Hydrating Skincare Routines for Dry and Dehydrated Skin

If your skin is feeling tight, rough, or lacking that fresh-radiant glow, here’s a smart routine rooted in the expertise of Clinique (with dermatologist-tested, allergy-tested, fragrance-free formulas. We’ll walk you through 5 clear, actionable steps designed to hydrate dry and dehydrated skin—yes, what’s the difference? Dry skin lacks oil; dehydrated skin lacks water (you can have oily and dehydrated skin). Let’s get your skin feeling comfortable again.

1. Start with a gentle, non-drying cleanser

Use a cleanser that lifts away dirt, pollution and debris without stripping skin’s natural moisture.

Try: Clinique All About Clean™ Liquid Facial Soap — leaves skin clean, comfortable, refreshed; quick-rinsing, non-drying.

Quick Tip: Use lukewarm water, —then pat your skin dry rather than rubbing.

2. Apply a hydrating serum or lightweight lotion to replenish water

Once skin is clean, this is where you feed it moisture. A light, product can address dehydration (water loss) and prep your skin for next steps.

Try: Clinique Moisture Surge™ Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate — quench skin with our supercharged water-gel serum and hydrator that instantly moisturises dehydrated skin for a full 72 hours.

3. Strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier

When skin is dry or dehydrated, the barrier is often compromised and unable to hold on to moisture. Rebuilding it can help lock hydration in.

Try: Clinique Dramatically Different™ Moisturizing Lotion+™ — silky, fast-absorbing… with pure urea and pure glycerin, it is clinically-proven to increase moisture +119% instantly. Plus, it strengthens skin’s barrier by 21% in just 2 hours*.

Quick Tip: If you live in a dry climate or are experiencing winter skin, you might layer this over the serum for extra support.

*Clinical testing on 21 women.

4. Lock in hydration with a gel or cream

Now , it’s time to help seal moisture in—especially for dry skin types.

Try: Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator — formulated with aloe bioferment and hyaluronic acid, it floods skin with instant and long-lasting hydration.

Call-out: Use this especially at night, or as your morning ‘base’ moisturizer before SPF—it gives that dewy, comfortable finish.

5. Don’t forget your SPF and occasional treatments

Even if you have dry or dehydrated skin, UV protection is non-negotiable. And treatments (like masks or overnight hydrators) can give your skin an extra boost.

Try: Clinique Moisture Surge™ Broad Spectrum SPF 28 Sheer Hydrator — hydrates and delivers sheer sun protection.

Bonus Tip: Once or twice a week, use a rich mask (like from the Moisture Surge family) to help restore comfort and resilience for skin that feels especially parched.

Quick Recap

· Cleanser that doesn’t over-dry

· Hydrating serum to replenish water

· Barrier strengthener to help lock in moisture

· Gel/cream to help seal in moisture

· SPF daily + occasional skincare treatments

At Clinique, we know that hydrated, resilient skin starts with a smart foundation — with our powerful hydrating formulas that are also dermatologist-tested, allergy-tested and & fragrance-free. All the products above integrate seamlessly in your routine and are designed for dry and dehydrated skin concerns.

Make your skin’s comfort and glow the outcome—not just the promise.