How to Hydrate Your Skin: 6-Step Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

For certain skin types, keeping the skin hydrated can seem like a never-ending struggle.

When the default state of skin is a rough texture and dry appearance, achieving soft, bouncy and radiant complexions often feels fleeting. Fortunately, a supportive, hydrating skincare routine can help.

Whether you have persistently dry skin or feel that your skin is going through a temporary bout of dehydration, it’s important to use formulas that will help nourish, smooth, soften and balance your skin. In the below guide, find out how to treat dry skin on your face using Kiehl’s definitive skincare routine for dry skin.

What is dry skin vs dehydrated skin?

Though often used interchangeably, dry skin and dehydrated skin are two different things.

Dry skin is a skin type characterised by a lack of sebum (our natural oil) in the skin’s layers
Dehydrated skin refers to a lack of water in the skin – it can happen to any skin type

Hydrated skin has both healthy water content and sebum levels, resulting in a supple, radiant complexion.

What causes dry and dehydrated skin?

Some skin types are naturally prone to dryness due to a reduced amount of protective lipids (oils) produced by the body. This includes dry skin types, of course – although combination skin types can also be affected.

However, there are also several lifestyle and environmental factors that can cause skin hydration. These include:

Over-cleansing, which can remove the skin’s natural oils
Potent skincare ingredients that are incompatible with dry, sensitive skin
Over-using powerful ingredients that can damage the skin’s natural protective barrier (called the skin moisture barrier) and hinder its ability to retain surface moisture
Dry, low-humidity weather can affect the skin’s moisture content – which is why dry skin is more apparent in winter

Best ingredients for skin hydration

The most effective skincare for dry skin should include a combination of humectants (water attracting) and emollients (water retaining) to help lock in hydration and fortify the skin moisture barrier. You can look out for these hydrating skincare ingredients:

Squalane – This plant-derived ingredient mimics the skin’s natural lipids (oils). Squalane replicates the moisturising effect of squalene (with an ‘e’), a natural skin lipid that works to keep the surface layer of the skin hydrated.
Hyaluronic acid – A powerful humectant, hyaluronic acid attracts water molecules to the skin’s surface. It’s estimated that hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, helping to re-plump and hydrate the skin surface.
Glycerin – Similar to hyaluronic acid, glycerin is a humectant ingredient that attracts water particles to the skin’s surface. Glycerin is often derived from plants or vegetables and can help to maintain hydrated skin throughout the day.
Ceramides – Often considered the building blocks of your stratum corneum, ceramides are natural lipid molecules that work to protect the skin from moisture loss. They’re commonly formulated in occlusive skincare products like moisturisers.

6-step hydrating skincare routine

Kiehl’s plant-powered hydrating skincare products are supportive – without overwhelming the skin. This helps to mimic the skin’s natural moisture properties to ensure your complexion stays comfortable and balanced.

If you’ve noticed an uptick in dryness or find it difficult to maintain the look and feel of hydrated skin, we’ve curated six nourishing steps you can integrate into your routine.

Step 1: Gently cleanse impurities

Cleansing is an essential first step in any skincare routine.

With dry skin types, it’s important to cleanse with an ultra-gentle formula that respects the skin moisture barrier while removing impurities on the skin. Our pick is the Ultra Facial Cleanser, a lightly foaming, pH-balanced formula that blends squalane, apricot kernel oil, vitamin E and avocado oil to ensure skin stays supple.

Step 2: Plump and hydrate with a serum

A hydrating serum for dry skin can help address skin that feels dry, tight, and taut. Infused with epidermal hydration filler and 15% glycerin, the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate works by visibly improving skin elasticity and fine lines, while reinforcing the skin’s moisture levels. This plumping serum penetrates up to 10 surface layers deep* to boost skin hydration and give the skin the ‘bounce’ effect of glass skin. Apply after cleansing to damp skin for more effective results.

*Study based on instrumental test within surface layers.

Step 3: Lock in hydration with a moisturiser

Moisturiser is the basis of any skincare routine for dry skin since it forms a protective, nourishing layer over the skin that helps seal in hydration and prevent transepidermal water loss. For all your moisturising needs, we recommend the Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane, a non-greasy formula that provides up to 24 hours of hydration. A fusion of squalane and glycerin delivers intense hydration and moisture on all skin types (including sensitive). After your serum, apply a coin-sized amount in the morning and overnight as needed.

Step 4: Nourish the undereye area

Whether you experience dry skin or dehydrated skin, the delicate skin of undereye area is prone to dry patches. Thankfully, our beloved Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado can assist. Enriched with avocado oil, beta-carotene and shea butter, this uniquely concentrated, creamy formula moisturises and nourishes the eye area with a quick burst of hydration. This fragrance-free formula is also perfect for sensitive skin types.

Step 5: Replenish skin overnight

For particularly dry or dehydrated skin, you might find it beneficial to incorporate an overnight face mask or replenishing oil at the end of your hydrating skincare routine.

For a boost of moisture, add the Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask with 10.5% Squalane mask once or twice a week to your skincare routine for dry skin in place of your standard moisturiser. It’s designed to improve moisture retention overnight – so you wake up with skin that’s smoother and softer by morning.

In place of a face mask, you might consider a facial oil to revive dry, dull skin while you sleep. At night, your skin is most receptive to correcting itself from damage caused by daily aggressors, so it’s the ideal time to apply our Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil. Revel in the potent blend of lavender essential oil, squalane and evening primrose oil for a truly luxurious experience.

Step 6: Apply sunscreen every morning

While your nighttime skincare routine for dry skin might end with a replenishing face mask or oil, your morning routine should always conclude with SPF.

Especially in Australia, UV radiation is one of the biggest motivators of skin stress – as well as visible ageing concerns. By applying sunscreen as the last step of your skincare routine, you’ll help protect your face from skin-damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Bonus tips for how to hydrate skin

Supportive skincare formulas are just one component of skin hydration. To maintain optimal levels of moisture, we recommend integrating healthy lifestyle habits into your daily routine.
Alongside a skin regimen for dry skin, you can support your skin in the following ways:

Increase your water intake – This might seem obvious, but we can’t overemphasise its importance – especially to help prevent transepidermal water loss. Aim to consume at least two litres of water per day.
Minimise your exposure to high temperature water –Using hot water to cleanse or wash your face can cause dryness, redness, and general discomfort. For bright and soft skin, use lukewarm water to support your hydrating skincare routine.
Avoid over-cleansing and over-exfoliating – When your goal is to amplify skin hydration, it’s important to avoid robbing the skin of all your hard-earned moisture. That means cleansing no more than twice a day and avoiding heavy exfoliation.
Follow a healthy diet –A nutrient-dense diet with plenty of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables can help promoted a balanced, hydrated complexion.

Skincare for dry skin is essential in supporting the function of the skin moisture barrier. Next, learn how to defend against stressed skin when your complexion is compromised.