Why Is My Skin So Dry Even When I Moisturize?

Table of Content

• Introduction
• The Importance of Skin Hydration
• 11 Reasons Why Your Skin Is Dry Even After Moisturizing
• FAQs

Hey, how are you doing, guys and girls? If you clicked on this article, you are probably looking for an explanation of why your skin is dry, even when you use moisturizers for a long time. I personally came across this situation a few times in my life, so I definitely can say that I have experience dealing with this problem.

There are plenty of reasons why this might happen, and it’s extremely important to solve this problem as soon as possible so that our skin shines and makes everyone jealous.

So that’s the reason why I decided to uncover the 11 main reasons why it might happen and what you do wrong during your face moisturizing process. We will also talk about how to moisturize skin properly so that we don’t have any problems in the future anymore.

Before we start, check out our Vegan Skincare Guide, in which I talked about what is the vegan skincare and how to choose products that are 100% vegan.

Let’s begin with the importance of skin hydration, which will help us understand better why we need to moisturize our skin.

The Importance of Skin Hydration

We all wanna shine like those little bright stars in the night sky. To make our skin brighter, glowing, and more attractive, we have to hydrate the skin. When your skin is well-hydrated, it performs better protective functions and better maintains its elasticity and appearance, so keep in mind that moisturizing your skin wouldn’t be an excess.

In general, skin can function without moisturizers, the problem is that the ability to keep a good skin hydration level might change due to different factors, like age, diet, environment, and genetics. This might cause plenty of problems with your skin, and some of these factors might be a reason why your skin is dehydrated, flaky, and very dry.

This is when moisturizing comes in handy. I personally like moisturizers. I had some dry areas because I have a combination skin type. It worked just fine, not making oily my normally hydrated areas and hydrating my dry areas. The only thing you should pay attention to when choosing a product is your skin type. Define your skin type and make sure you buy a product that is dedicated to it.

11 Reasons Why Your Skin Is Dry Even After Moisturizing

Now that we understood the importance of moisturizing, I wanna talk about the 11 main problems that might lead to skin dehydration and cause skin flakiness and unpleasant feeling during the day:

1. Using the wrong moisturizer

‍The good moisturizer is key to well-hydrated skin. Believe me, I tried a few different moisturizers before I found a perfect moisturizer that suits my skin needs just perfectly. 

Generally, it’s very important to choose skincare products that are made specifically for your skin type, so before you buy any products and start your skincare routine, make sure you know your skin type. It’s easy to do, you can find tutorials on the Internet.

If you have dry skin, look for products containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin, which will help improve your hydration. 

2. Over-cleansing

‍Did you know, that your cleanser might be also a huge reason, why your skin is dehydrated? If you cleanse your face a few times a day and additionally choose products that are not suitable for your skin type, you can say goodbye to your desired skin look.

As I told you before, I had dry areas on my skin, and over-cleansing my skin by using the wrong moisturizer led to these results. Be aware when choosing products and always check out how to choose each of them.

3. Dehydration

‍Next very common reason why your skin might not be hydrated. You just drink a small amount of water. When I started drinking water every day, generally it improved my skin, but this is not the only reason why your skin might be dehydrated.

On the other hand, drinking water is extremely important in losing weight and just feeling better, this is mandatory when it comes to a healthy lifestyle so that your skin gets better as well. 

There are plenty of different researches on how much water an average human being should drink. Aim to drink at least 2L of water per day, but the general recommendation from The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is about:

• 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) a day for women
• 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) a day for men

This amount is a general fluid intake per day, so tend to drink about 2.5L of water and fill your body's needs with other liquids.

4. Exposure to harsh weather

‍Some people have dry skin during the winter, including me. Some of them have dry skin during summer.

So, guys, keep in mind that extremal temperatures might negatively impact your skin hydration level.

The ways to prevent it are very simple: moisturize your skin a bit more often, wear sunscreen in case of really cold weather, wear warm clothing and protect your face with a scarf or another thing that reduces the cold temperature on your body and skin.

5. Over-exfoliating

I understand, exfoliation is necessary for removing dead skin cells, but don’t forget that doing it often damages your skin. I use an exfoliant twice a week and have good skin, so don’t overdo it, remember that exfoliants are pretty toxic skincare products. Control is key!

Professionals recommend doing it once or twice a week, so if you don’t do it every day, it’s fine!

6. Aging

Unfortunately, as we are getting older, our skin's ability to keep the same hydration level decreases. 

Incorporation of anti-aging products is crucial if you don’t want your skin to look worse over time. After all, this will make you more attractive in the future, so definitely consider using them. 

The only problem with anti-aging products and skin care products, in general, is that it’s not a magical elixir that will make your skin shine outright. Improving your skin takes plenty of time.

7. Bad skin conditions

Certain skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, may cause some skin issues.

The only piece of advice I can give to you is to visit your dermatologist, they will help you solve your problem, you can be sure!

8. Using hot water

Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, and this is when you feel that your skin is dry and tight. 

To prevent it, wash your face with lukewarm water. This is a better option. Some experts also recommend taking a lukewarm shower as well. But we all know, that most of us won’t do it anyway. 

From my personal experience, taking a hot shower doesn’t make my skin look so much worse, so just tend to wash your face with lukewarm water, but taking a lukewarm shower is hard for most people, including me.

9. Not allowing products to absorb

You certainly want your moisturizer to work properly, so giving it a couple of minutes to absorb into your skin before you apply any other products is extremely important.

10. Medications

Some medications can cause skin dryness as a side effect. 

If you think your medications are the reason why your skin is dry, just visit your doctor and find out if it’s true.

11. Harsh skincare ingredients

Different ingredients have different impacts on our skin. Ingredients like alcohol, fragrances, or sulfate can make your skin dry, so watch out!

Better look for gentle, hydrating products that don’t contain these potentially harmful products.

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I also wanna add, that if you noticed one or a few problems I was talking about above, it’s important to start solving them immediately, don’t harm your skin, you should love it and treat it well to truly glow up!

Now, let’s move to 5 frequently asked questions about dry skin, even after moisturizing.

FAQs

Q: How often should I moisturize my face?

Ideally, tend to moisturize your face twice a day - once in the morning and once before you go to sleep. But if you have dry skin, you might have to reapply your moisturizer throughout the day, so contact your dermatologist or look for more info on the Internet to know exactly what to d in your situation.

Q: Can you over-moisturize your skin?

Yes, over-moisturizing can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. It’s very important to control your moisturizing. As I said in the previous answer, tend to do it twice a day.

Q: What are some natural remedies for dry skin?

Some natural remedies for dry skin include using aloe vera gel, honey, or coconut oil as moisturizers. But, guys, remember to, always patch-test these ingredients on a small area of your skin first. 

That way you’ll know exactly if it’s suitable for your skin.

Q: How long does it take for a moisturizer to work?

You may notice immediate relief from dryness after applying a moisturizer, but it can take a few days to a few weeks or even months of everyday use to see significant improvements in your skin's hydration levels. Don’t hurry, you wanna have healthy skin, and it always takes a lot of time.

Q: Are oil-based or water-based moisturizers better for dry skin?

Oil-based moisturizers are generally better for dry skin because they create a protective barrier that locks in moisture.

On the other hand, if you have acne-prone skin, it’s certainly better to use a water-based moisturizer.

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