Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, but I know that it can seem that way! There are so many amazing ingredients out there that figuring out which ones work together sounds super daunting. 

Well, that’s where we come in! We’ve already gone into detail about some of the best skincare ingredients out there (and how they work), but let’s look closer at which ones work best together. Today, we’ll highlight some of the best ones for dry skin! 

Ceramides + Facial Oil to Lock in Moisture

While ceramides are great for every single skin type, they definitely shine when it comes to helping dry skin feel less parched. Ceramides actually make up part of our skin’s natural structure, and their main function is to help skin retain moisture. Skin that’s full of moisture looks more radiant and younger than skin that’s dry and dehydrated.

Combining the power of ceramides with facial oil is a great recipe for boosting moisture in your skin! You can use any facial oil that you prefer, whether it’s a blend of oils or pure oil. While ceramides work within the actual structure of the skin, oils mainly work on the surface of the skin. They help to lock in moisture by preventing trans-epidermal water loss, which is basically the scientific way of stopping skin from drying out. 

This combination can be used both day and night - especially if you don’t mind a dewy look during the daytime.

Declaré Nutrilipid Extra Rich Repair Cream | $50
This night cream from Declaré replenishes skin with a blend of ceramides and shea butter.

Hyaluronic Acid + Polyglutamic Acid for a Hydration Boost

Hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid are two uber-potent humectant ingredients. Both of them work to draw water into the stratum corneum (upper layer of the skin) to plump it full of hydration. This does two key things - they temporarily fill out wrinkles, but also ensure that skin is well hydrated from the inside out. 

These two combined are a powerful booster for any dry skin routine - you can use this combination day and night to ensure that your skin stays hydrated all day long. The order you apply them in mainly depends on the textures of the products that you’re using. If they’re both serums, you can apply them in whichever order you want - if one is in a cream and one’s a serum, apply the serum first. 

Dr Irena Eris Aquality Water Serum Concentrate | $150
Polyglumatic acid is the star of this ultra-hydrating serum - it's a powerful humectant that draws water into the skin. 

Hyaluronic Acid + Squalane for a Dewy Glow

So, we’ve already covered what makes hyaluronic acid so fantastic for dry skin - but what if there was something you could apply over it to make it even better? 

Squalane is perfect for this - in its pure form, squalane looks like a clear and ultralightweight oil. One of it’s biggest assets is the fact that it doesn’t feel greasy at all, yet is able to intensely moisturise skin. 

The reason squalane is so good for skin is that it’s a nearly skin-identical ingredient (just like hyaluronic acid and ceramides). There are actually small amounts of squalane found in the natural oils that our skin produces!

By applying squalane over the top of hyaluronic acid, you ensure that your skin locks in all the benefits of hyaluronic acid, plus the super-moisturising properties of squalane. 

L'Occitane Aqua Moisture Essence | $39
Packed full of hyaluronic acid, this essence is like a cool drink of water for dry, thirsty skin.

GA-DE Hydra Sublime Royal Pomegranate Oil | $55
GA-DE blends squalane with other nourishing plant oils to create a super-moisturising oil, perfect for dry skin.

Peptides + Ceramides for Anti-Ageing & Hydration 

There’s no denying that peptides are fantastic when it comes to reversing the signs of ageing! These little amino acids direct skin cells on what to do, such as increase collagen production or even temporarily ‘freeze’ muscles underneath the skin for a Botox-like effect. They’re a powerful anti-ageing ingredient that works for most skin types!

If your skin concerns are mainly dry skin but you want to throw some anti-ageing in the mix, this is a great combination to go for. Alongside using peptides, replenishing ceramide levels ensures that skin stays hydrated and resistant to drying out, making skin look older than it really is. 

Unlike retinol, peptides don’t degrade in light - so you can use this combination both in your daytime and nighttime skincare routines!

Declare Age Essential Essence | $85
Peptides and hyaluronic acid make a potent combination, perfect for anti-ageing and hydration.

Dr Irena Eris Institute Solutions Neuro Filler Skin Matrix Renewal | $127
This clinical-grade line from Dr Irena Eris uses ceramides to strengthen the skin's natura barrier for healthier, younger-looking skin. 

And these individual combinations can even be stacked on top of each other. You could follow up hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid with the ceramide/facial oil combo to really amp up your skincare routine. If you’re not sure if you actually have dry skin, check out our skin type ebook - it sould clear up any questions you have and help get your beauty affairs in order! 

Still looking for your perfect skincare routine? Try our skin quiz!

Products Mentioned:

• Declaré Nutrilipid Extra Rich Repair Cream | $50
• L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Oil | $142
• Dr Irena Eris Aquality Water Serum Concentrate | $150
• GA-DE Aqua Jolt Instant Hydration Gel Cream | $25
• L'Occitane Aqua Moisture Essence | $39
• GA-DE Hydra Sublime Royal Pomegranate Oil | $55
• Declare Age Essential Essence | $85
• Dr Irena Eris Institute Solutions Neuro Filler Skin Matrix Renewal | $127