The Best Makeup & Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

We’ve all been there. You’ve followed an influencer or a celebrity makeup tutorial, bought all the products, and, upon applying, very quickly realized they’re not doing what they did for them. Your moisturizer seems to just disappear, with no hydration in sight. Your concealer looks cakey. Your blush is dusty. Your foundation? Oh, your foundation…it’s settling into all the crevices, even ones where you didn’t think you had any. It’s not working. And it’s not working because these products, the ones recommended by those who know makeup and skincare best, aren’t made for your skin. 

You’ve got dry skin. And that dry skin affects everything, from how your skincare works to how your makeup lays. And because of that, you need products that work specifically for your skin type; no one else's.

So we’re here to help you discover those perfect products made for you. Keep on reading to learn what skincare products work best for dry skin, what makeup works best for dry skin, and how to find them.

What Is Dry Skin?

Dry skin, also known as xerodema in scientific terms, is characterized by a lack of moisture in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), leading to tightness, flakiness, and irritation. It is technically a medical condition, but is one that can easily be treated or alleviated at home. Dry skin can be caused by a variety of factors, including cold or dry weather, low humidity, improper skincare that doesn’t contain enough moisture-locking properties, too-hot or too-often showers, and even underlying genetic predispositions. 

Dry skin can be super challenging to deal with, so when tailoring a skincare and makeup routine to you and your skin, we always find it important to understand all the factors that can come into play, so you can address the specific challenges of dry skin.

Finding a Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

We know that it can be frustrating when looking for a skincare routine that can help alleviate some of the symptoms of dry skin. 

Before we get started, something to note: dry skin means it’s lacking moisture and hydration. But what’s the difference between the two?

Hydration refers to water, and that can include water-based moisturizers. Hydration is key to helping alleviate dry skin, but it needs moisture to help lock it in. Moisture or moisturizing generally refers to bringing back and keeping moisture in the skin. That’s primarily done with oils. Oils are not hydrating, and water isn’t moisturizing. 

Alright, now let’s get started.

Cleansing: If you’ve got dry skin, it's essential to use gentle, hydrating cleansers that don't strip the skin of its natural oils. Our suggestion is to look for products containing hydrating, natural ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. These ingredients increase the hydration content in the skin.

Moisturizing: Moisturizers, like we mentioned above, can either be water-based or oil-based. We love both. But when looking for a moisturizer for dry skin, we suggest picking one that contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vegetable squalane, or Kakadu Plum. These ingredients are particularly beneficial for dry skin, as they help to lock in moisture and repair the skin barrier. 

A few of our top picks are our: 

• ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer, which, while it’s a makeup product, can be used as skincare during the day or even at night to lock in your routine. Our ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer contains skin-firming Tightenyl™, moisture-rich vegetable squalane, hyaluronic acid and eggplant fruit extract to firm, smooth, and lock in moisture and hydration all day or night long.

• Kakadu Luxe Cream, which is a new product included in our just-dropped skincare collection. It’s powered by skin-firming GlowPlex™ (a complex of Niacinamide and natural peptides including Quinoa Seed Extract and Pea Extract) and superfruit Kakadu Plum, for a  luxurious, ultra-hydrating, fragrance-free face cream that smooths the look of fine lines and boosts skin’s radiance instantly and over time.

• Kakadu Beauty Oil, which is an updated version of our original, fan-favorite Beauty Oil. Kakadu Beauty OIl contains a super moisturizing Adaptogenic Herbal Blend to calm and soothe the skin, the ultimate brightening and nourishing superfruit, Kakadu Plum, and Mineral-Infused Sea Water for hydration. Because, remember! Hydration + Moisture = The Perfect Pair

Exfoliating: While exfoliation is important for removing dead skin cells, for dry skin, it should be done sparingly (like once a week) and with gentle, hydrating exfoliants to prevent further drying out the skin. We suggest never using a physical exfoliant like walnut shells or coffee grounds, because they can be very abrasive on already sensitive skin (yes, your dry skin is sensitive!), and can create issues like micro cuts and tears. 

Instead, try using a warm, damp washcloth in circular motions, and then apply a gently exfoliating serum that encourages cell turnover. We like ones that contain glycolic acid (a chemical exfoliant that sloughs away dead skin cells) or Vitamin C (a naturally derived chemical exfoliant that brightens the skin.) 

Hydration: While the hydration from drinking water is generally different from the external hydration your skin needs, drinking plenty of water can absolutely be super beneficial to helping to alleviate dry skin. Also what can help is using hydrating serums or mists. 

Our new SuperSerum Hydrating Mist is an absolute powerhouse at this, hydrating skin from the inside out with clean, ultra-nourishing ingredients like GlowPlex™ (a complex of Niacinamide and natural peptides including Quinoa Seed Extract and Pea Extract), brightening and moisturizing superfruit Kakadu Plum, super-nourishing Buriti Oil, and ultra-hydrating Mineral-Infused Sea Water. 

To use, just spray post-cleansing and prior to applying your favorite serum, or spray anytime during the day when you need a refresh.

Nighttime Routine: If you’ve got dry skin, take a look at your nighttime routine and see what you could potentially improve. We usually identify two areas: 1. Your environment, and 2. Your products. 

If you live in a dry climate or somewhere that gets very cold, so you need to use indoor heat, get a humidifier stat. Easy-to-clean ones are available all over, and we’ve found that using a humidifier greatly improves not only the quality of our skin when we wake up, but also the quality of our sleep during the night.

As for products, overnight treatments such as hydrating masks or oils can provide deep hydration and moisture to the skin, helping the skin repair itself while you sleep. As the ideal nighttime routine, we suggest spritzing our SuperSerum Hydrating Mist after cleansing as a base, then following up with our Kakadu Luxe Cream as a nighttime moisturizer, and then locking it all in with our Kakadu Beauty Oil. 

Makeup for Dry Skin

Like we mentioned in the intro, finding the right makeup products for your dry skin, as opposed to someone else's, can make a significant difference in enhancing your complexion and even improving the appearance of your dry skin, making it look radiant and smooth.

Primer: A hydrating, moisturizing primer is absolutely key for all skin types, but especially for dry skin. Look for gel-format ones that will lock in moisture or hydration. Our favorite is our Kind-to-Biome Certified Radiance Locking Hydrating Primer, which contains skin-firming Tightenyl™, moisture-rich vegetable squalane, hyaluronic acid and eggplant fruit extract to firm, smooth, and lock in moisture and hydration all day.

Foundation: When dealing with dry skin, the choice of foundation is crucial. Dry, cakey, or even matte foundations will only make your skin look drier and can emphasize dry patches. We suggest opting for liquid or stick foundation with a hydrating formula that includes skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid. 

Our ReEvolve Natural Finish Liquid Foundation is a skincare-infused, natural finish, medium coverage foundation formulated with Tightenyl™, a natural retinol alternative that firms, tones, and smoothes, Organic Aloe, which is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, helping to soothe, moisturize, and smooth the appearance of the skin, and Vegetable Squalane, a moisture-rich, plant-based emollient that hydrates skin, creating a dewy, smooth base. 

Definitely avoid matte finishes, which can emphasize dry patches. 

Concealer: Concealers for dry skin should have a creamy texture that won't cake or settle into fine lines. Look for products with moisturizing properties that can conceal imperfections without drying out the skin further. 

Our favorite concealer is our UnCoverup Concealer, which is ultra-creamy and super buildable. It’s made with non-comedogenic Coconut Oil, soothing and healing Castor Oil, and nourishing Cocoa Butter, for the most moisturizing coverage ever. And hey, if you want a little extra hydration, apply it with a damp Skin2Skin Beauty Sponge for a seamless application. 

Setting Powder: While powder can be challenging for dry skin, it's not entirely off-limits. The key is to use a finely milled, translucent powder and apply it sparingly only in areas that need setting, like under the eyes or around the nose. Our UnPowder is smoothing, translucent, and absorbs oil without drying out the skin. 

Blush and Eyeshadows: Usually, cream blushes and cream eyeshadows work better for dry skin, because they blend easily and provide a natural, hydrated glow. 

Our Lip2Cheek and Buriti Bronzer are queen for this. Both are creamy multitaskers, made with non comedogenic Coconut Oil and healing, nourishing Castor Oil, and are super buildable and blendable. Our Eyelights Cream Eyeshadow is also a great option. This crease-proof, long-wearing cream shadow comes in 6 metallic shades, and is formulated with organic green tea and moisturizing natural peptide quinoa extracts.  

Powder blushes and eyeshadows can definitely still be used, but it’s important to ensure they have a silky, blendable texture to prevent them from clinging to dry patches. Our ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush is a great option for dry skin. It’s a multidimensional, nourishing powder blush that glides on effortlessly thanks to sugar-derived wet powder technology, and skin-loving ingredients like Wildcrafted Buriti and Organic Jojoba Oils. 

Lip Products: For lips, we suggest avoiding matte lipsticks, which can be drying, and instead choose hydrating lipsticks or tinted balms that provide moisture and color.

Our top picks?

• Liplights Cream Lip Gloss: A skin-nourishing, dewy-textured, 3-in-1 layer of glow formulated with plumping peptides and soothing botanical butters.

• Legendary Serum Lipstick: A first-of-its-kind lipstick and lip stain serum that creates fully saturated, long-lasting coverage with just one swipe. This lipstick is super lightweight yet deeply pigmented, and ultra, ultra hydrating, thanks to replacing the majority of water inside our formula with Organic Bitter Cherry Fruit Water. The RMS Adaptogenic Herbal Blend balances and Kakadu Plum Extract protects, while the Trio-Wax Complex provides a velvety, serum-like finish.

• Tinted Daily Lip Balm: This nourishing, clean lip balm is infused with a hint of hydrating, just-bitten color in every swipe, and the beeswax-and-organic-oil formula deeply moisturizes dry lips and keeps hydration in for up to 12hrs.

• Go Nude Lip Pencils: Most lip pencils can be drying, so our founder, Rose-Marie, formulated something different. This is a richly pigmented, longwearing, skin-caring creamy lip pencil, expertly formulated with Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Mango Seed Oil, and Shea Butter to moisturize and complement an inclusive range of nude shades.

Ready to Hydrate and Glow?

Look, finding the perfect skincare and makeup routine for dry skin can be a trial and error situation, and it’s important to remember that what works for someone else may not work for you. But as long as you understand what your skin needs, and choose the right products based on that, you’ll be golden. And, as always, if you ever need a helping hand, our Artist Experts are here to help.