Even if you’ve found a harmonious skincare regimen—and even if that regimen is minimalist and easy to maintain—you will periodically find yourself with patches of dry, itchy skin. The cold, dry air in winter is almost certainly to blame. But dry skin can also occur in summer, particularly in less-humid climates or when your air conditioning is cranked super high.

It’s still hard to know what you could have done to avoid the situation, since there are so many factors that contribute to your skin’s moisture status. It could be the amount of time you spend in the shower, the temperature of said shower, the products you’re using, and the ones you aren’t.

Below are 5 ways to get rid of dry skin—particularly when it’s temporary or seasonal. (Many of these tips might work in any season, but they aren’t necessarily solutions for standard-fare dry skin, which is itself a genetic disposition—as opposed to having naturally oily or balanced skin.)

But if you're feeling temporarily dried out, run down this list and consider all the ways you can both prevent dry, itchy skin and quickly repair any current cases. 

Take Shorter, Cooler, and Fewer Showers

Long, hot showers might feel incredible, but they do a number on your skin. Hot water strips moisture, and thus removes all the natural oils your skin needs to stay soft and smooth. So, if you can manage—and that’s a big IF, we know—try to turn down the temp a few notches, and then expedite your regimen. Secondly, try to limit your showers to one per day, particularly in the winter when the dry air is already parching your skin. If none of this is feasible (how melodramatic of you), then add an emphasis on the next tips.

Hydrate Every Part of Yourself—Right After Showering

Nécessaire body serum$45

Sephora

If your reaction to taking shorter, cooler showers is a hearty “get real,” we get it. But know that the best time to hydrate any part of your body is when it is freshly cleansed. This means that it has no grime, toxins, or other hurdles obstructing your skin—so you get the maximum product benefits as well as far fewer breakouts. Secondly, since you also know that showers can often dehydrate the skin (as can some common cleansing products, as discussed below), your skin often needs that moisture kick right after a wash. This is especially beneficial at night, wherein you can hydrate your entire body and enjoy the benefits of extra nourishment while your body enters its regenerative, reparative cycles with a light, fast drying lotion like this serum from Nécessaire. 

Pick Up Some Thick Balms

Neutrogena body balm with hyaluronic acid$6.50

Amazon

PCA Skin body cream with lactic acid$68

Amazon

Consider stepping it up even further: balms and creams tend to nourish and protect skin’s moisture barrier function better than lotions (due to having a higher oil content). Look for super hydrating ingredients in your body hydrators, like jojoba extract/oil, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter. You might even consider a lightweight exfoliating formula that includes lactic acid or glycolic acid to help buff away dead skin.

Get a Humidifier

TaoTronics humidifier$50

Amazon

Your nighttime regimen should focus on more than just skin products. On the one hand, it’s important to lather on the balms and creams at bedtime, to help skin cells regenerate overnight, and to defend against the dry air. However, you can also improve the quality of the air that you soak in all night—in that it needs more moisture for you to figuratively soak in. By getting a humidifier and cranking it up in the dryer months, you can fill the room with moisture, which means the air doesn’t dehydrate your skin. Think of it this way: It’s a lot harder to dry a wet towel in the damp, warm bathroom than it is in a cold, ventilated room. If you pump more water into your bedroom air (and don’t forget to close the door, to contain the moisture), your skin won’t dry out. It does a number on your sleep quality and breath too, since your throat and mouth don’t dry out as easily, either.

Use Hydrating Soaps and Cleansers

Dove Men+Care bar soap (8 pack)$10

Target

EiR NYC hydrating cleanser$20

EiR NYC

In addition to taking shorter and fewer showers, it’s important to assess the products you’re using to wash your skin. They’re often the culprits, since their job is to pull excess oil from the skin, in addition to dirt and grime. However, they’re sometimes too good at this, especially in the winter when you need to preserve that moisture all the more. Stock up on products that promise to hydrate or preserve moisture while they clean. 

Read MoreHere's How to Build a Serious Grooming Routine With One Trip to the Drugstore 

Walk into a chain pharmacy, walk out with a GQ-approved grooming routine. 

By Adam Hurly



Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQMoisturizerGroomingSkincare