+91 9951402666
As winter approaches, the dreaded skin dryness isn’t far behind. You know how even the slightest stretch, a smile or a yawn brings a stinging discomfort. Maybe you’ve tried many different moisturisers? But your skin is always peeling in white patches and sometimes even reddened cracks. And then there’s the sudden itching sensation you can’t ignore. Scratch it, and it leaves behind more rashes. And you have a natural skin type; you face these struggles all year long!
Whether this happens only during winter or is something you deal with year-round because of a naturally dry skin type, this blog is for you. Read on to understand what really causes dry skin, explore a step-by-step skincare routine designed specifically for dry skin, and learn how to nourish, repair, and soften dry skin.
What Causes Dry Skin?
Less natural skin oils:
Your skin produces a natural oil-like substance called sebum through sebaceous glands spread across the skin. These oils help keep the skin soft and flexible. When sebum production drops, the skin becomes dry, rough, and more prone to cracking.
Loss of skin’s natural hydration ability:
Your skin relies on Natural Moisturising Factors (NMFs), natural “water magnets” that attract moisture from the atmosphere and hold it within skin cells. Ageing, cold weather, certain soaps, and UV exposure reduce NMF levels, making it harder for the skin to retain hydration.
Increased water loss than normal:
Water naturally moves from deeper layers of the skin and evaporates into the air. In dry skin, this process happens faster and in larger amounts due to a weakened barrier, leaving skin dehydrated even after moisturising.
These internal changes don’t happen in isolation; they are often set off or worsened by everyday external factors.
External Factors That Trigger and Worsen Dryness
- Weather (Extreme heat or cold)
- Ageing
- Health conditions and genetics
- Scrubbing or the use of harsh soaps
- Air conditioning and indoor heating
- Dehydration (Low water intake)
- Harsh chemical exposure (Pool chlorine/cleaning agents)
- Long, hot showers
Step-by-Step Daily Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
Step 1: Gentle Cleansing
Daily face wash is the simplest way to care for your skin, especially when it’s dry.
Use cool water and a face wash with natural cleansing agents, such as banana extracts and rice powders, like our Rice & Banana Cleanser.
Always avoid hot water. Why? Hot water molecules tend to strip away your skin’s natural moisturising oils, adding to the dehydration of already parched skin.
How to cleanse dry skin:
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser in circular motions to clean without damaging the moisture barrier
- Avoid scrubbing or harsh friction to prevent further dryness
Step 2: Restoring pH with a Hydrating Toner
Did you know that your skin is naturally acidic? These acids act as guardians, protecting your skin against environmental damage and irritation. Dryness is often a sign that your skin has fewer acids than it needs to stay healthy.
Try our Rose Water toner, which helps restore lost acidity with the high pH of rose petals and brings a lasting cooling effect to calm itchiness.
How to tone:
- Spray the mist 2–4 times evenly across the face and neck
- Allow it to settle naturally to avoid friction on dry skin
Step 3: Targeted Repair with Serums
Natural oil-based serums have two benefits for dry skin: they moisturise and gradually address deeper concerns such as pigmentation caused by dryness.
Our Kumkumadi tailam combines a traditional herbal Kumkumadi oil blend with almond oil to moisturise the skin, while preserved cow's milk supports the exfoliation of dead skin cells.
How to apply serum:
- Apply 2–3 drops and gently press into the skin to seal moisture
- Allow it to absorb fully before applying moisturiser
Step 4: Moisturising for Hydration
Moisturising is obviously at the centre of a dry skincare routine, but choosing the right moisturiser makes all the difference. A good one helps fill gaps caused by dryness, repair tiny cracks, strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, and attract and retain moisture from the air.
Our Rice and Banana moisturiser supports all those processes by bringing together many natural powerhouses, including moisturising agents like olive and safflower oils.
How to moisturise:
- Warm a generous amount between palms and massage gently in upward strokes
- Leave skin undisturbed for 2–3 hours to support repair and hydration
Step 5: Sunscreen for UV Protection
Be it scorching summer heat or mild winter sun, UV exposure leads to further moisture loss, fine lines, premature ageing, and stubborn dark spots, making sunscreen essential for dry skin.
With Yashad Bhasma for UVA/UVB protection and moisturising oils like almond and olive for treating sun-exposure–triggered dryness, our natural sunscreen cream provides all-in-one sun protection for dry skin.
How to apply sunscreen:
- Apply evenly over face and neck to avoid patchy dryness
- Reapply every 2–3 hours during prolonged sun exposure
Step 6: Lip Care
Lips lack oil glands, making them more prone to dryness, cracking, and pigmentation, especially when facial skin is dry.
Nourish your lips with generous layers of our Beetroot Lip Balm to heal chapped skin, restore suppleness, and add a subtle rosy tint without any chemicals.
How to care for lips:
- Apply a nourishing, oil-based lip balm to seal in moisture
- Use a thicker layer at night to repair dryness and cracks
Weekly Addition to Your Dry Skin Care Routine
Exfoliation with Scrubs:
Exfoliating once or twice a week removes dead skin cells, allowing natural face moisturisers to penetrate better.
Our Mango & Lemon Sugar Exfoliating Jelly combines powerhouses like mango wine, honey, cinnamon, and liquorice. These ingredients carry a coarse texture that rubs against the skin, removing the unnecessary layer, while also supporting collagen production (for skin smoothness) and refining skin texture.
With the Old School Rituals skincare range, you can discover the best of Indian ancestral skin wellness recipes and nature’s bounties, such as oils, floral extracts, herbs, fruit peels, and more, for a truly holistic approach to managing dry skin.
Extra Do’s and Don’ts for Dry Skin
- Drink at least 2 litres of water daily to hydrate your skin cells from within.
- Infuse your diet with green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds to enhance natural skin oils.
- Use lukewarm or cold water for showers. Always avoid hot water.
- Pat your skin dry with a soft towel rather than rubbing it harshly.
- Moisturise within 5 minutes of bathing, while the skin is still damp.
- Avoid harsh scrubs that can hurt cracks and cause irritation.
- Avoid using alcohol-based products as alcohol evaporates quickly and takes your skin's natural moisture with it.
The best skin care routine for dry skin isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about consistency and care.
FAQs
Can dry skin be cured permanently?
Dry skin cannot always be cured permanently because it is often linked to genetics, age, or environmental factors. However, with the proper dry skin care routine, it can be effectively managed in the long term. Consistent gentle cleansing, regular moisturising, barrier repair, and sun protection help keep dryness, flaking, and irritation under control.
Is exfoliation safe for dehydrated skin?
Yes, exfoliation is safe for dehydrated skin when done gently and infrequently. Mild exfoliation once a week helps remove dead skin buildup that can block moisture absorption. The key is to use soft, non-abrasive ingredients and avoid over-scrubbing, which can worsen dryness and damage the skin barrier.
Is dry skin the same as dehydrated skin?
No. Dry skin lacks natural oils, while dehydrated skin lacks water. Dry skin is a skin type, whereas dehydration is temporary. A good dry skin care routine addresses both oil deficiency and moisture retention.
