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The 14 Best Moisturisers For Dry Skin
Hydrating heroes to the rescue.
It's a fact universally acknowledged that the change in season can play havoc on our skin. Cue the inevitable lacklustre complexion and perennially dry skin as soon as summer rolls around. The latter is one of the biggest bugbears at this time of year, since it can leave your skin feeling tight, peeling and patchy, and in no fit state for skin tints and cream bronzers.
Before we delve into the best hydrating moisturisers for the job, it's important to distinguish between dry and dehydrated skin. As Dr. Alexis Granite explains, dry skin is a skin type, while dehydration can be fleeting and occur in any skin – so yes, even oily skin can be dehydrated. ‘Dry skin is lacking in natural lipids (sebum), whereas dehydrated skin which is lacking in water in the uppermost stratum corneum layer (the skin barrier). Skin may be dry without being dehydrated and vice versa.’
According to Dr. Granite, ‘dry skin is often itchy, and may be characterised by flaking with redness and irritation.’ Other issues, such as psoriasis, keratosis pilaris and eczema are common too. As with all skin types, it pays to be specific with your moisturiser to ensure it’s up to the task of hydrating and nourishing without causing further irritation.
‘Moisturising ingredients fall into three broad categories: humectants which bind water, occlusives which create a barrier to prevent water loss, and emollients, which replace gaps between skin cells, keeping the barrier intact,’ explains Dr. Granite. Dry skin types need a combination of all these.
In terms of humectants, Dr. Granite recommends hyaluronic acid for dry skin types. ‘It’s an amazing molecule (also present in skin naturally) capable of holding over 1,000 times its weight in water,’ she says. ‘When used in skincare, HA helps to bind vital hydration, locking moisture within the skin.’
To lock in all that hydration, you need something occlusive. Dr. Granite likes olive-derived squalane and ‘richly nourishing’ shea butter. And the superstar emollient to scan your bottle for? ‘Ceramides help keep skin feeling hydrated and supple; they’re a great option for those with dry skin, or suffering with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.’
Here, see the expert-approved moisturisers for dry skin that tick all the boxes.
The Very Best Moisturisers For Dry Skin
Amelia Bell is the Senior Site Beauty Editor at ELLE UK, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and overseeing all beauty content for the site. Amelia has a particular interest in sustainable beauty practices, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
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