Is My Skin Dry or Dehydrated?
It is an easy mistake to make confusing dry skin for dehydration, a frequent mishap that even the biggest skincare fan can make sometimes. But what exactly is the difference between the two? Are you meant to treat them in different ways? Do they need specific ingredients to combat the discomfort they can cause to the skin? Luckily today we have done some digging around and we have the answer for you in today’s post about figuring out whether my skin is dry or dehydrated.
So, let’s get stuck in and find out more!
How do I know if my skin is dry or dehydrated?
To get a better understanding of these skin concerns, I am quickly going to explain the basic structure of the skin and what it needs to remain healthy. The outer layer of the skin containing the protective barrier can only function correctly when there is the correct levels of water and oil, both of which naturally occur on the skin. There are, however, many factors that affects this, such as damage from free radicals, like pollution, central heating, climate and weather. You may also find there are skincare formulas and ingredients that also cause the levels to decrease or become disrupted, such as overuse of chemical exfoliants, incorrect application of retinols and many more. Once the levels of water and oil decrease you will find your skin becomes dull, dry or dehydrated leaving it vulnerable to possible damage.
How to tell if your skin is dry
Dry skin is in fact, a skin type and is known to have fewer oil-producing glands that are vital to keeping the skin at its healthiest state.
Those with dry skin will start to feel tight and uncomfortable roughly 30 minutes after cleansing the skin
There are sometimes flaky dry patches of skin on the face
Dry skin will often show signs of ageing, such as lines and wrinkles
How to tell is your skin is dehydrated
Dehydrated skins are lacking in water, not oil
Dehydration is a skin condition not a skin type and all skin types can suffer from dehydration
Dehydrated skin can look older due to the fine lines that appear on the surface of the skin from lack of water
Dehydration is caused from external aggressors, such as weather, environment and diet to name a few
If you are still a little muddled and can’t quite figure out which one you are suffering from, you can perform the cheeks test. Taking your finger to your cheek and pushing the skin up, if it reveals a wrinkly texture it is a sign your skin cells are lacking in water and you have dehydrate skin. You may also find dehydrated skin looks dull, have lots of inflammation, congestion and redness compared to dry skin which generally feels more uncomfortable the drier it becomes.
How to treat dry and dehydrated skin
As I have already shared, dry skin and dehydrated skin is two very different things but treating them can be surprisingly similar.
Exfoliate
With both skins becoming notably dull looking, adding an exfoliation to your routine will improve the overall appearance of the skin. You can opt for a physical scrub and chemical exfoliant as both will help slough away any build-up of dead skin cells which often form a barrier over the skin that prevent hydrating or moisturising products to absorb into the lower layers of the skin.
Invest in hydrating serums
Skin ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are highly effective at hydrating the skin. They are both humectants and are able to lock in water into the skin giving the complexion plumper and more youthful looking with plenty of bounce.
Pay attention to the weather and change of season
As the winter months creep in you will find dry skin will need extra nourishment while those who frequently suffer from dehydrated skin should pay close attention to how the skin is looking and feeling. With temperatures dropping and humidity changes can wreck-havoc on the skin making it tight, irritated, itchy and prone to redness and reduces sebum production. Swapping your nightly moisturiser to one that is packed if highly hydrating ingredients and a thicker texture will help keep the skin happy.
Don’t forget to steam!
Skin humidifiers have sky-rocketed in popularity in recent years, and with good reason! By steaming the face, you are giving it the ultimate hydration boost restoring the barrier of the skin and giving it the most amazing, healthy glow.
Keep up the good work!
To ensure you are combating any signs of dryness or dehydration you will need to maintain a good skincare routine containing all the steps, tips and ingredients I have already shared with you. This will result in the protective barrier functioning correctly and the oil and water levels are balanced.
Why is my skin so dry even when I moisturise and drink water?
You may be taking the steps to make sure your skin is moisturised and you have drunk the right amount of water each day, so it’s no wonder you are disheartened to discover your skin is still looking and feeling dry, and maybe even a little dehydrated. This has everything to do with how the skin is the largest organ of the human body, but amazingly does not obtain the highest amount of water. The benefits of the water you drink rushes its way straight to your vital organs such as your heart, lungs, liver etc and sadly our skin is simply the last one in the queue which resulted in it relying mainly on topical ingredients applied onto the skin. It just so happens that your skin will need a little longer to reap the rewards of using these hydrating formulations, and of course, don’t forget to keep drinking enough water throughout the day.
I hope that today’s blog has cleared a few questions you had about dry and dehydrated skin, it can feel a little confusing but I certain you guys will get the hang of it! Don’t forget you can come and join us over on Instagram!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
