While you can’t control the type of skin you have, you can always control how to care for it. If you have dry skin, chances are you have a damaged skin barrier, and skin texture that feels tight and scratchy. To care for dry skin, one needs to include the appropriate skincare ingredients that are perfect for dealing with the concerns that come with it. Otherwise, you could keep moisturizing, except the skin never feels hydrated enough.
Here are 5 skincare ingredients that are a must in products for dry skin
1. Hyaluronic Acid
One of the best humectants known to us, hyaluronic acid is very commonly found in serums and moisturizers. Each molecule of the hyaluronic acid is known to hold 1000 times its weight in water, making it ideal for dry skin concerns. Not only does it make the skin softer and improve elasticity, it is also an ingredient that works well for nearly everyone because it also naturally occurring in our bodies.
The best way to incorporate hyaluronic acid in your skincare is by using HA serums and moisturizers.
2. Ceramides
Making up 20-30 of our skin, ceramides help create and support the skin’s barrier. The barrier keeps our skin healthy, and nourished, and saves us from infections and inflammation. This is why many dry skin creams and moisturizers incorporate some or the other form of ceramides. With dry skin, this barrier often gets broken down much more quickly than others, making ceramides a perfect choice to be added to dry skin products. Go for ceramide-enriched moisturizers for healthy glowing skin.
3. Vitamin E
Often hailed as one of the most important ingredients for dry skin, vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory as well as an antioxidant. It is found in the sebum in our skins but as dry skins are low on sebum, the addition of vitamin E to skincare products to compensate for that is always a good idea.
Super moisturizing, it also strengthens the skin barrier. It is also known to help with hyperpigmentation and is an overall great skincare ingredient.
4. Squalene
While other ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid work on hydration with their moisture-locking properties, squalene is an oil derivative from plants that works on conditioning and moisturizing in a way that imitates the way our skin naturally does it.
Since with dry skin, the oil production is lesser, squalene-based products are a great addition to your routine. It also in the longer run is known to improve skin’s texture and moisture levels.
5. Lactic Acid
A little different from the other moisturizing ingredients mentioned here, lactic acid is an exfoliant, which very gently helps to get rid of dead skin cells. Dry skin is prone to cracks and inflammation post-physical exfoliation making AHAs like lactic acid perfect for getting the job done, without any side effects.
As it is a humectant and has rather big molecules, lactic acid only works on the surface and doesn’t alter any hydration levels of the skin.