Skin concern
Dryness
Tight, thirsty skin, deeply hydrated and comfortably sealed.
Find my personalised routineUnderstanding dryness
What is dryness?
Dry skin lacks sufficient lipid, the natural oils that hold moisture in and keep irritants out. It feels tight after cleansing, looks dull and flaky, and can be sensitive because a weakened barrier lets in more of what it shouldn't. It is different from dehydrated skin (which lacks water), though the two often overlap.
The fix is layered: humectants like hyaluronic acid draw water into the skin, emollients smooth the surface, and richer occlusives and ceramides seal it all in and rebuild the barrier. The result is skin that feels comfortable all day, not tight by lunchtime.
Is this your skin?
Signs you might be experiencing dryness
Tick anything you're noticing. The more that resonate, the more a targeted dryness routine can help.
Tick anything you're noticing, we'll match a routine to it.
The root of it
What causes dryness?
Cold, dry air
Winter weather strips moisture from the skin's surface and weakens the barrier.
Hot water
Long, hot showers and baths dissolve the skin's natural oils.
Harsh cleansers
Foaming and sulphate cleansers strip the lipid layer that holds moisture in.
Ageing
Skin produces less oil and fewer ceramides with age, especially after the menopause.
Indoor heating
Central heating and air conditioning pull humidity from the air, and from your skin.
Your routine
The dryness routine
A simple morning and evening routine, switch between AM and PM to see what each step does.
Cleanse
Swap foaming wash for a creamy, non-foaming cleanser that cleans without stripping your lipid layer.
Hydrate
Press a hyaluronic acid serum onto damp skin, it holds up to 1,000x its weight in water and plumps instantly.
Seal
A nourishing day cream with emollients locks in the serum and protects the barrier through the day.
Realistic expectations
When will I see results?
Skin takes time to turn over. Tap each milestone to see what to expect, and when.
Days 1–3
Tightness eases immediately as hydration is layered back in. Skin feels more comfortable after cleansing.
Set the record straight
Dryness myths, busted
"Dry skin just needs more water."
"Thick creams are always better."
"You shouldn't exfoliate dry skin."
"Oily skin can't be dry."
Shop the routine
Products for Dryness
Milk Cleanse
Gentle Cleansing Milk
£19.20
Quench
Hydrating Serum
£22.40
Night Repair
Ceramide Hydrating Night Cream
£24.00
Add all 3 products
£65.60
Your questions
Dryness, your questions answered
Dry skin lacks oil (lipid); dehydrated skin lacks water. You can have both, and the fix is humectants for water plus ceramides for oil.
Related skin types
Not sure this is your concern?
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