Dry skin feels tight because it lacks water, lacks lipids, or—almost always—both. The solution is a short, consistent routine: cleanse without stripping away oils, provide water with a humectant, and lock it in with a richer cream. Mountain cold and hot showers do the rest of the damage, so it’s also worth changing a couple of habits.
What is dry skin and how do you recognize it?
The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, functions like a wall: the cells are the bricks and the lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids) are the mortar. When there is not enough mortar, the water inside evaporates more easily and the surface becomes rough. That is dry skin. You can recognize it by:
- Tightness that only subsides when you apply cream.
- Rough patches or fine flakes on the cheeks, around the nose, or on the forehead.
- Dull tone and fine lines that become more pronounced at the end of the day.
- Chapped lips and dry hands when it's cold.
Two things must be separated. Dry skin produces little sebum by nature: it is a skin type. Dehydrated skin is a temporary state; it lacks water, and it can happen even to oily skin. Both improve with hydration, but dry skin also needs textures that replenish lipids.
Why does skin get dry?
General causes
- Each skin's tendency: there are sebaceous glands that produce less oil.
- Age and hormonal changes, which usually reduce that production over the years.
- Cleansers with strong surfactants or washing the face more than necessary. The surfactant surrounds the oil so that water can wash it away, and an aggressive one does not distinguish between dirt and the lipids the skin needs.
Lifestyle and climate in Colombia
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Mountain cold. In Bogotá, Tunja, or Pasto, cold air retains little humidity and draws water out of the skin. Among those who have completed our online diagnostic, almost half live in a cold climate, so the problem is very common here.
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Dry heat. In Valledupar, Neiva, or Cúcuta, heat also dries out the skin, even if the skin doesn't feel cold.
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Air conditioning. An office or a car with air conditioning dries out the environment and, with it, the skin.
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Long, very hot showers. Hot water dissolves barrier lipids better, just as it washes a greasy pot better. It feels nice in cold weather, but it leaves the skin more unprotected when you step out.
Your routine for dry skin, step by step
Morning
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Cleanse gently, with lukewarm water and a non-drying cleanser. Dry by patting, without rubbing.
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Hydrating serum on clean skin, on the face and neck. It provides humectants, molecules that attract water to the surface.
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Hydrating cream with a rich texture, while the skin is still slightly damp. Its emollients soften and its occlusive ingredients form a film that slows down evaporation.
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Sunscreen every day, even when it is cloudy: due to the altitude, in Bogotá the midday sun frequently reaches the "very high" or "extreme" category of the UV index, even on cool days.
Night
- Remove makeup and cleanse the face.
- If your skin is very dry, apply a few drops of facial oil before the cream.
- Finish with your nourishing cream and a lip balm.
Once or twice a week
A hydrating mask restores comfort on the coldest days or after a plane trip.
Products we recommend
When to consult a dermatologist
Common dryness improves with habits. Make an appointment if your skin remains dry after several weeks of consistent care, if it cracks or bleeds, if itching keeps you awake, or if red patches or flaking appear that do not go away. Those signs may correspond to skin conditions that need medical assessment, and a cream will not solve them.
Frequently asked questions
Does dry skin need water or oil?
Both. Humectants attract water to the skin, and emollients and occlusives prevent it from evaporating. That is why the routine combines a hydrating serum with a richer cream or an oil.
Why does my skin get drier in Bogotá?
The combination of cold, dry air, hot showers that strip the skin's lipids, and intense sun due to the altitude. Showering with lukewarm water and applying cream as soon as you step out helps a lot.
Can I exfoliate dry skin?
Yes, gently and only a few times a week. Scrubbing hard damages the barrier and leaves the skin even drier.
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