Free tool from Corium 21

Dry skin? Build your routine in about a minute

Answer six quick questions about your skin and your day. You'll get a simple morning, daytime, and evening routine with tips you can start today, and the Corium 21 size and scent that fit how you'll use it.

Question 1 of 6

Where does your skin need the most help?

A simple routine for dry skin

Most dry skin gets better with a few steady habits, not a shelf full of products. The quiz builds your routine from the same basics the American Academy of Dermatology recommends for dry skin, then fits them to where your skin is driest and what your day looks like.

  • Keep showers short and warm, not hot. Five to ten minutes is plenty. Pat skin dry instead of rubbing.
  • Moisturize while skin is still damp. Right after a shower or hand wash is when a cream does the most good.
  • Reapply after every hand wash or sanitizer. Keeping cream next to the sink is the easiest way to make it a habit.
  • Pick a cream over a thin lotion when skin is very dry, and fragrance-free if your skin is easily irritated.
  • Wear gloves for dishes, cleaning, and outdoor work, and in cold weather.
  • Add moisture to the air. A bedroom humidifier helps during the heating season. Indoor humidity of 30 to 50 percent is the usual target.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good skin care routine for dry skin?

Keep it simple: wash with warm water and a gentle cleanser, moisturize right away while skin is still damp, reapply cream after each hand wash, and wear gloves for wet work and cold weather. At night, a thicker layer of cream and a bedroom humidifier help. The quiz above turns these steps into a routine for your skin and your day.

When should I put on moisturizer?

Right after bathing or washing your hands, while your skin is still a little damp, and any other time it feels dry. Damp skin holds on to more of the water that's already there.

How do I care for hands that get washed all day?

Keep washing, then moisturize every time you wash or use sanitizer. Keep cream at every sink you use, wear waterproof gloves for dishes and cleaning, and try an overnight layer of cream under cotton gloves.

Should I choose a fragrance-free cream?

If your skin is sensitive or easily irritated, fragrance-free is usually the safer pick, because fragrance is a common cause of skin reactions to cosmetics. Corium 21 comes in Classic Fragrance and Fragrance Free, and Fragrance Free is the same formula without the added scent.

Which Corium 21 size should I get?

The 8 oz jar is right for one person. The 32 oz quart with a pump holds as much as four jars and suits a busy sink or a couple of people. The gallon has the lowest cost per ounce for a family, a crew, or a workplace.

Is this quiz medical advice?

No. It gives general skin care tips for everyday dryness. If you have a skin condition, or your skin cracks and bleeds, looks infected, or doesn't get better after a couple of weeks of steady care, talk with a doctor or dermatologist.