How to Help Dry Skin on Your Face Overnight

Causes of Dry Skin 

Before diving into the steps you can take to help dehydrated skin, let’s briefly chat about what causes dry facial skin. While some skin types are naturally drier, there are often environmental issues that contribute to the issue. Common culprits include the following:

• Dry Air: Low humidity levels are a common cause of dry skin. Dry air tends to be more of an issue during the winter months, in arid/hot climates, and when indoor heating (including fireplaces, space heaters, and central air) is running.
• Hot Water: While a steamy hot shower feels glorious in the moment, it can lead to dehydrated skin.
• Chlorine: If you thought the summer months would escape from this list unscathed, think again. Chlorine pools can dry out your skin, so always rinse off after a swim.
• Harsh Soaps: It’s important to use gentle ingredients on your face and body. If you notice an adverse reaction after using a product, stop using it.
• Age: Mature skin produces less sebum, so if you’re over the age of 40 then you may be at an increased risk of dealing with dehydrated skin.
• Certain Skin Conditions: Dry, irritated, and reactionary skin is particularly common in people who have eczema (atopic dermatitis) or psoriasis.

3-Step Nighttime Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

Ready for the DL on how to help dry skin on your face overnight? Consider adopting this night skincare routine for dry skin!

Step 1: Use a Gentle Cleanser 

Washing your face is a must no matter your skin type. The best face moisturizers for dry skin are the ones that get the job done without stripping your skin. Cue Confidence in a Cleanser, which combines the cleansing power of a foam cleanser with the hydration of a serum. It gently removes makeup, oil, SPF and traces of pollution while providing a soft barrier of moisture for skin that looks and feels healthy.

Step 2: Apply a Hydrating Antioxidant Serum to Damp Skin

After lightly dabbing your face with a clean, soft towel, apply one pump of a serum that delivers up to 24 hours of hydration, such as Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Triple Antioxidant Brightening Serum. Featuring three powerful antioxidants–vitamin C, ferulic acid and polydatin–this first-to-market formula helps you wake up to glowing skin and strengthens skin’s moisture barrier in one night!* Over time, fine lines and wrinkles are reduced, and your skin will appear brighter, smoother and plumper.**

Step 3: Layer Moisturizer on Top 

Double down on hydration by layering your skincare products! After applying your serum, add a nourishing face cream on top. To really help treat dry skin, we recommend using a rich moisturizer that’s infused with ceramides–naturally occurring lipids that retain moisture and help reinforce the skin barrier. You’ll find ceramides and more ingredients that help combat dry skin in Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Night Cream, the #1 night facial moisturizer in America.*** It's a major game-changer in two primary ways.

First, it works by moisturizing overnight—when your skin cell turnover peaks—and helps visibly improve 5 of the top signs of aging skin, including fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, dullness, and loss of firmness. Second, it features a pillow-proof formula and won’t transfer onto your pillow while you sleep. That means your skin gets more of that moisturizing goodness!

A Few More Ways to Help Dry Skin on Your Face

Feeling inspired? We’ve got a few more hydrating tricks up our sleeve that’ll help visibly cure dry skin on your face overnight. First, swap out your regular pillow for a satin or silk variety. The more delicate fabric may be less irritating on your skin.

It’s also a good move to sleep with a humidifier running in your bedroom while you’re sleeping. This can come in especially handy if you live in a dry climate, or during the winter months when the air is dry and indoor heating is running.

If you still experience persistent dryness, your dryness gets worse, or causes you pain via cracking, redness, or sensitivity, we recommend scheduling a visit with your doctor or a dermatologist.

Could the dryness you’re experiencing possibly be due to over-exfoliation? Check out these five signs of over-exfoliation to be sure. 

*Based on a clinical study conducted over 8 weeks with overnight radiance observed after one night.

**Based on a clinical assessment of 81 women at 4 weeks in an 8-week clinical study.

***Source: The NPD Group, Inc./ U.S. Prestige Beauty Total Measured Market, Skincare Product Unit Sales, January-May 2020.