Dry Skin is not fun. You could have inflamed, itchy, or flaky Skin if you don’t use the right skin care products.
Sometimes, more than your moisturizer is needed. Serums are available to quench your thirsty Skin!
Two dermatologists shared tips for quenching dry Skin’s thirst and meeting other skin goals.
What you need to understand about dry Skin and how serums help—our 16 favorite products.
How can serums help dry Skin?
Benefits go beyond “skin-deep,” as it were. Dermatologists will tell you hydration is vital to a healthy and youthful complexion. After all, your skin is 64 percent water.
Dr. Malini Fowler is a board-certified dermatologist from San Antonio, Texas. She says serums can be a great way to deliver nutrients to your Skin.
Fowler says hyaluronic acids and Vitamin C can be found in many serums. They are great additions to your moisturizer. She says that serums are often designed to achieve a particular result, such as brightening or hydrating the Skin or providing nutrients, like Bakuchiol and AHAs.
Keep your Skin hydrated to reduce wrinkles and increase softness. Think of the difference between grapes and raisins!
It’s also the first line of defense for your body against environmental aggressors like UV rays and pollution. If it’s dry, it won’t be able to protect you. Skin that is cracked and blistered can also be more susceptible to infections.
What is the difference between dehydrated Skin?
Fowler shows you how to determine if your skin is dehydrated or dried. Here’s what you should look for:
Signs and symptoms of dry Skin. Fowler states that dry Skin is typically scaly, itchy, and rough. She tells us that dry, scaly skin can cause irritation, redness, and roughness.
Signs and symptoms of dehydrated Skin. Itchy patches can be caused by dry skin, says Fowler. It can also cause wrinkles to appear, as well as dullness and an “indented” appearance. Ugh.
Should you treat dry Skin and dehydrated in the same manner? Fowler says that dry skin is lacking in natural oils and dehydrated. She says dry Skin can also be treated externally with serums and creams.
The short version: If you have dehydrated skin, fill up those water bottles and start chugging. Find your skin care match, my dry skin friends.
MVPs: Key serum ingredients for dry Skin
Serums can help you to maximize your moisture. Every serum is different. Different ingredients are the stars of each one.
What should people with dry skin look out for?
Types of moisturizers
Three main types of moisturizers are humectants (also called occlusives), emollients, and occlusives. They all work differently, and they often work better together.
Serums often contain humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acids, which provide lightweight hydration.
These products work great for all skin types but need some help. They can dry out your skin, especially in an arid climate. You’ll need to apply them on damp Skin or use an occlusive moisturizer.
Emollients can help you achieve silky smooth Skin. Some emollients also act as occlusives. You get two products for the price of one if you choose to use them.
The antioxidants also play a part
Antioxidants can help combat oxidative stress, leading to premature skin aging. Some antioxidants can also improve skin hydration.
Vitamin C is famous for protecting the Skin from UV damage and reducing Hyperpigmentation. It increases collagen synthesis and helps reduce transepidermal moisture loss.
Vitamin E is often used to moisturize the Skin and is a UV-damage fighter.
Niacinamide Vitamin B3 does many things, including improving skin barrier function—improved skin barrier function = better hydration.
Why we selected these products
These products were chosen based on their popularity and critical ingredients. We have included options at various price points to suit different skin types. Just because your skin is thirsty does not mean it is all the same.
We’ve got some more details on our process.
Expert Tips/Research We analyzed studies to determine if the ingredients match the companies’ claims. We also spoke with two dermatologists to get their expert advice.
Ingredients. To help people achieve their skincare goals, we scoured serums that contained additional elements. We believe in skincare that is overachieving.
Prices. As we have said, different price points are essential. This list has some budget-friendly options, middle-of-the-road choices, and splurges. We love to give you choices, sweetie.
Reviews. The most important thing is to get genuine reviews. We prefer products with many reviews and want them to be honest. Asking questions such as: Is the study sponsored an excellent way to start? Are they recent? You get the picture.
The dermatologist’s favorite serum for dry Skin
Remember that this is a high-end serum before you fall for it.
This gel moisturizer is oil-free! It’s specially formulated for sensitive Skin. It targets:
Dehydrated Skin.
You can also find out more about the following:
This product combines panthenol with hyaluronic acids for optimal hydration, reduced irritation, and clear pores.
It’s also great that it is free of alcohol, parabens, and fragrance.
The majority of reviewers love this serum. They describe it as light, hydrating, and lovely. One reviewer says it isn’t strong enough to treat their dry patches, while another claims it’s expensive.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum
Ingredients that stand out: Dimethicone (glycerin), Bisabolol (bisabolol), Zinc Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, and Glycerin.
Primary Benefit: Affordable, soothing hydration.
Skin Type: All skin types except sensitive.
The oil-free, non-comedogenic formula provides all the benefits of glycerin and HA for hydration. This Neutrogena hydrating serum is of great value.
Dimethicone is an emollient that will leave your skin feeling silky smooth. It also contains zinc gluconate, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that soothes irritated or inflamed Skin.
The reviews make it seem like the “it girl’ of serums. One reviewer loves how it “melts into” their Skin. Many skeptics were surprised by their results. Some complain, however, that it does not work for sensitive Skin. (Although sensitive-skinned people love it).