Our Ultimate Hydrating Serums for Dry Skin

If your face feels tight, flaky, and has a general lacklustre appearance, you may be experiencing dry or dehydrated skin.

While some of us may only battle dry skin in the winter months or during periods of stress, others may cope with dryness and discomfort 365 days a year – which is why it’s important to do something about it.

Below, we’ll explore how to hydrate skin: looking at what might be causing your parched skin, examining the connection between dry skin and aging, and unpacking what you can do to support it with Lancôme’s hydrating serums for dry skin.

Dry skin vs dehydrated skin: what’s the difference?

Understanding how to hydrate skin requires knowing the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Dry skin is an inherited skin type, similar to oily or combination skin.

Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a temporary skin concern caused by a lack of water in the stratum corneum – the top layer of your skin. This is a common byproduct of dry skin, but dehydration can affect all skin types – even oily.

Outside influences can impact your skin’s moisture levels as well. Whether it’s harsh weather, a change in season, pollution, sunburn, travel, low water intake or skipping your hydrating serum for dry skin, these factors are all among the causes of dry skin.

Why does dehydrated skin lead to skin aging?

To connect the dots between skin dehydration and skin aging, we consulted Lancôme’s National Skincare Expert Brittany Hanchard:

“In addition to being uncomfortable, dehydrated skin can cause skin to visibly age at a faster rate. Think of it this way: your skin is the largest organ in your body and requires water to stay healthy and ensure optimal skin cell renewal. Skin cells cannot do their job without moisture – whether it’s because your skin is naturally less capable of retaining oils and water, or environmental and lifestyle factors that prevent water intake or retention.

“Dry skin can appear somewhat lifeless due to dead skin cells building up on the surface of your skin,” Brittany adds. “This makes it look flaky and dull, and results in facial tightness and discomfort.”

Breaking the cycle of dry and dehydrated skin

Dry skin can be a cyclical occurrence, and our lifestyles are often the biggest culprit. Inadequate sleep, minimal water intake, poor diet, smoking, inclement weather, stress and even certain skincare products can all contribute to dehydrated skin.

You will need to continually take quality care of your face and body, otherwise you can easily fall back into the challenge of dry skin concerns.

We recommend sleeping for a minimum of eight hours each night, staying hydrated, and practising good skincare habits: daily cleansing, regularly applying a hydrating serum for dry skin, and moisturising twice a day – every day.

Extreme weather temperatures and pollution can also have a negative impact on your skin. Whilst those may be difficult factors to control, they’re another reason why effective skincare matters. A hydrating serum for dry skin will help defend your skin from the elements and prevent moisture loss – making them a cornerstone of any anti-aging skincare routine.

Lancome’s hydrating serums for dry skin

A face serum for dry skin is your go-to beauty tool whenever you feel that your skin needs a dose of hydration or extra assistance in preventing water loss.

Read on to explore Lancôme’s top hydrating serums for dry skin.

The first step in preventing water loss involves finding a product that helps strengthen your skin moisture barrier – and for that reason, we recommend our anti-aging serum Advanced Génifique. This hydrating serum for dry skin contains prebiotic and probiotic fractions to help reduce fine lines and fortify your skin moisture barrier. It adds luminosity and radiance to your skin, while improving its firmness, texture and elasticity, too.

How to Apply: Apply the face serum on clean, dry skin morning and night. The perfect amount will already be in the dropper, so dispense into the palm of your hand. Press the serum lightly, firmly and evenly into your skin. Spread the excess hydrating serum for dry skin across your forehead, cheeks, chin and neck in long, gliding strokes, working from the centre of the face outwards. Finish by stroking upward on the t-zone and across the upper and lower lip, then under the jawline.

After applying the serum, follow with the Génifique Day Cream, a radiance-boosting moisturiser that targets visible signs of aging and dehydrated skin.