Finding the perfect cleanser for dry skin can be a daunting task.
The right product should be nourishing, non-stripping, and able to cleanse the skin of dirt and debris that has accumulated throughout the day.
Mecca Skin Care Training Manager Erin Gorman knows this all too well. "Because people with dry skin lack sebum or oils, they may be hesitant to purchase this cleanser," she says.
But, as she explains, cleansing is an important step in caring for any skin type. Here are her tips and tricks for choosing the best cleansers for dry skin.
© Key Media Pty Ltd Courtesy of Sophia Richie .Do you still need to use a cleanser if you have dry skin?
As ironic as it may sound, a cleanser is essential for dry skin.
"With low sebum, the dry skin type may have a weak skin barrier," Erin explains.
Instead of making it worse, the right cleanser should gently remove common irritants — think pollution, bacteria, and general debris — that build up on our skin throughout the day, reducing the risk of inflammation.
"Cleansing milks, oils and balms [...] deeply cleanse the skin without natural oils," Erin tells us.
"The skin will become clean, smooth and soft."
Are there any ingredients people with dry skin should avoid?
"You should avoid over-drying the skin with benzoyl peroxide, soaps, harsh surfactants, and alcohols, which strip all the oils from the skin and can weaken the skin barrier," Erin says.
“These ingredients are too strong for dry skin and can leave skin feeling tight, clean and potentially irritating.”
© Media Pty Ltd courtesy of Hailey Bieber.What ingredients work for dry skin?
As we suspected, dry skin needs hydration.
“To quench that thirst,” Erin says, “look for cleansers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps bind the skin together, and glycerin, which helps lock in all the moisture in the skin.”
Other ingredients in Erin's dry skin arsenal include squalane, jojoba, vitamin E, ceramide, and niacinamide. Together they restore, nourish and protect the skin barrier.
Excessive transepidermal water loss (TWEL).
Which cleanser to choose if the skin is dry?
According to Erin, hydrating and nourishing serums and moisturizers will help dry out the skin. For something more intense, a hydrating mask will provide instant hydration to thirsty skin.
And for best results, she recommends applying them to damp skin. "Damp skin will enhance the moisturizing effect of moisturizing ingredients because they bind that moisture to the skin."
Finally, Erin recommends adding facial oils to your skincare routine to replenish the skin's natural barrier and make skin look smoother.
6 best cleansers for dry skin
SK-II Gentle Facial Cleanser, $105 at Adore Beauty
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