Dry skin

Dry skin lacks lipids: it does not hold water and feels tight as soon as you step out of the shower. The Korean answer is not a thicker cream, but several thin layers applied on still-damp skin — that is what traps the water instead of letting it evaporate.

The actives to look for here: ceramides, which rebuild the cement between cells, hyaluronic acid to capture water, panthenol and centella asiatica to soothe tightness.

The one habit that changes everything: apply your essence within thirty seconds of cleansing, without waiting for the skin to dry.