Why Is My Skin So Dry Even When I Moisturize?

If you’re putting the work in and not finding yourself with the dewy, radiant skin you desire, you’re not alone in wondering, why is my skin so dry even when I moisturize?

A few of the possible culprits of skin dryness could be not exfoliating often enough or forgetting to hydrate throughout the day. Today, we’re breaking down the barriers that cause dry skin and providing tips and tricks to help you achieve a healthy and hydrated glow.

7 Symptoms of Dry Skin

Skin dryness occurs when your skin doesn’t retain enough moisture to keep it hydrated at a cellular level [1]. When your skin cells aren’t sipping enough water, you’re left with skin that appears lackluster and feels dull.

Not sure if you’re dealing with dry skin or a different skincare issue like contact dermatitis or eczema? Here are a few common dry skin symptoms to look out for [2]:

• Tight skin
• Flakiness 
• Rough texture
• Cracks
• Itchiness
• Peeling
• More fine lines than usual

7 Primary Causes of Dry Skin

Chances are you already know that a moisturizer is an important skincare product for hydrated and healthy skin. And It’s reasonable to think that by applying moisturizer every day, your skin should appear and feel hydrated. But not every moisturizer is created equal—and neither is your skin. 

Because everyone’s skin is unique, each person requires a different set of skincare needs to help their skin reach its peak hydration level.

Below, we discuss seven common causes of dry skin patches on your face and body that can occur—even when you’re moisturizing regularly.

#1 Neglecting Regular Exfoliation

Guess how many skin cells you lose every day. A thousand? A million?

Not quite.

Every 24 hours, you shed approximately five thousand million skin cells [3]. With so many cells in a mass exodus from your body, there are five thousand million reasons to add regular exfoliation to your skincare routine.

While you generate plenty of new skin cells to replenish the old ones each day, a lot of that dead skin doesn’t immediately fall off of its own accord. Instead, it sits on top of your fresh skin cells, waiting for your help to be removed.

If left to accumulate on your face and other areas of your body, they can dull your complexion, clog your pores, cause acne, and make your skin dry [4]. Instead, consider these two common exfoliation methods:

• Physical – Physical exfoliation involves removing dead skin cells manually with scrubs that contain tiny gritty materials. Some natural physical exfoliants include finely ground sugar, coffee grounds, and oatmeal. You can also use at-home tools to help exfoliate your face and body, like washcloths and cleansing brushes.
• Chemical – As its name suggests, chemical exfoliation uses chemicals to dissolve the bond between your dead skin cells and your skin, sloughing off the old cells to make room for new ones [5]. Some commonly used chemical exfoliants include salicylic acid and glycolic acid. People with sensitive skin, however, may prefer gentler exfoliants, like fruit enzymes.

We recommend a simple but effective gentle facial cleanser that works as a three-in-one cleanser, toner, and exfoliator. When used daily, it helps remove dirt and unwanted dead skin cells, revealing a fresh layer of smooth skin underneath.

#2 Using Abrasive Cleansers

Speaking of a gentle cleanser, Not much beats those few precious moments at the end of the day when you treat yourself to a nightly face wash. With the help of cool water and your tried-and-true cleanser, you rid yourself of the impurities (both mental and physical) of the day.

But if your cleanser contains harsh ingredients, it may be doing more harm than good. Abrasive ingredients that could be causing your dry skin include:

• Isopropyl alcohol – Widely used in cosmetics and skincare, isopropyl alcohol can dry your skin, especially when used in high concentrations in your cleanser [6].
• Sulfates – Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an anionic detergent found in a variety of skin and hair products. In high concentrations, it can increase the disruption in the skin barrier by removing too much sebum (natural oil created by the skin) [7].

Avoiding a harsh cleanser is important whether you're struggling with dry skin or other skin conditions. Generally, all it does is disrupt and damage your skin barrier. 

#3 Drinking Too Little Water

When you're busy thriving professionally and personally, it’s easy to forget one very crucial ingredient needed to maintain a lavish lifestyle and a healthy complexion: water.

If you’re toting around a 32-ounce refillable water bottle all day long, you’ll need to refill it a few times to achieve an adequate amount of hydration. While the water-intake requirements vary from person to person, women typically need about three 32-ounce bottles a day (approximately 11.5 cups) [8]. For men, that number increases to 15.5 cups [9].

Not only does staying hydrated keep your skin moisturized, but it also offers the following potential benefits to your body [10]:

• Carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells
• Protecting organs and tissues
• Regulating body temperature

#4 Living in Harsh Climates

You could have every skin care product needed to combat dryness, but don't forget a possible environmental factor that can also cause dry skin. The lack of humidity that goes hand in hand with a frigid environment can irritate your skin and leave signs of dryness in its wake [11]. 

Whether you live in an environment that’s chilly year-round or you’re going through seasonal changes that snuff out the heat and bring a winter wonderland in its absence, one thing is for sure: it’s essential to incorporate a daily night cream that helps nourish, firm, and repair your skin overnight.

#5 Inheriting Genetic Factors

Your skin's beauty lies in its unique pigment and the fine lines you’ve earned through years of laughter and smiles that are exclusively and wholly you. And with your one-of-a-kind skin profile comes your skin’s ability (or potential lack thereof) to adequately hydrate itself. 

Some individuals create a significant amount of sebum to keep their skin moisturized [12]. Others don’t make enough, which can result in dry skin.

Luckily, you can combat genetics by incorporating dual moisturizers that provide the ultimate 24-hour protection from dryness: a daily hydrating SPF in the morning and a moisturizing cream at night.

#6 Using the Wrong Moisturizers For Your Skin

Because every person's skin has its own unique skincare profile, it can be challenging to find a moisturizer that’s not too rich and not too light—it’s just right. With a formulate curated just for your skin, you can end the Goldilocks charade and moisturize to your heart's content knowing that you're applying a formula created for your skin's needs.

#7 Overwashing Your Skin

Your sebaceous glands produce sebum, which creates a protective coating on your skin’s outer layer to keep moisture locked in and dryness out [13]. However, if you’re cleansing your face in the morning and at night, you might be removing too much sebum, leaving your skin without its natural moisturizer.

A potential indicator that you’re overwashing your face is if your skin feels tight after washing it. To avoid potential dryness, try cutting out your morning facial cleanser and instead opt for a once-a-day cleanser before bed.

#8 Not Incorporating an SPF

If you're using a moisturizer in the morning, you’re on the right track. But if that moisturizer doesn’t include an SPF of 30 or more to keep your skin safe from the sun’s harmful UV rays, it’s not too late to make the change. 

Not only will the right daily moisturizer with SPF protect your skin from environmental aggressors like UV rays, but it’ll also help keep your skin hydrated throughout the day.

Tips for Keeping Your Skin Hydrated

If you find yourself with dry skin, all is not lost. Wondering how to fix dry skin? With a few easy-to-incorporate tips, you can put yourself back on track and become the proud owner of smooth, hydrated skin in no time [14]:

• Close the door while showering to retain moisture in the room
• Use warm water instead of hot water when cleansing your face.
• Blot your face gently with a towel after cleansing.
• Apply your nighttime moisturizer directly after your shower to help trap residual moisture from the shower into your skin.
• Use fragrance-free products to avoid harsh chemicals that expedite dryness on your skin.

Find the Ultimate Skincare Formula for Your Skin with PROVEN

Incorporating a moisturizer into your daily routine is the first step to gifting yourself the hydrated skin you deserve. If you’re not noticing results with your current moisturizer and you’re ready to level up your skincare routine, let PROVEN do the hard work for you.

With our 3-minute skincare quiz, PROVEN skincare will analyze 46 essential skincare factors, from skin concerns like dryness and acne to your lifestyle—and even your home climate. Once we have a clear understanding of your skin profile, we’ll create a skincare regimen containing the exact ingredients your skin craves for ultimate health and hydration.

The result? An easy-to-use 3-step skincare system that includes a personalized cleanser, day moisturizer, and night cream. Simply apply the day moisturizer each morning and then use the cleanser and night cream before bed. Finding your perfect skincare formula is as easy as one, two, three.

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