Short answer: A good serum for dry skin adds a light layer of hydration and nourishment under your moisturiser. Look for something that holds water in the skin, such as hyaluronic acid, together with softening plant oils. Press a few drops onto slightly damp skin morning and night, then seal it in with a moisturiser. A serum works alongside a moisturiser and does not replace it, especially in winter.
Key takeaways
- A serum is a thin, concentrated layer that goes on before your moisturiser. It does not replace it.
- Dry skin lacks oil, dehydrated skin lacks water, and in winter many of us have both. A serum that holds water plus a cream that seals it covers both.
- Water-based serums feel light but need a moisturiser on top. Oil-based serums feel cushioned and suit skin that tightens quickly.
- Apply serum to slightly damp skin, then moisturise straight away.
- Very dry, cracked, itchy or flaking patches that do not settle need a dermatologist, not another serum.
What does a serum do for dry skin?
A serum for dry skin helps skin hold on to water and feel softer, in a layer thin enough to sit comfortably under a moisturiser. Dry skin makes less of its own oil, so water escapes from it more easily. That is why it feels tight after washing, looks dull, and can flake around the nose and cheeks.
It helps to tell dry and dehydrated skin apart. Dry skin is short of oil. Dehydrated skin is short of water, and it can happen to any skin type, including oily skin that still feels tight by night. In North Indian winters, with cold wind outside and heaters inside, most people feel some of both. A serum works on the water side, and a moisturiser and plant oils work on the oil side. Using the two together is what makes the difference.
Water-based vs oil-based serum: which is better for dry skin?
Both can work for dry skin. The better one is the one your skin feels comfortable in by the end of the day. Here is how the common options compare.
| Type | How it feels | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Water-based (gel) serum | Very light, absorbs fast, can feel slightly tacky | Good in humid weather. On its own in dry winter air it can leave skin tight, so always follow with a moisturiser. |
| Oil-based serum | Silky, cushioned, softens straight away | Suits skin that tightens quickly. Use a few drops, and press it onto damp skin so it has water to work with. |
| Face oil | Richer, sits a little longer | Useful on very dry winter nights. Most people do not need one every day if they already use a serum and a cream. |
| Moisturiser (cream) | Creamy, protective | The step that seals everything in. Dry skin should not skip it. |
To be clear about our own serum: it is oil-based. We make it on rosehip, perilla and pumpkin seed oils, carrying almond oil infused with sweet potato and green spinach for hydration. Because it is an oil serum, we always ask you to press it onto damp skin and follow with a moisturiser.
Hydrating Face Serum
30 ml · ₹575
A silky serum of rosehip, perilla, pumpkin seed, grapeseed and gotu kola oils, with almond oil infused with sweet potato and green spinach. Real saffron strands sit in the bottle, and sandalwood and lily lotus scent it.
Why it suits you: If your skin looks oily by afternoon yet feels tight by night, or feels dry the moment you step out of the shower, this serum gives a cushioned layer of hydration without the tacky film many gel serums leave. It has no mineral oil, silicones or drying alcohol.
How it fits your routine: Morning and night, press a few drops onto clean, slightly damp skin, then seal with your moisturiser straight away.
Not for you if you have a nut allergy, since it contains almond oil, or you want a watery gel serum. Ours is an oil serum.
How do I layer a serum with moisturiser?
Serum goes first, on slightly damp skin, and moisturiser follows within a minute or two. The general rule is to go from thinnest to thickest.
- Cleanse gently with lukewarm water, never hot. Hot water strips oil and leaves dry skin tighter.
- Pat, do not rub, and leave your face slightly damp.
- Press in a few drops of serum with your fingertips, over the face and neck.
- Apply moisturiser while the serum still feels soft on the skin.
- In the morning, finish with sunscreen. At night, stop here, or add a face oil on very dry nights.
Face Moisturizer
50 gm · ₹600
Our twice-daily cream, led by chamomile and pumpkin seed oil, with shea butter, batana butter and jojoba oil, on a base of rhododendron flower water and aloe vera juice.
Why it suits you: Dry skin often stings after cleansing or turns red in the cold. This cream was made for skin that flushes easily, and batana butter gives richness that still absorbs cleanly. It has no parfum, silicones, mineral oil or PEGs.
How it fits your routine: Morning and night, take a pea-sized amount and massage it into clean, slightly damp skin over your serum. In the day, follow with sun protection.
Not for you if you want a very heavy night cream for cracked patches, or you prefer a cream with no scent at all from essential oils, since it contains turmeric essential oil.
Which serum is best for dry skin in winter?
In winter, choose a serum that cushions as well as hydrates, and always seal it in. When the air is very dry, a humectant left alone on bare skin has less water around it to hold, so a moisturiser on top matters more in December than in July. This is where an oil-based serum like ours suits many people with dry skin. It softens the skin at once and sits well under a cream.
A few winter habits help any serum do its job:
- Keep showers short and lukewarm.
- Apply serum and moisturiser within a couple of minutes of washing your face.
- Do not sit with a heater or blower pointed at your face.
- If you live in Delhi, Punjab or anywhere with harsh winters, read our winter routine for very dry skin.
Should I use a face oil as well?
Only if your skin still feels tight after serum and moisturiser. If you wake up with dryness that has crept back overnight, a few drops of a light face oil at bedtime can help. Our Age Gracefully Face Oil is a thin blend of grapeseed, watermelon seed, almond, jojoba and gotu kola oils that you can press on as a last step, or mix into your moisturiser. It does not need to be a daily step for everyone.
Can I use a serum for dry skin with vitamin C or niacinamide?
Yes. Our hydrating serum layers comfortably with both and can help with the dryness some active ingredients bring. Apply the active first, let it settle, then the hydrating serum and moisturiser. If you are choosing between those two actives, we have compared vitamin C and niacinamide for dull skin.
A simple routine for dry skin
Add only the steps you need. Each button adds one item to your bag.
Step 2, seal it in
Face Moisturizer · 50 gm · ₹600
A pea-sized amount over the serum, then sunscreen in the day
Optional, very dry winter nights
Age Gracefully Face Oil · 30 ml · ₹600
Three or four drops as the last step, or mixed into your cream
Honest note: you do not need all of these. For most dry skin, a serum and a moisturiser are enough, and on easy days the moisturiser alone will do. Add the face oil only if your skin still feels tight by morning.
What mistakes should I avoid with dry skin?
- Using a serum and skipping the moisturiser.
- Applying serum to completely dry skin straight after a towel rub.
- Washing your face with hot water, or more than twice a day.
- Using harsh scrubs to remove flakes. Dry skin needs gentleness, not more friction.
- Layering several new products at once, which makes it hard to tell what suits you.
- Skipping sunscreen in winter. The sun still reaches your skin on cold, clear days.
Safety and patch test
Frequently asked questions
Dry skin ke liye kaunsa serum best hai?
One that holds water in the skin and softens it, such as a hyaluronic acid serum or a plant oil serum, used on damp skin and followed by a moisturiser. Avoid serums with drying alcohol near the top of the list.
Can I use a serum without moisturiser on dry skin?
It is better not to. A serum is a thin layer, and dry skin needs a moisturiser on top to hold the water in, especially in winter.
Should I apply serum in the morning or at night?
Both. Our hydrating serum is made for morning and night. In the morning, finish with sunscreen.
Is hyaluronic acid good for very dry skin?
It helps skin hold water, which dry skin often lacks. It works best on damp skin with a moisturiser over it, so it has water to hold and does not leave skin tight.
Can I use a face oil instead of a serum?
You can, and some people with dry skin prefer one oil and one cream. A serum gives a lighter, more targeted layer, so many people use a serum by day and add oil only on dry nights.
Will an oil serum make my skin greasy?
Not if you use a few drops and press them into damp skin. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, start with a smaller amount and watch how your skin responds.
In short: for dry skin, press a few drops of serum onto damp skin, seal it with a moisturiser straight away, and keep water lukewarm and products gentle through the winter.
Our motto: to make the cleanest beauty products
Serums, creams and face oils, with every ingredient listed.
Browse our face care range →Related reading: a winter routine for very dry skin in North India · is face oil good for oily skin · vitamin C serum vs niacinamide for dull skin.
More from the Journal: Gotu kola oil for face: benefits and how to use it.