Skincare Protocol | Updated September 23 2026

Skincare Routine for Dry Skin - Morning and Night Steps That Actually Work

By ZO® Skin Health

 

Dry skin can be uncomfortable, leaving you with tightness, flakiness, and irritation. Without proper care, it can lead to issues such as redness, sensitivity, and a dull complexion.

If you're experiencing these issues, a skincare routine tailored for dry skin can restore balance and give you a healthy, radiant glow. To help you establish suitable skincare practices and discover the best products to combat dryness, this guide will take you through a regimen designed to hydrate, nourish, and protect.

Identifying the signs and causes of dry skin

Dry skin occurs when the outermost layer of your skin, the epidermis, lacks the moisture and lipids (fats) to stay hydrated. This can leave skin feeling rough, tight, and sometimes itchy and irritated. If left untreated, dry skin can lead to flakiness, cracking, and inflammation.

Several factors can contribute to dry skin. Many are environmental or age-related. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Cold weather: Low humidity in winter can strip away moisture from your skin, leading to increased dryness and irritation.
• Hot showers and baths: Prolonged exposure to hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils.
• Indoor heating: During colder months, indoor heating systems often strip the air of moisture, making the air – and your skin – drier.
• Harsh skincare products: Soaps, foaming cleansers, and alcohol-based toners can remove natural oils, compromising your skin's barrier. 
• Aging: As we age, our skin produces less oil (sebum), which can lead to increased dryness. After we reach 40, this decline in oil production is common, making a tailored skincare routine even more essential.

If you notice tightness, flaking, or your skin feels rough to the touch, it's time to address these issues with a dry skin care routine that rehydrates and restores your skin's moisture balance.

Dry vs Dehydrated Skin: What's the Difference?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different conditions – and treating one as if it were the other can make both worse.

	Dry Skin	Dehydrated Skin
What it is	A skin type – a structural characteristic of the skin	A temporary skin condition affecting any skin type
Cause	Insufficient sebum (oil) production	Insufficient water content in the skin
Who gets it	Determined largely by genetics, age, and hormonal factors	Anyone – including oily skin types
Signs	Persistent tightness, flaking, rough texture, cracks	Dullness, congestion, surface dehydration lines, a crepey texture
What makes it worse	Harsh cleansers, cold weather, hot water, alcohol-based products	Caffeine, alcohol, not drinking enough water, over-exfoliating
How to address it	Barrier-supporting ingredients: ceramides, squalane, fatty acids	Humectants: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol

Many people have both simultaneously. A dry skin type that is also dehydrated needs both barrier repair (to stop lipid loss) and humectant hydration (to draw water into the skin). The ZO hydration range is formulated to address both in a structured system.

Essential steps in a skincare routine for dry skin

• Gentle cleansing
  • Start with a hydrating, non-stripping cleanser. Harsh cleansers can make dry skin worse by disrupting the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Instead, opt for a creamy, non-foaming cleanser that removes dirt and impurities without over-drying your skin. Look for cleansers with ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, or oat extract, which help to lock in moisture.
  • Also, use lukewarm water when washing your face. Hot water can worsen dryness by stripping away essential oils.
• Toning for hydration
  • For dry skin, toning can be incredibly beneficial. After cleansing, apply a hydrating toner to replenish lost moisture. Choose alcohol-free products that contain ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or aloe vera. These help draw moisture into the skin, making your complexion feel more refreshed and plump.
• Moisturizing
  • The American Academy of Dermatology states that moisturizer is a key part of the healing process for dry skin. A rich, emollient moisturizer, like those in the ZO hydration collection, will seal in hydration and protect your skin from environmental stressors. Look for products containing ingredients like shea butter, squalane, or ceramides to repair the skin’s moisture barrier.
• Sun protection
  • If skin is already dry, the sun can cause further damage, highlighting fine lines, discoloration, and dehydration. Daily apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, even in winter. Look for sunscreens with hydrating ingredients like glycerin or niacinamide to avoid further drying out your skin.

Morning Skincare System for Dry Skin

The morning system for dry skin prioritizes hydration before correction. The goal is to replenish overnight moisture loss, strengthen the barrier, and seal everything with SPF before environmental exposure begins.

ZO's Getting Skin Ready® protocol for dry and sensitized skin uses: Hydrating Cleanser → Exfoliating Polish → Calming Toner.

Step	Product	Notes
1. Cleanse	Hydrating Cleanser	Creamy, sulfate-free formula; cleans without disrupting lipid barrier
2. Exfoliate	Exfoliating Polish (AM or PM)	Getting Skin Ready® Step 2; use 2–3x per week for dry skin, not daily
3. Tone	Calming Toner	Alcohol-free; soothes and balances without stripping
4. Serum	Daily Power Defense®	Antioxidant barrier reinforcement; supports skin's natural cellular repair
5. Hydrator	Recovery Crème	Apply as morning hydrator; rich, emollient formula supports barrier restoration and calms visible redness; extend to neck as needed
6. SPF	Daily Mineral SunShade Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 45	Recommended for all skin types, providing Triple-Spectrum Protection® against UVA, UVB, blue light and Infrared rays. It also helps the skin’s natural recovery process from daily sun exposure and replenishes the moisture barrier for skin comfort. This product is non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic and is available in "6" shades.

ZO® recommends functional hydrators, referred to as Hydration + Calming, uniquely engineered to boost natural hydration, normalize epidermal health and restore skin's resiliency. As a result, reactivity is lessened, and skin is enabled to better withstand environmental stressors and corrective treatments.

Evening Skincare System for Dry Skin

ZO Triple Spectrum Protection® also offers additional hydrators, antioxidants, cellular repair and anti-inflammatory agents complete each formula to help strengthen the skin and increase the skin’s tolerance and ability to repair itself.

Step	Product	Notes
1. Cleanse	Hydrating Cleanser	Removes SPF and day's buildup without lipid stripping
2. Exfoliate	Exfoliating Polish (AM or PM)	2–3x per week only; improves penetration of PM actives
3. Tone	Calming Toner	Balance skin before applying hydration and treatment steps
4. Advanced Serum	Daily Power Defense®	Defends against oxidative stress and supports barrier function
5. Peptide-based serum	Firming Serum or Peptide Facial Refining Concentrate	Firming Serum for visible sagging and loss of contour; Peptide Facial Refining Concentrate for expression lines, wrinkles, and facial volume loss
6. Hydrator	Recovery Crème	Apply generously; dry skin benefits from richer occlusion at night

Recovery Crème is a rich, emollient hydrator formulated to restore moisture and support skin resiliency while calming visible redness. For very dry or seasonally dry skin, it can be rotated with Hydrating Crème for deeper overnight replenishment.

Dry skin should never skip the PM moisturizing step, even if skin feels less dry on a given night. Consistent barrier sealing overnight is what prevents the chronic dehydration cycle that worsens dry skin over time.

Introducing hydrating and nourishing treatments

In addition to your basic routine, certain treatments can provide extra hydration and nourishment to keep dry skin at bay.

Serums and oils

For an extra hydration boost, consider layering a hydrating serum under your moisturizer. Serums with hyaluronic acid and peptides are great for plumping the skin and improving elasticity. Additionally, niacinamide is good for dry skin because it boosts ceramide production. 

Adding a facial oil before moisturizer, especially at night, can help seal in all the goodness and give your skin a luminous glow. Allow a minute or two for the oil to absorb before you apply your moisturizer. This will help avoid pilling. 

Overnight masks and creams

These are thicker, more intensive products that can provide deep hydration while you sleep. Masks and creams are usually richer in texture and packed with ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and botanical oils that help repair the skin barrier overnight.

If you opt for this step, you'll need to change your usual PM routine. Instead of continuing with the several-stage process, you'll typically need to cleanse as normal and then apply a mask or cream to allow it to work overnight. Then, you'll return to your usual AM skincare routine the following day. 

Exfoliation with care

While exfoliation is important to remove dead skin cells and improve the absorption of hydrating products, you'll need to be careful. Opt for gentle exfoliants such as enzyme-based or lactic acid products that won’t strip your skin further. Also, exfoliate no more than two or three times a week and less if you have sensitive or intensely dry skin.

Adapting your routine for seasonal changes

While we've recommended key products and ingredients, it's important to note that your skin's needs change with the seasons – and so should your skincare routine. For dry, sensitive skin, consider your environment as this will influence your regimen. 

Winter routine

In colder months, the dry air and indoor heating can strip your skin of its natural moisture. Switch to richer, more hydrating products to combat the dryness. Use thicker creams and balms that lock in moisture and protect your skin from harsh environmental conditions.

Also, consider adding a humidifier to your home during winter to keep moisture levels up, which will help prevent your skin from drying out.

Summer routine

In warmer months, your skin may feel less dry but still requires hydration. Switch to lighter formulations like hydrating gels or water-based moisturizers that won’t feel greasy or clog your pores. Serums with hyaluronic acid are perfect for adding hydration without weight. Always use sun protection, as UV rays can lead to further dryness and aging.

Mistakes to avoid

When incorporating a skincare routine designed for dry skin, there are common skincare mistakes to look out for. 

• Over-cleansing: Using harsh cleansers or washing your face too frequently can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to more dryness and irritation. Stick to gentle cleansers and avoid over-washing
• Skipping moisturizer: Never skip moisturizer, even if your skin doesn’t feel especially dry at the moment. Moisturizer helps to lock in hydration and improves skin barrier repair, preventing future dryness.
• Ignoring ingredients: Always check the ingredients in your skincare products. Avoid alcohol, artificial fragrances, and harsh chemicals, as they can irritate and further dry out your skin.
• Not layering products properly: Many dermatologists recommend applying your thinnest products first and then layering thicker ones on top. Start with hydrating serums, then, depending on the moisturizer's consistency, you might want to apply this before facial oils or heavier creams. For instance, if your moisturizer is more water-based, apply this before oil to lock in hydration. 
• However, occlusive moisturizers (moisturizers that don't add hydration to the skin but instead prevent it from escaping) may be better placed at the end of your routine. As you build your products, you'll establish the best order to layer them in. 

Create the best skincare routine for dry skin with ZO®

If you have dry skin and are trying to establish a skincare routine that can soothe and hydrate, we can help. Begin by building your ZO® regimen using our Regimen Finder. This will help you discover the best skincare routine for your needs. 

From there, you can ask us questions or get tips and advice about our products. Get in touch with our friendly team of ZO® Skin Health experts and we'll explain how our hydrating collection can ease your dry skin.