KNOWLEDGE · What is wrong, why do I always have dry skin?

SKINCARE EXPLAINED - MOISTURISING

What is wrong, why do I always have dry skin?

Most dry skin comes down to two things: the wrong moisturiser, or not knowing whether your skin is dry or dehydrated. This page sorts out both, and gives you the plant ingredients that actually do the work.

Because skincare isn't complicated once you understand the basics. And moisturising is one of them.

Most people don't know that

Some moisturizers don't actually add moisture to the skin

They're formulated to hold on to the moisture that's already in your skin. And this is the biggest misunderstanding in skincare, because moisturizer is usually the last step of your routine. For a lot of formulas that's the entire job: sealing in the toner, serum and essence that came before.

So if you use one of those and put nothing hydrating before on your skin, there's nothing to seal. You're locking dryness in.

Identifiying a moisturiser that moisturse

So how do you spot one that does?

A moisturiser needs these 3 ingredient groups to give your skin moisture and keep the moisture in. It needs:

  1. Humectants: They bind water and hold it in the upper layers of your skin (stratum corneum). That water comes from the formulation itself and, when humidity allows, from the surrounding air.
  2. Lipids: They fill the gaps in your skin barrier. Picture the barrier as a brick wall: skin cells are the bricks, lipids are the mortar. No mortar, water runs straight through. Ideally the ones that resemble skin's own building blocks, because they fit in better.
  3. Occlusives: They slow water loss. They sit on the surface as a film that lets less water evaporate. The technical term is transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Plant ingredients for each group

The checklist

1 · Humectants

Vegetable glycerin, Aloe vera, Jicama, Prickly pear, Cassia polysaccharide (plant based hyaluronic acid).

2 · Lipids

Squalane, Jojoba oil, Argan oil, Prickly pear seed oil, Rose, Avocado and Almond oil.

3 · Occlusives

Shea butter, Mango Seed Butter Cocoa butter, Mamey butter, Candelilla wax, Carnauba wax, Castor oil

Checking the groups on a real example

Our own moisturiser, group by group.

You know the three groups now, and which plant ingredients cover them. So let's do what we just asked you to do, on our own cream.

The Radiating Cream was formulated to cover all three, so it can work as a standalone step. Click the ingredient list for the full overview. Inside you'll find:

Humectants: aloe vera, jicama root, plant-based glycerin
Lipids: avocado oil, sweet almond oil, sesame seed oil
Occlusives: shea butter

But how do I know if a moisturiser fits my skintype?

Is your skin dry or dehydrated?

Because, they need different things. One is missing oil. The other is missing water. Most people treat both the same way and wonder why it doesn't work.

Dehydrated skin lacks water. It's a condition, and any skin type can have it, including oily. It looks dull and tired, fine lines show up more, and it can still be shiny.

Dry skin lacks oil. It's a skin type, not a phase. It can shift over the years, for instance as sebum production winds down. It feels tight, looks matte, flakes, and has barely visible pores.

How to tell which one you are

Dehydrated skin is:
Shiny but tight, dull, fine lines more visible than usual. Oily T-zone and tight cheeks at the same time.

Dry skin is:
Tight and flaky, all year, has small pores.

💡Tight after every cleanse, and it never fully settles: usually both.

Which products to choose?

If you're dehydrated

You need water in, and something to stop it leaving again. That's usually easier to build across one or two light products than only to solve with one cream.

Morning: humectant toner on damp skin, then serum. Then sunscreen. It's there for UV, but it also sits on top as a light layer, which helps.

Evening: same two steps, then a cream to seal them in. No sunscreen at night, so the cream takes that part over.

If your skin is oily and dehydrated at the same time, this is usually the whole fix. You don't need more oil. You need more water, and something holding it there.

If you're dry

Here lipids and occlusives aren't optional, so a moisturiser with all three groups belongs in your routine morning and evening. That's what our Radiating Cream was built for.

Morning: Cream with all 3 groups

Evening: Cream with all 3 groups

Want to go further: toner, serum and cream, morning and evening, and especially at night. Two reasons. Your skin loses more water overnight than during the day, so the seal earns its place. And a toner and a serum carry actives that a cream can't deliver on its own, so layering gets more into your skin than any single product can.

How a routine like this looks like:

How to use

Tone - Hydrating Toner

Use daily, morning and evening. Apply to your clean skin and gently massage in with your hands.

Treat - Regenerating Serum

Use daily, morning and evening. Apply on slightly damp skin. Gently massage into face and neck, and avoid touching your skin with the pipette.

Moisturise - Radiating Cream

Use daily in the evening as the final step of your routine, including around the eyes. If needed, use it in the morning as well. Apply to face and neck and gently massage in.

The routine that always worked, suddenly doesn't

Menopause can change your skin type

Why so many women hit a wall around menopause: skin that behaved like normal or combination for decades starts behaving like dry skin. The routine that always worked suddenly doesn't. Behind it is oestrogen. As it falls, sebum production falls with it, and oestrogen also influences how much water your skin can bind. So your own contribution to two of the three groups gets smaller, and what's missing has to come from outside.

Read more about each plant ingredients

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Aloe Vera Leaf Extract

Aloe Vera Leaf Extract

Aloe Vera is skincare's calming classic, a clear leaf gel used for thousands of years.

  • Soothes and calms sensitive skin: acemannan helps calm redness and irritation.
  • Long-lasting hydration: it draws water deep into the skin and holds it there.
  • Fresher, brighter-looking skin: aloe helps revive skin that looks dull.
Ripe pink prickly pear fruit growing on a green cactus pad, the source of Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract.

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract

Prickly Pear Fruit Extract

Prickly Pear Fruit Extract

Prickly pear extract, derived from the fruit of the Opuntia ficus-indica plant, is a potent skincare ingredient. Rich in antioxidants like vitamins C and E, along with minerals and fatty acids, it offers numerous benefits for the skin. This extract helps nourish the skin, providing essential moisture and protecting against oxidative stress. Its antioxidant properties help combat signs of aging, while its moisturizing effects leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is our plant-based hydration hero, made from Cassia seed.

  • Long-lasting hydration: its plant polysaccharides hold up to 100 times their weight in water.
  • Plumper, smoother-looking skin: deep hydration helps soften the look of fine lines.
  • A botanical alternative to synthetic HA: the same plumping power, from a plant not a lab.

Pachyrhisus Erosus Root Extract

Jícama Root Extract

Jícama Root Extract

Jícama extract, commonly known as jicama or Mexican yam bean, is a plant species in the legume family (Fabaceae). The root extract of Pachyrhizus erosus is used for its moisturizing and skin conditioning properties.

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract

Barbary Fig Stem Extract

Barbary Fig Stem Extract

Barbary Fig is a cactus pad that hydrates and gently exfoliates at once.

  • Deep, lasting hydration: its mucilage binds water and holds it at the skin's surface.
  • Gentle enzymatic exfoliation: natural proteases loosen dead cells without any scrubbing.
  • Antioxidant protection: quercetin defends your skin against pollution and environmental stress.

Glycerin

Plant-based Glycerin

Plant-based Glycerin

A plant-derived humectant that draws moisture into the skin and helps it stay there.

  • Draws moisture in: binds water and holds it in the upper layers of the skin.
  • Keeps hydration in place: helps reduce moisture loss, so skin stays comfortable for longer.
  • Plumper-looking skin: well-hydrated skin looks fuller and feels smoother.

C13-15 Alkane

Squalane

Squalane

Squalane is a featherlight, plant-based oil that mimics your skin's own natural oils.

  • Lightweight, lasting hydration: it absorbs in seconds and never feels greasy.
  • Strengthens your skin barrier: it slots into skin's natural oils to lock moisture in.
  • Smoother, more resilient skin: regular use improves texture and comfort.

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Argan Oil

Argan Oil

Argan Oil is Morocco's legendary "liquid gold", a rich and nourishing skin oil.

  • Deeply nourishes dry skin: its rich fatty acids sink in to soften and replenish.
  • Keeps skin soft and smooth: squalene and fatty acids help lock in moisture.
  • Softens the look of fine lines: vitamin E and antioxidants help skin look firmer and more youthful.

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Rose Oil

Rose Oil

Extracted from the delicate petals of the Rosa damascena, this precious essential oil is celebrated for its rejuvenating and balancing properties. Naturally rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and aromatic compounds such as citronellol, geraniol, and nerol, it helps protect the skin from oxidative stress, restore elasticity, and reduce visible redness.

Clinical research highlights its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity, supporting the skin’s natural defense system and promoting a smooth, radiant complexion. With its luxurious aroma and potent skin benefits, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil is both a sensory and scientific powerhouse.

Persea Gratissima Oil

Avocado Oil

Avocado Oil

Avocado Oil is the everyday nourisher, a rich green oil pressed straight from the fruit.

  • Deeply nourishes dry skin: it is around 70% oleic acid, which sinks in rather than sitting on top.
  • Supports your skin barrier: beta-sitosterol helps your skin lose less moisture through the day.
  • Softens the look of fine lines: vitamins A, D and E work on texture and tone over time.

Pouteria Sapota Seed Butter

Mamey Seed Butter

Mamey Seed Butter

Mamey butter is produced by cold-pressing or extracting the oil from the seeds of the sapodilla fruit (Pouteria sapota). It has highly moisturizing and emollient properties. It is rich in essential fatty acids, such as oleic acid and stearic acid, as well as vitamins and antioxidants, which helps nourish and protect the skin. Mamey butter offers promising skincare benefits, providing moisture, nourishment, and protection for the skin.

Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil

Mamey Seed Oil

Mamey Seed Oil

Mamey Oil is pressed from the seeds of the mamey sapote, a fruit tree native to Mexico and South America. Due to the anti-inflammatory nature of the fatty acid content it is beneficial for people suffering from psoriasis, eczema, acne, and other skin conditions.

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Mango Seed Butter

Mango Seed Butter

Mango Seed Butter is derived from the seeds of the mango fruit. Rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins, it has hydrating and softening properties for the skin. These components help form a protective barrier on the skin's surface, preventing moisture loss and promoting a smoother, more supple complexion. Additionally, it is non-comedogenic, making it suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.

Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract

Tepezcohuite Bark Extract

Tepezcohuite Bark Extract

Tepezcohuite is our hero ingredient, a Mexican bark long known as the "skin tree".

  • Strengthens your skin barrier: tannins gently tighten the skin's surface so it holds moisture better.
  • Supports natural renewal: arabinogalactans help skin renew and look fresher.
  • Protects from daily stress: antioxidants shield skin from pollution and the environment.

Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Powder

Tepezcohuite Bark Powder

Tepezcohuite Bark Powder

Tepezcohuite, derived from the bark of the Mimosa tenuiflora tree, also known as "tepezcohuite" or "skin tree," is rich in beneficial compounds such as tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Traditionally used for wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, tepezcohuite offers soothing and regenerative effects on the skin, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, promoting skin health and vitality.

*It's important to note that our skincare formulations do not contain N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an indolic alkaloid found in Mimosa tenuiflora responsible for hallucinogenic activity. Additionally, we prioritize certified providers to ensure the highest quality and safety standards in our products.

Feedback

Didn't Believe It Could Be This Good

Jan ‘26

Romana H., 45–54 · Dry Skin · verified buyer

I didn't think this skincare could be this good. I've been let down so many times. Fine lines are disappearing, you look fresher and younger.

Skin Refining Routine
Skin Refining Routine
Steps 04→07 • 3/4 items

Made It Through Winter Beautifully

Mar ‘26

Melanie B., 45–54 · Normal Skin · verified buyer

I got through winter so well with this Routine. My skin is supple, fine-pored, and feels great.

Skin Refining Routine
Skin Refining Routine
Steps 04→07 • 3/4 items

Best Moisturiser I've Tried

Feb ‘26

Manuela A., 45–54 · Dry Skin · verified buyer

I've tried so many things, but this cream is simply the best. Makes my skin incredibly soft and smells wonderful. My skin is properly hydrated.

Radiating Cream - Jícama & Aloe Vera
Radiating Cream - Jícama & Aloe Vera
Step 06: Moisturise • 80mL

No Tightness, All Day!

Jan ‘26

Andrea G., 55–64 · Dry Skin · verified buyer

I'm 55 and I love this cream. All day long, no dry or tight feeling on my skin. My skin feels soft and supple, even my nasolabial folds seem to be improving.

Radiating Cream - Jícama & Aloe Vera
Radiating Cream - Jícama & Aloe Vera
Step 06: Moisturise • 80mL

Finally Enough Hydration in Menopause

Feb ‘26

Nicole F., 45–54 · Dry Skin · verified buyer

I'd been searching for a moisturiser for ages. Menopause changed my skin, it became drier, and other creams just weren't giving me enough hydration. The Radiating Cream is genuinely perfect for me. Deep hydration without clogging my pores.

Radiating Cream - Jícama & Aloe Vera
Radiating Cream - Jícama & Aloe Vera
Step 06: Moisturise • 80mL

Back in Balance

Dec ‘25

Stefanie W., 45–54 · Normal Skin · verified buyer

My skin had become really dry from the cold. In a short time it was back in balance. Genuinely great.

Skin Refining Routine
Skin Refining Routine
Steps 04→07 • 3/4 items