How to Cleanse Dry Skin: Everything you Need To Know

Those with dry skin know that cleansing can be a challenge. Too much washing or the wrong product gets it even drier, too little, and the pores get clogged with breakouts just waiting to happen.

Some people have dry skin their whole life, while others experience dryness due to weather, dry spaces, irritating skincare products, or other temporary causes. Aging is also a contributing factor to skin getting drier.  

Either way, dry skin needs special care to stay healthy and beautiful at any age and cleansing it properly is an essential part of that care. 

There are a few important dos and don'ts; that's why we're dedicating the entire post to discussing cleansing and cleansers for dry skin.

Dry skin and cleansing

Dry skin can feel tight, itchy, irritated, and some people even experience redness, peeling, scaling and, in extreme cases, cracks. Washing your face too often and using harsh products can make matters even worse as it removes skin's natural oils and dehydrates it even further. 

So if you do have dry skin, we have a few helpful skin cleansing tips to keep it healthy, nourished and hydrated.

Wash once or twice a day

The first thing to remember about cleansing dry skin is to not overdo it. Once or maximum twice a day will suffice, and more might cause additional dryness and irritation. 

Make the evening cleansing routine your main one as you need to remove makeup, pollutants and other grime for the day. 

In the mornings, simply rinse with warm water or use the tiniest bit of cream cleanser for dry skin and proceed with your regular routine.

Don't scrub 

We mean, don't scrub with harsh skin care products, brushes and even your towel. We're used to vigorously rubbing our faces with a towel, but that's not only unnecessary; it might injure your skin and harm your skin's barrier.

Gently tapping your face with a soft towel is absolutely enough, and it doesn't leave it red or flaky!

While you should forget scrubs with beads, too, don't completely stop exfoliating your skin. Gentle exfoliation removes dead skin cells, promotes circulation and renewal, and it's enough to exfoliate dry skin once a week. 

Skip baths 

Sorry, we know it sounds harsh! But if you have dry skin, a long bath might dry it out even more! 

If you decide to enjoy a relaxing bath once in a while, though, make sure you use a gentle cleanser that will nourish your skin while you're in the tub. 

How long can you stay? Expert opinions differ, but the longest suggested time is 10 minutes. 

No hot showers

Continuing the water theme, let's quickly talk showers. Some people love almost scalding hot showers, but those with dry skin should keep the water temperature on the lower side. Especially for the face! 

A cleanser for dry skin 

And now let's move to the products. A good cleanser for dry skin is essential as it removes makeup and impurities but at the same time doesn't dry it out and keeps the skin healthy and glowing.

We always recommend choosing a cream cleanser as these are more gentle, clean the skin without stripping the natural oils and nourish it. 

That's why we've created our Daily Revitalise Cleansing Crème with Lemon Myrtle, Papaya and Coconut infused with nourishing organic ingredients. 

It's a creamy, active daily cleanser that gently removes build-up and purifies to reveal radiant, healthy skin. Most importantly, it clarifies the skin without drying it out, revealing a clearer, brighter complexion.

To make it a multi-functional product, we've enriched the cleanser with antioxidants to combat free radicals caused by sun damage and environmental pollution, as well as aging. 

Our cleanser for dry skin is paraben-free, sulphate-free, free of artificial colours and fragrances, cruelty-free and vegan.

Lemon Myrtle, Papaya and Coconut

When creating products for different skin types, we're always thinking of which natural ingredients can we use to get the desired benefits. We believe in natures powers to give us exactly what we need! 

And when it comes to dry skin, what you want from your cleanser is for it to cleanse, tighten the pore and yet protect it from irritations, tightness and flakiness.

That's why we've chosen lemon myrtle, papaya and coconut as the star ingredients for this cream cleanser.  

Lemon myrtle reduces irritations, strengthens the skin, minimises dark circles under the eyes and fights infections. 

Papaya promotes healing of the skin, has antioxidants that fight free radicals, and has anti-aging properties. It also enhances the secretion of collagen, which increases skin hydration and elasticity.  

Papaya is actually fantastic for dry skin as it gives it moisture and reduces irritations and flakiness. 

Lastly, coconut has excellent hydrating and moisturising properties, which are essential for those with dry skin. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and protects the skin from infections. 

Together these ingredients provide you with all the care your skin needs.

Dry skin cleansing and care routine 

You always get the best results with a carefully thought out skincare routine. If you choose products designed for dry skin that complement each other, you will enjoy hydrated and glowing skin.

Here's Sylvie's dry skincare routine you can customise for your own needs. 

1. Use the Daily Revitalise Cleansing Crème to cleanse your face. Spend a few minutes to really emulsify it and get the makeup and other dirt off. 
2. Remove the residue with a washcloth.
3. In the evening, do the same thing again in a process called double-cleansing. It helps to really clean out your pores, leaving the skin fresh and ready for your products. 
4. Apply your serums. Sylvie recommends Skin Perfecting Radiance Gel and Cell Renewal Peptide Serum to plump up the skin and give it that glow.
5. In the evening, massage some oil into your skin to calm and soothe it (e.g. the Six Oils of Rejuvenation).
6. Apply your moisturiser and eye cream (Sylvie uses Balance & Replenish Light Moisturiser, and Relax + Refine + Lift Eye & Lip Crème).