry out your skin, cause sunburns and speed up the aging processes. To avoid this and prevent dry skin, it would be best to try and stay out of the sun as much as possible.

When you need to go out, always wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, no matter the season or how cloudy it is. Also, make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, since the “broad spectrum” means it will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

5. Don’t over-moisturize

If you have dry skin, moisturizing your skin is essential. However, over-moisturizing with lotions and creams can be counterproductive. If you use moisturizers too often, the sebaceous glands might think your skin is already well moisturized, and they can start producing even less oil.

Also, try to mix and match. Dry skin usually loves heavier moisturizers, but every skin likes versatility. If, for example, you are using some of the plant oils mentioned above, try to combine it with a hyaluronic acid facial serum to keep skin hydrated.

6. Apply a moisturizer right after washing your face

While washing your face, your skin actually gets a lot of water. The problem is – as soon as you are done, that water evaporates very quickly from your skin. That is why your skin usually feels dry and very tight right after a shower.

To prevent this and treat dry skin, apply your moisturizer in the first minute after you are done with washing your face, while your skin is still slightly damp (not wet!). Not only your skin will stay plump and hydrated for much longer, but also – damp skin better absorbs products.

7. Eat food rich in omega-3 fatty acids

We all know how healthy omega-3s are. But did you know they can also play a crucial role in your skin’s health and condition?

Omega-3 fatty acids moisturize the skin from the inside and help it to stay youthful and hydrated. They improve the health of the cell membrane, helping your skin to keep the moisture and nutrients in, and toxins and irritants out.

You can find omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines, herring, anchovies), flax seeds, chia seeds, soybeans and walnuts.

8. Regularly but gently exfoliate your face

Skin care tips: It is a common misconception that dry skin doesn’t need exfoliation. The truth is – you need to remove that layer of dry, dead skin cells to reveal the young, healthy skin that’s hiding underneath. Plus, scrubs encourage the skin to renew itself and help the moisturizer to penetrate deeper into the skin.

However, it is very important that you use gentle, nourishing scrubs. Too harsh products can even further upset the skin that is already damaged and sensitive. Try out small-grain sugar scrubs, since sugar is a natural moisturizer and anti-aging agent. Scrubs based on oatmeal are also a great choice for dry skin since oats are great in soothing irritated skin.

9. Consider the other products you are using

If you have dry facial skin, there’s a good chance you are already paying attention to what facial products you are using. However, these are not the only products that are coming in touch with your face.

Your shampoo, shower gel or hair styling products can easily end up on your face skin. And these products can be very drying and irritating. So, you can either make sure all your products are suitable for dry, sensitive skin or be careful about what touches your face.

10. Invest in a humidifier to get rid of dry skin

Central heating can severely dry out the air in your house and cause winter itch. And dry, hot air speeds up the evaporation of water from your skin. That is why dry skin suffers a lot during the winter months – it is attacked both inside and outside.

But, a humidifier will increase the level of moisture in your home, helping your skin to stay healthy and well-hydrated. As a result, it helps relieve dry skin.

Other tips to get rid of dry skin:

• Apply lip balm regularly to fight chapped lips.
• Try a home remedy. A natural remedy can help soothe dry skin. You can try an oatmeal bath or an aloe vera face mask.
• Combat dry hands with quality moisturizing creams several times a day.
• Use natural skin care products that are rich in nutrients and vitamins.