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Organic Dry Skin Care

Dry skin is something a lot of people struggle with, including me. It can become very hard to treat if you do not know where to start. The solution to dry skin can seem simple, like including a moisturizer in your skin care regime, but it actually goes much further than that and it has a lot to do with prevention, and what products you are currently using.

It may surprise you that a moisturizer can actually cause your skin to become more dry and irritated. The skin responds by cracking and flaking when it is deeply dehydrated. A lot of moisturizers will include synthetics and fillers, or alcohol that dries the skin. The first step in healing the skin is to look at the ingredients you are putting on your face and body.

This page is going to provide you with a specialized facial routine meant for dry skin. It will also link to relevant articles and product reviews.

Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below and we may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post, but these are all products we highly recommend. We won't put anything on this page that we haven't verified and/or personally used.

Ingredients to Avoid 

  • Alcohol - SD Alcohol 40, Denatured Alcohol, Ethanol and Isopropyl Alcohol. Alcohol is very drying to the skin.
  • Synthetic Fragrances - These can dry out and irritate the skin.
  • Sulfates - Sodium or Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate are extremely drying to the skin.
  • Retinoids -  These are too harsh for people with dry skin.  
  • Salicylic Acid - Can be harmful to dry skin.  

Ingredients That are good for Dry Skin

  • Natural emollients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, borage oil, coconut oil, evening primrose oil, marula oil, and mango butter.
  • Hyaluronic acid - secures moisture in the skin.
  • Peptides - directs cells to behave in beneficial ways.
  • Glycolic acid - a chemical exfoliate that helps clear dead skin cells. 
  • Ceramides - the glue that holds skin cells together.
  • Glycerin - helps skin retain moisture. 

Caring for Dry Skin

Cleansing

Cleansing is an important step that you should do every morning and evening. Dirt, oil, pollution and sweat all stick to your skin and clog your pores. Cleansing is meant to remove impurities, but it shouldn’t completely strip the skin or you will be left feeling dry and itchy.

Cleanse your skin twice a day with a gentle cream cleanser that is free of foaming agents such as sodium lauryl sulfate. Use lukewarm water and avoid washing with hot water, as it will pull moisture from your skin.

Recommended Products

Budget Buy

  • Christina Moss Naturals Organic Cleanser

Luxury Buy 

  • Dr Alkaitis Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser

Articles:

  • The Best Organic Facial Cleanser for Dry Skin
  • How to Choose the Best Organic Facial Cleanser for Your Skin Type

Toners 

There is no doubt that people who suffer from dry skin types should include a toner in their skin care regime. Toners are a far more superior product than they once were. It used to be that a toner would just neutralize the skin, and help prevent residue buildup. Now, toners are packed with nourishing ingredients that can penetrate deep into the skins layers immediately after you cleanse.

Using a toner will provide one more step of moisture to the skin. Toners can help with flaky dry skin and calm irritation. Look for a toner that is full of ingredients to hydrate, calm, soothe and plump the skin. Avoid toners containing alcohol. 

Recommended Products

Budget Buy

  • Thayers Alcohol Free Rose Toner
Luxury Buy
  • Odacite Hydra-Repair Treatment Mist
  • Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner
  • One Love Organics Vitamin D Moisture Mist

Articles:

  • DIY Facial Toner Recipes: For All Skin Types
  • Organic Facial Toner-Give Your Skin a Pick-me-up
  • The Best Organic Toner for Dry Skin

Serums

Serums will absorb into the deep layers of the skin, bringing active, healing nutrients with it. The word serum is often used to describe a water-based or oil-based product that is concentrated in active ingredients. Here we are talking about water-based serums (we will talk about oil-based serums down below).

The best serums for dry skin are ones that are aimed at bringing hydration back into the skin as well as providing antioxidants to repair and protect. Serums with peptides, ceramides, or hyaluronic acid will help repair the skin barrier and lock in moisture. 

Recommended Products

Budget Buy 
  • Body Mary Hyaluronic Acid Serum
  • Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum
Luxury Buy
  • Kypris Beauty Antioxidant Dew
  • Mychelle Ultra Hyaluronic Acid Serum 
  • Odacite Mo+P Very Dry Skin Serum

Articles:

  • Why Serums Are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
  • 5 Potent Anti-Aging Serum Recipes : Firm And Plump Your Skin
  • Serums and Boosters; What are They For?

Moisturizing

A moisturizer will seal in hydration and provide suppleness to the top-most layers of your skin. Dry skin requires moisturizers that are loaded with emollients. Ingredients to look for include: ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and plant butters and oils. 

Apply your moisturizer twice a day after cleansing, toning and applying your serum. Dry skin can benefit from a lighter day cream and a more robust night cream.

Recommended Products

Ceramide Moisturizer
  • Mongdies AtoCream
Luxury Buy
  • May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon
  • Odacite Beautiful Day Moisturizer 
  • Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream 
  • Dr Alkaitis Night Creme


Articles:

  • How to Find the Right Organic Facial Moisturizer
  • The Best Organic Moisturizer for Your Skin Type
  • The Best Moisturizer For Extremely Dry Skin
  • 10 Quick and Easy Dry Winter Skin Remedies

oil cleansing method

Facial Oils

Facial oils are plant-based oils that dramatically hydrate and repair the skin. Plant oils contain the essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and lipids that our skin needs to stay healthy. Oils applied topically to the skin absorb into the epidermis and help keep our skin barrier intact. Oils protect the skin and help hold moisture in, making them an absolute must for dry skin. You will notice that you can dramatically improve the hydration in your skin by including both a facial oil and moisturizer.

Oils high in oleic acid are best for dry skin types. You can either add a couple drops of your facial oil to your moisturizer, or use it before your apply your moisturizer.

Best Oils For Dry Skin

Single Oils
  • Camellia Oil
  • Marula Oil
  • Avocado Oil 
Oil Blends
  • Lina Hanson Global Face Serum - Luxury 
  • Amaki Japanese Tsubaki Anti-Aging Face Oil - Budget 

Articles:

  • DIY Moisturizing Serum - Make Your Own Facial Oil
  • Omega 3,6,9 Benefits for the Skin
  • 9 Best Natural Oils For The Skin & Why You Should Use Them
  • Avocado Oil For Dry Skin
  • The Ultimate Guide to Facial Oils For Dry Skin

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is an important part of every skin care routine. The sun damages our skin leading to redness, irritation, and wrinkle formation. For dry skin, a creamy, hydrating formula is best. 

In the morning, use a sunscreen containing  zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. A tinted moisturizer with SPF is a great choice, it may even be able to replace your moisturizer. If you are using a tinted SPF moisturizer in place of another moisturizer, apply your facial oil first.

Recommended Products

Budget Buy 
  • Beauty By Earth Facial Sunscreen
  • Andalou Naturals Vitamin C BB Cream

Luxury Buy
  • Suntegrity 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Sunscreen
  • Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream

Articles: 

  • The Importance Of Sun Protection for Anti-Aging
  • How the Sun Ages Your Skin : Know Some Facts

Masks

Dry skin can benefit from a hydrating mask 1 - 2 times a week. Masks designed to soothe, calm, and provide an intense boost of moisture can help prevent flakes and dry spots, alleviate redness, and lock in moisture. Good ingredients to look for include: oatmeal, avocado, plant oils, aloe, and calendula.

As with all of your skin care products, stay away from masks containing synthetic fragrances and alcohol. The key to using masks for dry skin is to not wait too long to rinse them off. Don't let masks fully dry on your skin, wash them off while they are still tacky. 

Recommended Products

Budget Buy 
  • White Clay 
  • Beauty By Earth Hydrating Face Clay Treatment
  • Bee Friendly Honey Facial Mask
Luxury Buy
  • Mahalo The Petal Hydrating Mask 
  • Herbivore Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask
  • Josh Rosebrook Cocao Antioxidant Mask

Articles:

  • The Ultimate Guide to Cosmetic Clays
  • Homemade Facial Masks for Dry Skin
  • The Best Mud Masks - With all Natural Ingredients
  • 10 Homemade Facial Masks for Glowing Skin
  • Organic Face Masks: Detox and Nourish

Exfoliation 

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, revealing the fresh, young-looking skin underneath.  Exfoliation can be accomplished using chemicals such as acids, or by using physical exfoliates such as bits of walnut shells, oats, or apricot kernels.  

If you struggle with dry skin there is no doubt that exfoliating should be included in your weekly skin care regime. We love Eminence Strawberry & Rhubarb Dermafoliant. It is a daily exfoliate gentle enough to use every morning, keeping the skin clear of flaky, dry skin and debris. This allows for all other product application to be more beneficial with repairing the skin as well as creating a smooth complexion.

Chemical exfoliates such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid may be too harsh for dry skin, lactic acid or fruit enzymes are more gentle options. Glycolic acid can benefit dry skin if used correctly. Start with a small dosage and work your way up; then follow with a rich night cream.

Recommended Products

Budget Buy 
  • Mad Hippie Exfoliating Serum
  • XFOLI8 Pumpkin Enzyme Exfoliating Treatment
  • MyChelle Incredible Pumpkin Peel
Luxury Buy
  • Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant
  • The Beauty Chef Probiotic Skin Refiner

Articles:

  • The Best Organic Exfoliates- For Your Skin Type
  • Is your Exfoliate Damaging your Skin?
  • Benefits of Natural Sea Sponges 
  • Glycolic Acid Skin Benefits 
  • What are AHA's and How do They Effect the Skin?

Anti-Aging Treatments

Read Our Anti-Aging Routine for Dry Skin.

I recommend using a natural retinol alternative - Kypris Beauty Midnight Catalyst - to stimulate exfoliation and cell renewal. An exfoliating enzyme mask used once to twice a week will help keep dead skin cells from building up - try May Lindstrom's Honey Mud.

Articles:

  • Niacinamide for the Skin: Benefits for Acne, Aging, and Rosacea
  • Glycation of the Skin: How to Prevent Aging
  • Top 10 Anti-Aging Essential Oils
  • 9 Potent Anti-Aging Ingredients You Didn't Know Existed 
  • 8 Natural Anti-Aging Ingredients : Keep You Looking Young

Makeup

Makeup that is rich in hydrating plant oils will be beneficial for dry skin. Creme-based makeup is best. Look for the words, luminous or dewy. 

 Make sure you prep your skin by properly washing, treating, and moisturizing to get the best canvas for smooth makeup application. A hydrating primer can really help plump up you skin and keep your makeup from getting flaky. 

Best Organic Makeup Brands For Dry Skin 

Kjaer Weis
  • The Detox Market
  • Credo Beauty
  • Content Beauty & Wellbeing
Vapour Organic Beauty
  • The Detox Market
  • Credo Beauty
  • Content Beauty & Wellbeing
  • Amazon
ILIA Beauty 
  • The Detox Market
  • Credo Beauty
  • Amazon
  • Content Beauty & Wellbeing
http://shrsl.com/kcxx
RMS Beauty 
  • The Detox Market
  • Credo Beauty
  • Amazon
  • Content Beauty & Wellbeing

Articles:

  • Best Organic Primers : Prep Your Skin for Beauty
  • Best Makeup for Dry Skin
  • How To Determine Your Skin Tone & Choose a Foundation
  • The Best Natural Makeup List : 16 of Our Top Favorites
  • Vapour Organic Beauty Reviews
  • ILIA Beauty Reviews

Conclusion 

I hope that this page is a valuable resource to you and that it helps you find relevant articles and products for your skin type. Remember that the key to treating dry skin is to avoid ingredients that dehydrate the skin, and by incorporating products with natural, hydrating ingredients. We hope you bookmark this page so that you can come back to it again and again.

You can read more dry skin articles here.

Do you have any questions? Drop us a line  or leave a comment, we always answer 🙂

To Beautiful Skin,
The TBOSC Team

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cara says

    October 11, 2018 at 12:35 am

    These seems like really good tips.

    Reply
  2. Fran says

    November 6, 2018 at 9:16 am

    Love and appreciate the info.

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      November 7, 2018 at 7:09 pm

      Thanks Fran!

      Reply
  3. loius chilton says

    April 18, 2021 at 3:52 am

    thanks a lot for this amazing content. this serum product in this content is a real deal, cant wait to get one

    Reply
  4. Marisa says

    July 7, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    Great tips, thank you. I love facial oils, and I find them the best for dry skin.

    Reply

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