The close of the last decade brought me more than wistfulness for bygone days. It also gave me some seriously dry skin! And while I’m not sure if it was caused by hormonal changes, good ol’ fashioned skin aging, or something else entirely, I spent most of 2019 actively seeking out skincare products to help counteract the dreaded papery texture that my skin had suddenly become. I’m happy to say that I’ve found some keepers that might just work for you as well!

Having parched skin hasn’t doused my desire to double cleanse, but not all makeup removers are created equal. Not even in the world of cleansing oils. I learned from my dermal dry spell that certain cleansing oil brands actually leave my skin feeling tighter than others. This realization came about after I carefully switched around Step 1 cleansers while using the same non-irritating facial wash as my Step 2 cleanser.

It may sound biased, but the proof is in the pudding. I haven’t stopped using the In Her Element Sunflower Wash-Off Cleansing Oil (P695 for 110ml at inherelement.ph) since I got it! The smooth consistency of the formula allows for evenly coating my face to help break down makeup without the painful pulling or dragging. The oil is actually oily enough to maintain some dewiness after all the cleansing is done. And when the 2019 water shortage made me lessen my usage of rinse-off products, I swapped momentarily to Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (P59 for 50ml at Watsons).

For the second step cleansers, I like to alternate between the Nuxe Comforting Cleansing Milk* (P1,150 for 200ml at Rustan’s Department Store) and the Fourth Ray Beauty Cloud Bank Milky Cleanser ($12 for 171ml at Fourth Ray Beauty). The Nuxe Milk was my biggest skin savior when my drying dilemma started. Since it doesn’t produce any foam at all, it removes all remaining traces of makeup without causing my skin to feel any tightness afterwards. I also use it with my Foreo Luna Play Plus, though I have to double the amount to get a good slip going. While the instructions on the bottle recommend wiping off with a cotton pad, I prefer rinsing the cleansing milk off with water and have not experienced any icky residue.

Meanwhile, I got the Cloud Bank on a whim, thinking that it might be a more affordable alternative to Nuxe. Well, I soon discovered that “Milky Cleanser” is not the same as “Cleansing Milk”. Cloud Bank is actually a runny, low foam cleanser rather than the completely lather-less, lightweight emulsion that cleansing milks are expected to be. Fortunately, my skin tolerates this gentle wash well.

*Side note: I don’t know why the totally underrated Nuxe cleansing milk isn’t available from the brand’s official Shopee page, BeautyMNL, or even Rustans.com. I had to visit their physical store to stock up, so it’s a beauty pilgrimage of sorts if you want to get hold of this product.

I like to use Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner (P1,400 for 250ml at Kiehl’s boutiques) sans cotton pad, so I pat it on like an essence. TBH, most alcohol-free toners work okay for me, so I’m not particular about brands in this category.

I follow up with Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (P2,735 for 20ml from Estee Lauder). While it’s not specifically just for dry skin issues, I like that it’s an all-around sort of serum that has anti-aging qualities as well. Plus, it doesn’t feel thick or sticky. Another go-to for my serum step is the Clinique Moisture Surge Supercharged Concentrate (P650 for 15ml at Clinique boutiques), as the lightweight formula packs a hydration-specific punch.

I went to extremes to find moisturizers that really delivered the hydration my skin needed. On one hand, there is the drugstore-priced Nivea Creme (P143.25 for 60ml at Mercury Drug) in its iconic blue tin. I am partial to the German-made ones as opposed to the Thai ones, since the German Nivea is said to be a convincing dupe for the OG Creme de La Mer. Make no mistake, this formula is hardcore thick AF so it works like a charm when it comes to locking in the moisture of my previous skincare steps. I found out during a discussion at the Project Vanity Community that this moisturizer isn’t for everybody, though. Luckily, it’s cheap enough that you can guiltlessly use it on your ankles and elbows if your face ain’t feelin’ it.

On the opposite side of the budget spectrum is La Mer’s The Moisturizing Soft Cream (P5,200 for 15ml from Rustan’s Department Store). Liz has raved about Gel De La Mer, and the Soft Cream is somewhere between that lightweight option and the super heavy OG formula. I love this happy medium’s high spreadability, and I love its effects on my skin even more. The price makes it a real investment so I save it for really bad skin days or when I used a product that my skin didn’t agree with. This cream soothes my skin and restores it to health seemingly overnight!

Finally, there are the trusty sleeping packs that have become staples in my routine rather than just the occasional treat. I have long spoken of my love affair with Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (P1,550 for 70ml at Laneige counters) to anyone who will listen, because I seriously enjoy the bouncy feel of my skin the next morning. Now, after testing the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate (P4,800 for 20ml), I was left with the impression that it resembled an overnight pack. I have since been using it that way, layered generously over the ANR Complex before lights-out.

Got any new discoveries for dry skin? Please share below!