Skincare

The Best Cleansers for Dry Skin, According to an Expert

Soft and supple skin, step right up.

by : Kirsty Thatcher- Apr 25th, 2023

Instagram: @sofiarichie, @haileybieber

Finding the perfect cleanser for dry skin is a delicate task.

The right product should be nourishing, not stripping, but still able to purify the skin of the pollution and debris that build up throughout the day.

It’s a dilemma Erin Gorman, Skincare Education Lead at Mecca, knows all too well. “Because people with dry skin are already lacking in sebum, or oil, they may be a little hesitant to reach for that cleanser,” she says.

But, as she explains, cleansing is an essential step in the care of every skin type. Below, her tips and tricks to the best cleansers for dry skin.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sofia Richie (@sofiarichie)

Should you still use a cleanser if you have dry skin?

While it might sound counterintuitive, cleanser is still essential for dry skin types.

“With little sebum production, dry skin types may have a weakened skin barrier,” Erin explains.

Rather than exacerbate this, she says, the right cleanser should gently remove the kinds of common irritants — think: pollution, bacteria and general debris — that collect on our skin throughout the day, in turn, minimizing the risk of inflammation.

“Nourishing cleansing milks, oils and balms […] thoroughly cleanse without stripping the skin of natural oils” Erin tells us.

“The skin will be left feeling cleansed, silky-soft, and smooth.”

Are there certain ingredients people with dry skin should avoid?

“Dry skin will want to avoid cleansers with benzoyl peroxide, soaps, strong surfactants and alcohols which will strip all the oil from the skin and could weaken the skin barrier,” Erin says.

“These ingredients are too strong for dry skin and may create that tight, squeaky-clean feeling and possibly irritate the skin.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hailey Rhode Baldwin Bieber (@haileybieber)

What ingredients work best for dry skin?

Just as we suspected, dry skin craves moisture.

“To quench that thirst,” Erin says, “look for cleansers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid which will help to plump the skin, and glycerin which works to bind all that moisture to the skin.”

Other ingredients in Erin’s dry skin arsenal include squalane, jojoba, vitamin E, ceramides and niacinamide. Combined, these work to repair and nurture the skin barrier, and prevent Excessive trans-epidermal water loss (TWEL).”

What sorts of products should you follow your cleanser with if you have dry skin?

Dry skin will benefit from hydrating and nourishing serums and moisturizers, Erin says. For something a little more intensive, a hydrating mask will give an immediate boost of hydration to thirsty skin.

And for best results, she recommends applying these to damp skin. “Damp skin will enhance the moisturizing effects of hydrating ingredients as they will bind that moisture to the skin.”

To finish off, Erin suggests adding a face oil to your skincare routine, to replenish and boost the skin’s natural barrier, leaving skin more resilient overall.