Hit a dry patch?

Restore your skin to its smooth, supple, happily hydrated self with Rosie Green’s moisture-giving go-tos

On the scale of dermal woes, dry skin seems to sit at the mild end. To non-sufferers it can feel like a minor complaint compared to confidence-zapping acne or red-face-inducing rosacea. But my midlife friends who are plagued by taut, flaky, irritated dry skin, which often ramps up to red raw and cracked, say it saps their spirit. It affects their faces, bodies, lips and hands; it makes skin look dull and feel uncomfortable.

But how to tackle it? Well, just as you’d stay warm with thermals, the key to keeping skin hydrated is all in the layers. And – public service announcement – getting the order right is critical. Apply products from thinnest texture to the thickest, as this will ensure you’re trapping as much moisture in the skin as possible. If you do the reverse, for example start with a balm, while no moisture will escape, none can get in either. Here’s how to layer.

Get the most out of hyaluronic acid

Able to hold 1,000 times its own weight in water, hyaluronic acid (HA) is hailed as the ultimate hydrator. But, to pull in the moisture, it works best when applied to damp skin. Also, using an HA that has both high and low molecular weights means it can reach different depths of the dermis for better all-round hydration.

Try Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid (left, €28 for members, beautypie. com), which has three weights of HA.

Up your ceramides

These naturally occurring molecules are the glue between our cells, help keep the skin barrier healthy and create a protective layer against moisture loss and external aggressors such as pollution. Dry skin, however, lacks ceramides and so hugely benefits from products where these are high on the ingredient list. The

Inkey List’s new Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer (€24.99, boots.ie) absorbs easily and doesn’t leave a greasy feel. Drunk Elephant’s Bora Barrier Repair Cream (€70, spacenk. com) is beloved by dry-skin plagued YOU testers – a mega blend of ceramides and lipids along with soothing alphaglucan, it promotes elasticity and encourages collagen production. CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment (above, €10, meaghers pharmacy.ie) also contains three types of ceramides and can alleviate the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis too.

Enjoy an overnight soak

Medik8, known for its potent skincare, has formulated its HEO Mask (€68 for 2 x 50ml, medik8.com) with the optimal blend for moisturisation – think humectants (water magnets), emollients (to soften and stop water loss) and occlusives (these create a protective layer). Designed to be used while you sleep, it consists of step one, a gel that deeply hydrates and, once soaked in, step two, a cream to lock in all that moisture.

Do your lips a service

Apply products from thinnest texture to the thickest to trap more moisture

Yes, Vaseline may help briefly but it’s a barrier product, rather than a hydrating one. An expensive but transformative purchase is SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair (€58, millies.ie). A little goes a long way.

Stock up on squalane

This wonder ingredient is biocompatible with the squalene in our sebum, so skin knows just what to do with it. A magical fatty acid, it restores skin to its former supple glory and has antioxidant benefits. My skin drinks up Biossance 100% Squalane Oil (right, €29, spacenk.com), which feels surprisingly lightweight and is extra effective when layered over moisturiser.

@lifesrosie