Oh Why, Oh Why Am I Dry?

Five reasons why your skin is feeling hard to hydrate

Your skin is dehydrated

Dehydrated skin lacks water; dry skin lacks oil. The two can overlap (and often get mixed up), but unlike your houseplants, there’s no downside to “overwatering” your skin. When skin feels tight, flaky, or stingy, we instinctively reach for the heaviest moisturizer we can find. If that isn’t working, you probably need to water your skin underneath before layering lotion on top. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is the holy grail of hydrators. It pulls water into the skin, and because your skin already makes its own HA, nearly every skin type tolerates it well. Pro tip for Minnesota winters: apply it to damp skin and seal it in with moisturizer, so it doesn’t pull water back out of your skin into the dry air.

You’re using the wrong products for you

The key words are “for you.” Every skin is unique, so what works wonders for your best friend might not work for you. Skincare is a lot like baking. If you aren’t getting the result you want, one of the ingredients or steps is probably off. Your skin barrier can be as finicky as a British dessert, so if it feels dry, it’s time to pare your routine back and book a facial or consult with a skin expert.

Blame it on time

In your 40s and 50s, estrogen levels dip, and your skin gets drier for a few reasons: less oil, a weaker moisture barrier, less hyaluronic acid, and slower cell turnover. A professional-grade routine and treatments like microneedling can help keep skin hydrated, firm, and resilient through these changes. And if you’ve always been oily, even acne-prone, but suddenly can’t quench your skin’s thirst, that’s normal. It’s also very treatable.

You’re overcleansing
Clean is good, but squeaky clean isn’t your skin barrier’s friend. A deep clean has its place (that’s part of what a facial every four weeks is for). Washing too long, too often, or with too harsh a cleanser, though, will leave you tight and dry. If your morning wash seems to dry you out, don’t skip it. Washing sets the tone for your whole morning routine. Switch to a barrier-loving cleanser instead.

You have dry skin

At the risk of sounding obvious, knowing your true skin type is harder than it sounds. Your skin type is largely determined by genetics. Dry skin usually has small, less visible pores. It can break out, though that’s less common, and it often runs sensitive or reactive because its tolerance is lower. Its hallmark is chronic flaking, and it never really gets oily, even in July humidity. Dry weather is extra tough on it. Dry skin loves enzyme exfoliation, which gently and regularly clears away dead, flaky cells so your hydrating products can reach the fresh skin underneath.