A Korean Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

(My contribution to the skincare blog: Kiseu.)

We're well into winter, and if your skin type is anything like mine, you're fighting tightness, flaky skin and overall dryness. Dry complexions may not have to deal with large pores and excess oil, but it can still be tricky to find a skin care routine that meets your skin's demands.

If your current routine isn't giving you enough hydration, your skin could suffer from fine lines, poor makeup application and a dull appearance. Enter K-Beauty, here to save the day! So many products on the Korean market maximize on hydration, making it possible to go through the bitter winter with soft, dewy skin.

Follow our skincare routine for dry skin and say 'hello' to plump, glowing skin all year long.

Morning and Night Skincare Routine For Dry Skin

In general, your morning routine and nighttime routine will look about the same, with the exception that SPF should always be the final step in the morning. This Korean skin care routine only has 7 steps, and many of them are flexible enough to adapt to your changing lifestyle.

Exfoliation, eye cream, extra serums and even SPF won't necessarily be needed twice a day. Instead, you'll be able to intuitively gauge where your skin is at and use the right products you need each day.

The 7 Step Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

Step 1. Double Cleanse

The double cleanse is essentially washing your face with an oil based cleanser and a water based cleanser back-to-back. This method of cleansing ensures that all the grime gets out of your pores, without stripping your skin of its natural oils.

Simply apply the oil cleanser to dry skin, gently massage your face, and wash off with lukewarm water. After, apply the water cleanser (which is often foaming), and massage this thoroughly, washing it off when you're done. Your skin shouldn't feel tight or dry after this, so it's important that you use a gentle cleanser that is free from astringent ingredients. Look for a product packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and soothing ingredients, like green tea. Avoiding harsh alcohols and other drying ingredients will leave your skin refreshed, not stripped.

Step 2. Exfoliate

Dry skin needs to be exfoliated at least once or twice a week. Too much, and you risk irritation. Too little, and your skin becomes dull and flaky. I always prefer using chemical exfoliators, rather than physical ones, because it's super easy to over-exfoliate with scrubs. Instead, exfoliating with AHA's like glycolic acid and lactic acid will gently slough off dead skin cells, leaving glowing skin.

Step 3. Toner

Once you're done cleansing and exfoliating, you need to use a soothing toner that preps your skin to receive maximum hydration. Avoid alcohol as an ingredient altogether - it's crazy drying. Aloe vera, water, and hyaluronic acid are all hydrating ingredients that will essentially dampen your skin, so your serums and moisturizers can soak in deep.

The right toner should have a pH close to 5.5, (your skin's ideal acidity) which will balance your skin in preparation for the rest of your skin care routine. Toners can be swiped across the skin with a cotton pad, or simply patted into your face with clean hands. This step can be done morning and nightly, every day, as long as your using a gentle, hydrating product.

Step 4. Essences and Serums

Using the right essences and serums for your skin type will ensure hydration gets deep into your lower skin layers. You might not need to use both an essence and a serum (which are different in their thicknesses and concentrations of active ingredients), but they both add moisture, nutrients and vitamins to your skin.

Humectant ingredients like hyaluronic acid can draw water into your skin, and you can lock it in with a moisturizer later on. You can choose the right products depending on how dry your skin gets, but layering essences and serums is common. They should be gently patted into the skin with clean hands until completely absorbed, and can be used morning and night to get ultimate hydration.

Step 5. Eye Cream

Eye cream is super necessary for dry skin types, because fine lines show up around delicate eye skin way faster when your skin is parched. It's essentially a specialized moisturizer for your eyes that is gentle, but gives serious moisture. (Which is important, since eye skin has very few oil glands to self-hydrate.) Collagen and glycerin are common ingredients that are super effective in eye creams. Often, eye creams are too thick to use during the day, so applying a dab with your ring finger at night is the best defense against aging eyes.

Step 6. Moisturizer

If you've got dry skin, you need a moisturizer that packs a punch. Look for products labeled as a facial butter or cream. These formulas will be thicker and richer, and should be packed with humectants that draw in water. Jojoba oil and mango seed extract are both ingredients that help soften skin and hydrate thoroughly.

Moisturizer is normally your last step at night, so slather it on and get some beauty rest! If you're prepping your skin in the morning, you'll want to follow one additional step.

Step 7. SPF

SPF is always essential, regardless of your skin type. Sun damage is a major cause of skin aging, so if you're not protecting against the sun's harmful rays, all those extra products aren't worth it. It should be applied in the mornings, before you put on makeup. The good news is, there are plenty of creamy, hydrating sunscreen formulas that won't leave your skin tight. (So, there's no excuse for skipping this step!)

The beauty of living in 2020 is that there are hundreds of products on the market that specifically cater to dry skin. Sleeping masks can be used overnight to provide even more moisture while your skin repairs itself, and hydrating BB creams have been formulated to give you both coverage and a glowy finish. By paying attention to the ingredients in your skincare routines and adding in products that provide maximum moisture, you can transform your Sahara skin to an oasis.

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