DRY SKIN

Dry skin occurs when the skin doesn't produce enough sebum or lacks the lipids it needs to hold onto moisture effectively.

Genetics play a part, but age, cold weather, central heating, sun exposure, harsh cleansing and over exfoliation can all make dryness more noticeable. Skin can also become drier as we get older as natural oil production changes.

The result is skin that may feel tight, rough, flaky or simply less comfortable than usual.

Living and working in Scotland, we know only too well what cold weather, wind and months of central heating can do to skin. Our approach isn't to scrub away the flakes and reach for the thickest cream available. We look at what is actually missing, then work to restore hydration and replenish the lipids that help keep it there.

Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water. And, slightly unhelpfully, your skin can be both at the same time.

This distinction influences the way we formulate and recommend skincare at Raven. A hydrating ingredient such as hyaluronic acid can help address a lack of water, while squalane and botanical oils provide the emollient lipids naturally dry skin needs.

For dry, dehydrated skin, we like to think in three simple steps: hydrate, replenish, seal.

The best skincare routine for dry skin should replace both water and lipids without stripping away what the skin already has.

Our approach is less about adding layer after layer and more about giving skin what it is actually short of. Cleanse gently, add water based hydration, then replenish with a facial oil or balm where needed.

One useful test is how your skin feels immediately after cleansing. We don't believe clean skin should feel squeaky, tight or desperate for the next product. If it does, your cleanser may be working a little too enthusiastically.

Water-binding ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, barrier-supporting niacinamide and lightweight squalane, alongside lipid rich botanical oils such as borage and rosehip are great for dry skin.

Borage is an ingredient we particularly love for dry skin at Raven, because its seed oil is naturally rich in gamma linolenic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid. Rosehip brings its own naturally occurring fatty acid profile, while squalane provides beautifully light emollience.

For us, good formulation is about making those ingredients work together. Plants are extraordinarily powerful, but the real magic happens when they are expertly blended into effective formulas.

Yes. Facial oil can be particularly beneficial for dry skin, but there is an important distinction: oil nourishes the skin, it doesn't add water.

That's why we often recommend applying a water-based hydrating serum first, followed by a few drops of facial oil. The first step supplies hydration. The second provides lipids, softens the skin and helps reduce moisture loss by forming a protective seal on the skin's surface.

We have always loved oils at Raven because they allow us to work with the natural lipid structure of the skin while harnessing the different fatty acid profiles of botanical seeds and fruits. Used properly, a well-formulated facial oil shouldn't simply sit heavily on the surface. It should absorb beautifully and earn its place in the routine.

If your skin still feels dry after moisturising, adding more of the same product isn't necessarily the answer. Your skin may be lacking water, lipids, or both.

This is where understanding your ingredients becomes much more useful than simply choosing the richest texture you can find. A humectant such as hyaluronic acid can help increase hydration, while squalane and botanical oils provide the lipid rich nourishment dry skin often needs.

It's also worth looking backwards through your routine. A harsh cleanser, too much exfoliation or very hot water can undo a surprising amount of the good work you're trying to achieve afterwards. Our advice is to go gently!

Dryness can become more noticeable as skin matures because natural sebum production and the composition of skin lipids change over time.

We don't see this as something that needs to be ‘fixed’. Skin changes throughout our lives, and good skincare should change with it.

If the cleanser or lightweight moisturiser you loved ten years ago suddenly isn't enough, listen to your skin. Adding water-based hydration and replenishing botanical oils can help support softness, suppleness and comfort as its needs evolve.

For dry skin, we recommend building a routine around three things: gentle cleansing, proper hydration and lipid rich nourishment.

Start with 24 Carat Oil to Milk Cleanser. We formulated it to cleanse thoroughly without that tight, stripped feeling we dislike so much, combining an oil based cleanse with gentle enzymatic action from papaya.

Follow with Ultra Hydrating Serum, where hyaluronic acid works alongside niacinamide, squalane and borage. It's our answer to the water side of the dry skin equation: lightweight, deeply hydrating and designed to support the skin barrier rather than simply coating the surface.

Then add Solstice Rejuvenating Facial Oil for botanical lipid nourishment. Its blend includes oils such as borage, rosehip and Scottish grown poppy, chosen to leave dry and mature skin feeling soft, supple and replenished.

When skin wants something richer, particularly at night or during colder weather, Night Balm provides a more cocooning final layer.

You don't need all four every day. That's important to us. Start with what your skin actually needs and build your ritual from there.