Best Morning Skin Care Routine for Dry Skin

When you have dry skin, you can’t pick and choose when to take care of your complexion. That means even on days where you wake up and want to beg (anyone who will listen) to stay in bed, you need to practice a skin care routine. And not just any skin care routine, but one that’s suited to your skin type. If you don’t take the proper steps in the morning, chances are your skin can end up feeling even drier by the end of the day. Throwing on any old moisturizer likely won’t be enough. You need a skin care regimen that encourages your skin to hold onto hydration throughout the day. Here, find dry skin care steps—from getting clean with micellar water to pampering your skin with a face mask—to help better manage your skin care concerns in the morning, which will keep paying off as the day goes on.

MORNING SKIN CARE STEP #1: CLEANSE WITH MICELLAR WATER

Cleansing can be harsh on dry skin, but that’s no excuse to avoid it altogether. While foaming and gel-based facial cleansers may be too much for your dry skin, there are other options. Look to the French and turn to a no-rinse facial cleanser for help keeping dry skin clean. Micellar waters, like the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser – Normal to Dry Skin, are a French-favorite, and for good reason! They’re capable of getting skin clean without stripping it of its natural oils, which is a must if you have dry skin. Saturate a cotton pad with the facial cleanser and sweep it across your skin, then you’re good to go—or at least to move on to your next step.

MORNING SKIN CARE STEP #2: SMOOTH ON A MOISTURIZER

First comes cleansing…then comes moisturizing! Look for a moisturizer that’s formulated for dry skin, like the L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Dry Skin or L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Extra Dry Skin. Both of these water-based moisturizers are formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera water to help provide long-lasting hydration and act like a “boost” of water for your skin, continually refreshing it with hydration.

MORNING SKIN CARE STEP #3: TAKE SUN PROTECTION MEASURES

After moisturizing, it’s time to layer on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher as directed before heading out for the day. If you’re in a rush, you can combine steps 2 and 3 of your morning skin care routine by applying a moisturizer with SPF, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30. Your sun protection routine shouldn’t stop here, though—you should also take additional steps including limiting your amount of time in the sun (especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., which are the sun’s peak hours), seeking shade, and covering up exposed areas in long sleeves, pants, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses.

MORNING SKIN CARE STEP #5: APPLY EYE CREAM

Don’t forget, the skin around your eyes can get dry, too. Rather than smoothing a moisturizer on under your eyes, use an eye cream. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream can help diminish the appearance of dark circles and fine lines and wrinkles with continued use over time.

BONUS STEP: MAKE TIME FOR A FACE MASK

While you don’t need to use a face mask every day, making time for one a few mornings each week after cleansing can benefit your dry skin—not to mention it can be a totally relaxing experience before you venture into a busy day! The L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Face Mask is formulated to draw out the buildup of dirt, oils, and impurities, gently cleanse stressed areas, and visibly reduce the appearance of imperfections—without drying out skin. Just apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Your morning skin care routine is important, but so is how you take care of your skin before bed. We’ve already done the hard work for you and created The Nighttime Skin Care Routine You Should Never Skip.