What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

 

• Dry skin needs oil-based ingredients to lock in moisture
• Dehydrated skin needs water-attracting ingredients to restore & replenish moisture

What is dry skin? 

It’s skin that is lacking oil. It means your skin produces less sebum - the natural oils that maintain your skin's moisture and help protect your skin barrier.

What is dehydrated skin? 

Dehydrated skin lacks water and is a temporary condition, rather than a skin type. So, all skin types can be dehydrated when they lose moisture. Things like hot weather, central heating and diet can cause dehydrated skin.

Dry VS dehydrated skin. Which do you have? 

Both dry and dehydrated skin can make your skin feel dry, uncomfortable, and tight. So how do you tell which you have?

Dry skin lacks oil	Dehydrated skin lacks water
Dry skin can feel rough, scaly and/or flaky. It may even be a bit itchy.  Very, very dry skin can lead to a damaged skin barrier.	The lack of hydration can make your skin feel tight and look dull. Remember, dehydrated skin is a skin condition that can affect any skin type (including oily skin).

How to tell if your skin is dehydrated – the pinch test 

There’s a simple and easy way to check for skin dehydration. It’s called the pinch test and as the name suggests you pinch a small amount of skin on your face or the back of your hand and then let it go. If it pops back quickly, your skin is probably not dehydrated. But if it’s slow to go back, your skin might be lacking water (dehydrated).

Hydrating dehydrated skin 

Dehydrated skin is caused by a lack of water (or moisture) in the skin, so this temporary condition can be taken care of with ingredients that help to attract water to the skin.

Ingredients for dehydrated skin 

Hyaluronic Acid
Increases hydration and plumps up your skin

Glycerine
Helps attract and retain moisture

Aloe Vera
Soothes and hydrates 

Your dehydrated skincare routine

This skincare routine is about boosting water content in your skin while not adding any additional extra oil, using non-comedogenic and hydrating products. It helps to maintain your skin’s health by keeping it well-hydrated throughout the day.

Gently cleanse with Facial Micellar Gel Wash or Micellar Water → Boost moisture with a Hyaluronic Acid serum → Use a light yet skin-hydrating moisturiser like Water Boost™ Skin Quench Gel Cream → During the daytime, protect with a moisturising sunscreen.

Caring for dry skin 

Dry skin is caused by a lack of oil in the skin but it’s not just about replenishing those lost oils it's also about stopping further moisture loss.

Ingredients for dry skin

Ceramides
Fortifies your skin barrier and restores natural lipids 

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Strengthens your skin barrier and improves your skin’s suppleness

Vitamin B5
Helps keep skin soft, smooth and healthy

Vitamin E
Protects and moisturises your skin

Dry skin routine 

This dry skin routine is designed to add oils, moisture and repair the skin barrier to prevent further loss.

Gentle, creamy cleansers will help restore and maintain your skin’s natural oils. Serums and moisturisers with ceramides, pro-vitamins and peptides will hydrate in the deeper levels of your skin and help strengthen your skin barrier. And rich creams and balms will help provide a protective layer for your skin that will prevent moisture loss.

• Choose a gentle, creamy cleanser → Apply a Niacinamide serum → Use a rich moisturiser → During the daytime, protect with a moisturising sunscreen.

Skincare tips for dehydrated and dry skin

1. Gentle exfoliation helps your skin absorb hydrating products by removing the dead skin cells.
2. Drinking enough water. Don’t forget that drinking enough water can positively impact your skin's condition.

When you have dry or dehydrated skin, you should avoid ingredients that exacerbate dryness and irritation such as:

• Alcohol 
• Colour & perfume
• Harsh chemicals