Rough, flaky skin that never quite feels comfortable? Dry skin needs more than just a dollop of moisture. To feel soft, smooth and healthy again, it needs hydrating humectants, barrier-repairing emollients, and the right natural nutrients to restore what’s missing. Below, we unpack the proven plant-based ingredients that help dry skin recover — and how to use them effectively.

What ingredients help dry skin recover and strengthen?

These are the natural powerhouses that will restore dry skin to soft, supple and glowing.

Why aloe vera is a must for dry, itchy skin

Packed with calming compounds, aloe is a skin-soother,  hydrator and conditioner. Rich in polysaccharides it softens, comforts and helps lock in much-needed moisture to rough, itchy and irritated skin.

The role of antioxidants in calming and protecting dry skin

As dry skin often suffers from a compromised barrier, it’s prone to sensitivity, itchiness, and dermatitis. Multi-tasking antioxidants calm inflammation. They also help skin repair, and protect against the pollution and irritants that can make dry skin worse.

Find antioxidants in: Botanical Cleansing Gel, Botanical Toner, Essential Moisturizer, Nourishing Face Oil

Why ceramides are essential for a healthy skin barrier

One of the building blocks of skin, ceramides are lipids that bond skin cells together to reinforce the barrier, lock moisture in and keep skin comfortable and protected.

Glycerin: a humectant that locks in moisture

Found naturally in the body this hard-working humectant draws water to skin, restores elasticity, and prevents what's known as trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) to help keep skin velvety soft and supple.

Find glycerin in: Botanical Cleansing Gel, Botanical Toner, Essential Moisturizer

Hyaluronic acid for deep hydration

This mighty humectant attracts and holds water to the skin, giving a temporary plumping effect as it boosts hydration. When skin feels rough and dry treat it to a hyaluronic serum after cleansing while it's still damp, and seal in with a barrier-strengthening moisturizer for the best results.

Find hyaluronic acid in: Essential Moisturizer

A natural alternative to silicones for soft, smooth skin

A natural alternative to silicones, isoamyl cocoate is a lightweight skin softener derived from renewable sources such as sugar beet and coconut oil. It’s non-oily and quickly absorbed to help form a breathable, protective film and soften and smooth rough skin.

How niacinamide calms, rebuilds and protects dry skin

An all-rounder, niacinamide is superb for dry, dull, irritated skin and barrier repair. With powerful anti-inflammatory properties it calms redness and angry breakouts, and helps increase levels of the fatty acids and ceramides that make up the skin’s protective layer. The result? Soothed, strengthened and protected skin.

Why panthenol is a hydrating hero for dry skin

Otherwise known as provitamin B5, panthenol is a natural humectant that draws water to the skin to plump, soften, smooth and restore barrier function.

Find panthenol in: Botanical Cleansing Gel

The best natural oils and butters for dry, sensitive skin

Dry skin naturally lacks the lipids that prevent moisture loss and protect against irritants. To help replenish them nutrient-packed plant oils and plant butters are the go-to. A rich source of fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants they nourish, smooth, soften, protect and can even have anti-microbial properties. There is nothing better.

Our favorites for dry, sensitive skin? Stand-out oils include hemp seed, jojoba, sweet almond, apricot kernel, rosehip seed, evening primrose and tamanu. When it comes to plant butters look for shea, cacao, macadamia and babassu.

Find plant oils in: Essential Moisturizer, Nourishing Face Oil 

Polyglutamic acid: a hydration powerhouse

Another humectant that helps give dry skin back its bounce, polyglutamic acid is so impressive that it attracts and holds more than four times the moisture of skincare favorite hyaluronic acid. It's a bigger molecule than hyaluronic so sits on top of the skin rather than going into the epidermis, so these two hydrators work brilliantly together. 

How prebiotics and probiotics support the skin microbiome

The ecosystem of bacteria living on our skin help keep it calm and healthy. If it gets out of balance an overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria overwhelms skin-friendly bugs, which has been linked to dryness, inflammation and eczema. Look for creams with probiotics and the prebiotic ingredients that feed them. 

Squalane vs squalene: what’s best for moisturizing dry skin

Here’s where one letter can make all the difference. Squalene is a natural lipid produced by the skin. One of the best natural sources is shark liver, and squalene has been routinely harvested from sharks for cosmetic use. An investigation by All Earthlings found that 89 per cent of products testing positive for shark-derived squalene were sold as vegan and cruelty free. The good news is that squalane (plant-derived squalene), is sourced from olives, rice bran and sugar cane and is an excellent moisturizer for uncomfortable, dry or stressed skin. Six Gldn only uses plant-derived squalane in its formulas.

Find squalane in: Six Gldn Super-G Youth Serum

Best gentle cleansers for dry skin (and what to avoid)

Dry skin needs gentle cleansers that don’t strip away protective natural oils. If you like the fresh feel of a face wash look for ultra-mild foaming agents that clean away dirt without leaving skin dry and tight. Look for coconut-derived coco-glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium lauryl methyl isethionate and gentle sugar-based lauryl glucoside. Make sure to avoid sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which strips moisture, leaving skin dry, tight and prone to redness and irritation.

Find coconut-based cleansers in: Botanical Cleansing Gel 

Whether your skin feels tight, rough, or just out of balance, nature’s most effective ingredients can help bring it back to health. From hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to barrier-repairing oils, dry skin thrives on consistency and care. Explore Six Gldn’s formulas, made with nutrient-rich botanicals and adaptogens, and give your skin the comfort it deserves.