If you suffer from dry skin on your face, it can be disheartening to discover that a rudimentary application of moisturiser often isn’t enough to alleviate stubborn signs of dryness.

Oftentimes with dry, flaky facial skin, dryness can endure despite your best efforts, like twice daily moisturiser application. Rather, a more multi-dimensional approach to treating the signs of dry facial skin – like flaking and tightness – is needed, meaning a skin care regime consisting of several steps.

The first step is to wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser. Simply scrubbing your face with a bar of harsh, astringent body soap will leech your skin of its natural moisture and oils, further compounding the problem. A soap-free cleanser should be your go-to method of removing dirt and grime without depleting your skin of its all-important moisture.

Without fail, moisturiser will impart your skin with the additional hydration needed to alleviate the symptoms of dry skin. The trick, however, is that you’ll need two moisturisers: one that hydrates deeply, applied after cleansing before bed and again in the morning before heading to work; and another specifically for the eyes, as the skin here is often the driest.

Those living with stubborn dry facial skin will benefit from the inclusion of a serum into their skin care routine. A face serum that includes hyaluronic acid will provide skin with additional moisture retention and won’t necessarily cost more. Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the skin, and the addition of further HA helps our skin retain moisture more effectively, keeping it plump and fresh, flattening out fine lines and wrinkles in the process.

Finally, sealing in your active ingredients with a face oil can provide an additional barrier against dry facial skin. Simply add as many as three drops to the surface of your palms and pat gently all over the face to ensure an even spread that won’t leave you shiny. Those looking to really go above and beyond in their quest to alleviate dry skin would be well-advised to use a weekly moisturising mask for further hydration.