Go From Dry to Dewy with This MECCA-Approved Routine
July 26 | 4 minute read
Words by Iain Jeffery
Our Skin Specialists are tapped on the daily for tips on how to manage dry skin, so we went straight to the experts.
Rounding up their knowledge, we’ve curated the ultimate skin-quenching routine to take dry skin from sultana… to grape!
What’s the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?
Put simply, dry skin lacks oils, while dehydrated skin lacks water. Dry skin is also a skin type (i.e. something that you’re born with), while dehydrated skin is a skin condition, which develops as a result of something (like environmental factors, stress or lifestyle) and can be temporary.
Dry skin and dehydrated skin are not mutually exclusive, however. Dry skin can be (and often is) dehydrated, too. Ideally you should look for ingredients, products and formulas that put both oil and water back into the skin.
What does dry skin need?
As dry skin naturally lacks its own protective layer, you should give it a helping hand. The goal of your routine should be to add back hydration, nourish and protect at every possible step. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, oils and butters. These ingredients help give back what skin lacks, for a dewier, bouncier, happier complexion in no time!
In terms of products, opt for creamier cleansers, serums that slow-release their active ingredients and lightly exfoliating toners (to keep any flakiness at bay). Oh, and keep your shower’s temperature tepid; excessively hot showers might just exacerbate the problem.
Morning mitigation
Start with a cleanser that refreshes, without stripping. Our pick? Tatcha’s The Rice Wash. Inspired by traditional Japanese practices and ingredients, it softens, smooths and replenishes while purifying the skin.
Time to tone! This is the perfect time to introduce a gentle exfoliant to smooth skin for flawless foundation application. Glow Recipe’s iconic Watermelon Glow toner contains dry skin-friendly exfoliating acids, plus electrolytes to boost hydration. While skin is slightly damp from your toner, apply your serum. Tula’s 24-7 Ultra Serum is like a hydration drip for skin, slowly delivering superstar hydrators to keep you feeling dewy all day.
Pop on a LOOPS Weekly Reset Rejuvenating Hydrogel Eye Mask while you have your morning coffee to instantly awaken and reinvigorate eyes, before sealing all that goodness in with Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Water Cream, which helps to plump up parched skin prior to makeup.
No morning routine would be complete without sunscreen! Pop on MECCA COSMETICA To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50+ (which is made to work with makeup) and go forth, freshly hydrated!*
*ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Sunscreen is only one form of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and reapply as directed.
Evening repair
Time to maximise your beauty sleep! Start your evening routine with a balmy, comforting cleanser to remove makeup, SPF and debris from the day. The ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is a spa-like sanctuary in a tub that nourishes while it cleanses with nine essential oils.
Doubling up on serums in the evening is a great way to saturate skin in all-night hydration. Start with something lightweight and plumping (we love Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Hyaluronic Serum) that absorbs quickly, creating the perfect hydrated base for layering. Add on the extra-nourishing Plump Jelly Hydrating Serum from Moon Juice, which contains adaptogens to help mitigate skin stressors from the day, too.
Next up? Eye cream! At night, treat peepers to something extra nourishing. Susanne Kaufmann is an expert in botanicals, and her Nourishing Eye Cream treats your most delicate skin to a cocktail of replenishing ingredients. Finish with Dr.Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution™ Hydro Plump Water Cream, which tops up skin’s hydration for 24 continuous hours. Don’t forget, lips need love too, so pop on Lanolips’ overnight mask and you’re ready to wake up delightfully dewy.
