Last Updated on May 11, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
If you have dry skin, you get deeper wrinkles than your oily-skinned pals. That’s a fact. You know the look: tight, flaky patches that make fine lines look ten times worse. Makeup creases, moisturiser vanishes into thin air, and no matter how many serums you try, your skin still looks like it needs a tall glass of water. Meanwhile, your oily-skinned friend is out here complaining about breakouts while her skin’s bouncing light like she’s got a ring light following her around. Unfair, I know.
But is it dry skin that actually causes wrinkles? Like, are you doomed just because you were born with skin that drinks moisturiser like a desert drinks rain? Or maybe you developed dry skin over time thanks to hormones, winter, or just the joy of being over 30 – and now you’re wondering if that’s why your face is suddenly giving “tired librarian” instead of “dewy goddess”?
Does the fact you’re born with it, or have developed it at some point, cursed you to age before your time? Not really. Here’s why:
Why Dry Skin Does NOT Cause Wrinkles
Dry skin does NOT cause wrinkles.
So, what does? Sun exposure, for starters. I’ve nagged about the dangers of UV rays enough on this blog, so, this time I’ll let dermatologist Dr Natasha Cook do the talking:
“Sun exposure accounts for 90 percent of wrinkles. The way the sun forms a wrinkle is it breaks down the support structures in the endoderm – it’s known as collagen or elastin. As these fibres break down we lose support and the skin becomes more easily creased.”
Add to that pollution, an unhealthy sugar-rich and veggie-poor diet, smoking, and even your genes. They all have a hand in creating wrinkles too.
Air pollution, especially in big cities, releases free radicals that cling to your skin and break down collagen. High-sugar diets? They trigger a process called glycation, where sugar molecules literally stiffen and age your collagen. And if you smoke (or spend lots of time with people who do), the toxins constrict blood vessels and reduce oxygen delivery to your skin, making you look more “vintage leather couch” than “timeless elegance.”
And let’s not ignore one more big one: stress. Constant high cortisol levels (thanks deadlines, toxic bosses, and general modern life) don’t just mess with your mood. They mess with your skin barrier and speed up collagen breakdown. Joy.
Related: 5 Anti-Aging Superstars You Should Add To Your Skincare Routine
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Why Dry Skin Ages Faster
If it’s sun exposure that causes wrinkles, then why don’t oily-skinned women have the same deep wrinkles as dry-skinned women? Because dry skin may not cause wrinkles, but it surely accentuates them.
It works like this: sebum is your skin’s natural moisturiser. When your skin has all the sebum it needs to stay hydrated, it looks plump and moist. This makes wrinkles look smaller. Oily skin has way more sebum than it needs. The extra makes it prone to breakout, but it also makes every nook and line smoother and plumper.
Dry skin isn’t so lucky. Your skin barely produces any sebum at all. Without it, its protective barrier is damaged and the moisture needed to plump up skin evaporates into thin air. That makes wrinkles look deeper and overall worse than they really are.
Also, have you noticed that when your skin is dry, it’s often flaky or rough to the touch too? That rough texture catches light in weird ways, so that lines are more visible. It’s not just what you feel. It’s what people see. As if that weren’t enough, dry skin is more prone to inflammation and sensitivity. When your barrier is compromised, it lets in irritants more easily. And chronic inflammation? You guessed it. It leads to faster aging.
Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
How Can You Treat Dry Skin And Wrinkles?
If you have dry skin and wrinkles, you need a double plan of action to deal with both. Here’s how to get started:
- Use antioxidant serums to prevent wrinkles: They’re like your skin’s bodyguards. They fight off the free radicals caused by environmental stressors (pollution, UV rays, toxins) that damage your skin and speed up aging. My fave includes the powerful combo of Vitamins C and E and ferulic acid. Layered under sunscreen, it boosts your sun protection. Check out my fave antioxidant serums here.
- Use a hyaluronic acid serum: It draws moisture (up to 1000 times its weight in water) from the environment into the skin and binds it there. All that extra moisture hydrates skin and plump wrinkles up, so they look smaller. Use it after your antioxidant serum. Pro tip: Apply your HA serum on slightly damp skin (like, right after washing your face). It’ll lock in way more moisture than if you slap it on dry. Click here for my fave hyaluronic acid serums.
- Exfoliate skin with glycolic acid: Removing dead skin cells smoothens out the appearance of wrinkles. Plus, glycolic acid hydrates skin, too. Alternate it at night with retinol. Start with twice a week and slowly build up frequency to every other day. Click here for my fave products with GA.
- Use retinoids: Retinoids, like retinol and Tretinoin, are forms of Vitamin A that reduce the wrinkles you already have. But they’re harsh on the skin. Start with a small concentration a couple of nights a week and increase both frequency and dose from there. I like to alternate it with glycolic acid at night. Want a gentler option? Look for retinal (with an “a”) or bakuchiol. They’re less irritating and better for sensitive or reactive skin types, especially when you’re just starting out. I shared my fave in this post – check it out.
- Use rich, oil-based moisturizer to lock in moisture: Oils are rich in fatty acids, the building blocks of your skin. They strengthen your skin’s protective barrier, keeping moisture into your skin. You can check out my favourites here.
- Wear sunscreen EVERY day: UV rays can penetrate through clouds and glass and even get reflected on snow. You’re not safe just because it’s winter or you’re staying indoors. Look for formulas with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide if you’ve got dry, sensitive skin. And yes, reapply. Especially if you’re by a window, driving, or anywhere near daylight.
Don’t know how to put this all together? Let me do the work for you. Click here to book your skincare consultation today.
Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry And Aging Skin
The Bottom Line
Dry skin doesn’t cause wrinkles but it accentuates them. To keep your skin looking young and flawless, make sure your skin’s protective barrier is always intact, wear sunscreen every single day, and add anti-aging products to your skincare routine. You’ll notice a difference soon!
My skin is oily .. so everything smooths out .. except when I’m in the desert and everything dries out then it’s .. omg, where’s the moisturizer!
Monica.
Monia, extreme weather can really cause havoc on the skin, can’t it?
I couldn’t agree more! Dry skin really cause magnify the look of “wrinkles” though I don’t see much wrinkles yet, it does give an illusion of an older skin! 🙂 thanks for this! 😀
Nikki, you’re welcome and I agree. Skin looks so much worse and older when dry.
Yay for sunscreen 🙂 That’s definitely sound advice I wish more people would follow haha. And keeping skin moisturized is a good idea in general, especially if it makes you look younger!
Makeup Morsels, I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. 🙂
This was so helpful! Thanks for sharing 🙂 I’m definitely going to buy a proper sunscreen this spring instead of a regular day cream with SPF 15 that I’m using at the moment. I just hope I can find something less greasy. Even though I have a really dry skin, all of the sunscreens I’ve tried so far felt too heavy on my face, especially in the Summer when I tend to sweat a lot.
Regn, you’re welcome. Finding a lightweight sunscreen, and one that’s alcohol-free too, is unfortunately not very easy. Have you tried Neutrogena? They make a fluid sunscreen that isn’t very heavy and not too expensive either.
I have dry skin, not very dry but dry enough to feel tightness and discomfort if I don’t put on a moisturizer within minutes of washing my face. Now that I’ve developed a better skincare routine, choosing the right products and such, I have super soft dewy skin and It doesn’t get that dry throughout the day anymore. I still have to apply a light moisturizer mid-day but it’s so worth the extra time.
Good to know that dry skin doesn’t cause wrinkles. :] My question is, would it be easier to wrinkle skin that’s dry? It’s okay if you don’t know (no need to look it up) off the top of your head.
AH I’m so happy to comment again. :] I’ve been awake for 16 hours and it’s not even 6:00 PM yet!! I’m so tired.
Janessa, I’m glad you’ve found a routine that works well for you. Mmm you mean whether you get more wrinkles if your skin is dry? I don’t think so. Wrinkles are determined by different factors such as genetics, sun damage etc, but on dry skin even small fine lines can look like deeper wrinkles, making people believe they age faster than those with oily skin. If anything, dry skin, because its protective barrier is damaged, is more prone to irritations and inflammations, and that can contribute to aging too. But using a moisturizer with ingredients that can repair it will fix it. So basically how many wrinkles you get and how fast you age depends more on the amount of damage your skin has suffered, whether through sun exposure, irritation, normal aging process, etc, than on your skin type.
And get some sleep! I’m thankful for all your comments, but you need to take care of yourself too. 🙂
Your answer is more than I expected! Thanks a bunch, Gio! I am so fascinated by beauty and science which means I’m learning more and you’re all I have to thank.
Wow I woke up to 42 new emails (I get a lot daily anyways) and I thought to myself, “They must be from Giorgia!”
:’]
You’re welcome and I’m glad I’m inspiring you to learn more. It’s a fascinating topic, isn’t it?
Lol, sorry for spamming your inbox. 😉