How to Get Dry Skin Off Your Face

Cold and windy weather in winter, sunburns and air conditioning in summer, and low humidity in the air — all these factors may lead to peeling skin on your face. Flaky skin can make your fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable and your makeup look worse. So 5-Minute Crafts wants to give you some tips on how to get rid of dry skin on your face and make it look healthy again.

❗ If the skin on your face doesn’t seem any better after you try the methods mentioned below, make an appointment with your dermatologist.

1. Follow the right shower routine.

✅ Limit your time in the shower or bath to 10-15 minutes to avoid drying out your skin.

✅ Use lukewarm water because hot water might remove the oils from your skin and damage its natural barrier.

✅ When taking a bath or shower, always close the bathroom door.

2. Wash your face properly.

✅ Choose a gentle, fragrance-free, soap-free facial cleanser with a creamy formula. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides that will hydrate your skin.

✅ Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, but don’t use too much of it. You shouldn’t see a thick lather on your face, as it can dry your skin out.

✅ Gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel after washing. Don’t rub your face or use rough towels, as they can damage your skin.

✅ Apply moisturizer immediately after drying your skin to lock in moisture. Choose an ointment or cream rather than a lotion since lotions have higher water content and don’t seal in moisture as well.

3. Check your moisturizer’s ingredients.

✅ Look for a cream or ointment that contains ingredients like jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum, shea butter, ceramides, aloe vera, urea, oatmeal, and squalene.

⛔ Avoid products that contain retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), and benzoyl peroxide, as they can dry your skin further.

4. Exfoliate your face.

✅ Make sure that your skin is clean before exfoliating it.

✅ Use a face exfoliator to get rid of dead skin cells from your face no more than once a week.

⛔ Avoid using face scrubs that contain charcoal, sugar, beads, baking soda, nutshells, microbes, and coarse salt, as they can damage the skin barrier.

⛔ Don’t use exfoliants that contain salicylic, glycolic, or other alpha-hydroxy acids since they can dry out your skin.

✅ Always apply a moisturizer and use a high factor sunscreen to protect the skin after exfoliating.

5. Stay away from heat sources.

⛔ Stay away from fireplaces and other heat sources since sitting in front of them can dry your skin out.

6. Use a humidifier.

✅ Turn on a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your room.