The Skin Nerd: Do you have dry skin? Here's what you need to know

Quench your skin’s thirst with the right ingredients this winter and beyond.

The Skin Nerd: Quench your skin’s thirst with the right ingredients this winter and beyond.

One of the top requirements for skincare aimed at dry skin is that it makes the skin feel nice. 

Dry skin can be uncomfortable at best, with tightness, itchiness, and sore patches being key markers of a weakened skin barrier. 

For some, this is more of a seasonal occurrence — with chilly blasts of winter air and sub-zero temperatures upsetting the complexion — but for others, it’s a daily consideration. 

Not everyone has the time for said research, so today I bring you a shopping guide to the products that will balance your moisture levels and make your skin feel good.

Cleansers

In your basket — Cleansing milks and cream-based formulas

Cream-based cleansers are ideal for washing a dry face, allowing you to free the skin of any dirt, oil, and makeup without robbing the complexion of vital moisture.

Leave on the shelf — face wipes and micellar waters

I don’t recommend micellar water or wipes as cleansers to anyone, but you should particularly avoid these if you have dry skin. 

Although these “quick fixes” can save you a few minutes in the bathroom, they can be soaked in drying and irritating ingredients — with many containing surfactants, fragrance, botanical extracts, and alcohol — which are common skin allergens.

All of which are left to sit on the skin’s surface because they’re not rinsed away with tepid water like a traditional cleanser. 

These harsh and stripping ingredients upset the acid mantle’s natural pH balance, which can lead to skin sensitisation and inflammation. 

Even in the best-case scenario, they don’t remove makeup in its entirety, often leaving a film of residual makeup, excess sebum, SPF, dead skin cells, and physical pollution particles on the skin.

Tips:

Do double cleanse: If you use the right products, double cleansing will not strip your skin of natural oils.

Your pre-cleansing step is essential as it ensures that the majority of sebum, grime, makeup, and SPF are removed from the skin prior to cleansing — creating a blank canvas for your cleanser to work upon. 

A Cleanse Off Mitt (€6.50, skingredients.com) is ideal for pre-cleansing dry skin, as you use only water. Simply add warm water and glide it across the skin to remove makeup, SPF, and dirt before following up with your gentle daily cleanser.

Don’t cleanse with hot water: The hotter the temperature of the water, the more likely it is to dry out your skin.

Steaming hot water can also cause redness, sensitivity, and irritation. The solution? Stick to tepid water and avoid staying in the shower too long too.

Try:

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser (€45.45, lookfantastic.ie) is a non-foaming, sulphate free formula containing soothing goat milk and deeply nourishing manuka honey to gently cleanse the skin.

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (€15.49, boots.ie) contains a comforting cocktail of 3% oat kernel oil and 1% colloidal oatmeal to help reduce redness and aid the moisture barrier.

Hydrators

In your basket — Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, urea, and niacinamide

Moisturisers and serums containing these hydration heavy hitters are ideal for those looking to replenish dry skin.

Super moisturising, ceramides are like TLC for the skin. Our skin produces ceramides naturally in the epidermal layers, but factors such as ageing cause production to deplete over time.

This can lead to the skin becoming inflamed, dry, and irritated and, therefore, topical application is recommended.

Hyaluronic acid is like a large glass of water for thirsty skin — in fact, it can bind up to 1,000x its weight in water. Niacinamide helps to boost the production of natural moisturising factors (NMFs), helping the skin to retain water and stay supple.

Leave on the shelf — Heavily scented formulas and alcohol

Fragrances can be irritating, leading to burning sensations, rashes and exacerbation of existing skin conditions such as eczema.

If your skin is already uncomfortable, it is safer to stick to fragrance free options. Alcohol (which can be found within gel moisturisers) should be avoided too as it can dehydrate the skin further.

Tip:

Do apply hydrating serums and moisturisers straight after cleansing to lock in moisture.

Try:

Caudalie Vino Hydra Deep Hydration Moisturiser (€23.45, theskinnerd.com) — a rich, expert formulated moisturiser comprising of borage oil, organic grape water, and polyphenols to rehydrate and provide relief to even the driest of skins.

Skingredients Skin Good Fats Ultra Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser (€55, skingredients.com) is a buttery barrier balm that is called up for its ability to replenish the skin’s essential fats and bring equilibrium to the skin.

Featuring skin-native lipid ceramide NP, shea butter glycerides, and grapeseed oil, Skin Good Fats contains a clinically proven anti-irritation ingredient to stop itching.

Eucerin Urea Repair 10% Urea Intensive Moisturising Lotion (€21.50, pharmacies nationwide) contains urea, ceramide, and NMFs to lock in moisture and help to improve barrier function.

Treatments

In your basket — Lactic acid and nourishing overnight masks

If you want to exfoliate without the risk of stripping your skin, look to formulas containing lactic acid. This most hydrating of alpha hydroxy acids, lactic acid not only exfoliates but also acts as a humectant — making it ideal for anyone with dry skin. Intensive moisture masks created to be left on overnight can also be a welcome treat.

Leave on the shelf — Harsh acids and physical scrubs

Potent acids like salicylic acid work wonders for those wanting to address acne, but can be drying to skin, so not ideal if your skin is already in need of moisture.

Tip:

Always patch test new products before trying for the first time.

Try:

ESPA Overnight Hydration Therapy (€42, lookfantastic.ie) is a nourishing mask designed to replenish lost moisture as you sleep.

Enriched with chicory root extract, hyaluronic acid, and konjac root, this calming treatment helps to strengthen and balance the moisture barrier, whilst the inclusion of vitamin C energises and boosts radiance.

Layer on before bed and emerge softened, soothed, and revived.

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask (€28, spacenk.com) — one of these dry skin saviours is sold every two minutes, and it’s easy to see why. 

This versatile formula can be used as a moisturiser, face mask, or eye cream. 

Enriched with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, this nourishing treatment softens and plumps dry skin.

Today versus Payday: Eyeshadow Sticks

• Today — Rimmel Wonder’last Shadow Stick, €11.99, boots.ie

Eyeshadow palettes can be great for creating a multitude of looks but when you want just a single wash of colour, nothing beats an eyeshadow stick.

Available in eight shimmery shades, this budget friendly eyeshadow stick contains conditioning ingredients and is easy to apply and build up for a customisably bold look.

• Payday — By Terry Ombre Blackstar Eye Shadow, €37.45

This creamy eyeshadow pen has the smoothest glide thanks to the extract of Tahitian Black Pearl. 

Sweep one of the ultra-wearable colourways across lids for a luxe, light-reflecting colour that can be smudged with the fingertips to create an easy but sophisticated looking smokey eye.