When it comes to determining your skin type, it’s not always easy. But, while dry skin might experience periods of oiliness and oily skin might, at times, feel tight and uncomfortable, figuring out your type is crucial if you want to keep your complexion in check. This is especially true when it comes to dry skin.

While oily skin tends to show itself through shininess or breakouts, dry skin has a tendency to make itself known in the form of redness, irritation and flaking – by which time you’re generally past the point of being able to prevent it and, instead, you’re scrabbling around for ways to fix the issue. As things start cooling down and skin becomes subject to the perils of bitter cold weather and indoor central heating, it’s more important than ever that we’re not neglecting its very specific wants and needs.

If you have a feeling that you have a dry skin type, now is the time to brush up on all of the expert-approved tips, ingredients and skincare routines to keep your complexion happy in the months ahead. 

To make things a little easier, we’ve enlisted the help of Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, skincare expert at CeraVe, to compile the ultimate guide to caring for dry skin.

It might sound silly, but just because your skin appears dry, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a dry skin type. “Dry skin is skin that has less sebum or lipid content,” explains Dr Ejikeme. “This means it is dry all year round, irrespective of products placed on the skin or levels of hydration.”

Here comes the hard part. As previously mentioned, dry skin can be particularly hard to self-diagnose, as all skin types are likely to experience some periods of dryness. 

However, Dr Ejikeme explains that prolonged or ongoing issues imply your skin type is likely dry. “Your skin will feel tight and you might be prone to redness, flaking or itchiness. Lines and wrinkles will also appear exaggerated,” she says.

“Many external factors can cause exacerbated dryness,” reveals Dr Ejikeme. “Environmental stressors, diet and caffeine intake can play a part in dehydrating the skin. Excessive exfoliation and overuse of retinoids can also impair the barrier function of skin, causing it to feel dry.”

And while the things the skin is exposed to in terms of products can worsen the situation, so too can the weather. While dry skin can flare up during colder months due to cool winds and drying central heating, sun damage can also impair the skin’s barrier function, causing it to turn dry and irritated.

Now this is where things start to get tricky, but it’s important to know the difference if you’re trying to determine whether your skin type is dry. 

“All skin types, both dry and oily, can be dehydrated and feel dry. The difference is, with dehydrated skin, it’s only the upper layers of the skin that have low moisture content,” Dr Ejikeme reveals.

The key to determining the difference, Dr Ejikeme explains, is in how prone your skin is to the symptoms of dryness: “If the dryness you’re experiencing is not a common occurrence, it may be a sign your skin is just dehydrated. Using products that help to repair the barrier function can make this better over time,” she says.

For skin types that experience regular dryness, however, it’s important for your whole routine to be focused on hydration and improving overall barrier function.

Essentially, you want to be using any ingredient that works to hydrate and ‘pull’ water to skin. 

“Humectants help to do this, and include things like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and even aloe,” says Dr Ejikeme. Then, you need to look for other ingredients that help to ‘lock’ the moisture in and hydrate the skin’s upper layers, such as ceramides and fatty acids.

In times of extreme dryness and irritation, it is advised to steer clear of ingredients that compromise the skin’s barrier function, such as retinol and harsh exfoliants. However, experts warn that definitively blacklisting ingredients for dry skin isn’t the way to go. 

“The hydration levels in the skin are constantly in flux, so there is no one ingredient to always avoid. Instead, listen to your skin. If it is feeling especially irritated, stop exfoliating and use hydrating ingredients that help reduce the feeling of parched skin,” Dr Ejikeme recommends.

Images: Getty; courtesy of brands