A good solution is to create a moisture sandwich: spritz on a face mist such as Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Mist or Biossance Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid Toning Mist; apply your hyaluronic acid serum and top it all off with a ceramide moisturiser to lock hydration into the skin.
6. You’re not drinking enough water
An obvious one, but drinking enough water is an issue that lots of us struggle to keep on top of. “To really hydrate well, the average person should consume approximately two to three litres of water per day”, says Dr Michael Barnish, Medical Director for REVIV UK. “This is water and not tea, coffee, juice or alcohol, which actually dehydrates the body, meaning we may need more water per day to keep hydrated.” So start sipping.
7. You’re skipping SPF
SPF is a year-round requirement for obvious reasons (preventing skin cancer and protecting your skin’s DNA). But did you know that UV rays are also incredibly dehydrating for skin that already skews dry, sapping it of water? For this reason make your final layer of skincare a cream-based sunscreen with ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to restore moisture.
8. You’re using acne treatments and retinol
Salicylic acid is a core tenet of many on-the-spot products as it unclogs pores and reduces the inflammation that often leads to pigmentation marks. The only downside is that it can drying, says skin and laser expert, Debbie Thomas, “which may lead to flaking and then irritation, so it is important not to overuse it and to balance active products containing salicylic acid with nourishing ones.”
Flaky red skin is a common side effect of retinol, too, because it speeds up cell turnover and the skin’s self-exfoliation. Aesthetic doctor and skin expert Dr Ana Mansouri recommends staggering your retinol usage by “starting gently at a strength of 0.25% to 0.3% and slowly working your way up.” Also look for formulas containing niacinamide to offset the dryness.
8. You’re not going to bed early enough
No joke, your Netflix addiction could be drying out your skin. As entertaining as Succession is or binging sessions of Love Is Blind, limit your episodes and make sure you hit the hay early for the sake of your skin’s rejuvenation.
Lack of sleep causes pH levels to drop and skin becomes unable to produce the moisture it needs. “Getting your eight hours a night promotes a healthy lifestyle, enabling your body to rest properly and your skin to repair each day,” says Dora Walsh, Registered Nutritionist at BANT.
“If you’re finding it hard to sleep, you can help your body to drift off by following some key rules,” she continues. “Make sure you don’t eat too late or drink coffee post-lunch or alcohol. And make time to unwind and take a screen break before getting into bed.”
9. Over-washing without moisturising immediately after
Ever since the pandemic we’ve all naturally became accustomed to washing our hands and body more frequently, with many of us opting for harsher, antibacterial products and hand sanitisers laced with high percentages of alcohol.