18 Jan DRY VS DEHYDRATED SKIN: Is Your Skin Dry or Dehydrated?
Tips To Help You Determine the Difference and How to Care for Both
Turns out that while dry skin and dehydrated skin are two skincare terms that are often used interchangeably, they aren’t one in the same.
Simply put, dehydrated skin lacks water, while dry skin lacks oil or sebum. All skin types can experience dehydration, so you can have dehydrated skin and oily skin simultaneously.
However, the key thing to remember when determining the difference is that dry skin is a skin type that you are born with, and it means the skin lacks oil. Dehydrated skin is a skin condition that you can experience in tandem with dry skin or any other skin type, and it means that the skin lacks water.
The easiest way to determine if you have dry skin is by looking at your pores. People who are born with a dry skin type naturally have very small, barely visible pores that produce little to no oil. Dry skin will often feel dry to the touch if not properly moisturized. It may also become flaky, dull, or sensitive at times. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, tends to feel tight and lacking in plumpness. When the skin is lacking in water, it may also show more fine lines and wrinkles.
Characteristics of dehydrated skin:
- Lacks water
- Can be experienced by anyone
- Can feel oily and dry simultaneously
- May experience breakouts
- Comes and goes depending on diet, environment, and incorrect product use
- Needs water rich products
Characteristics of dry skin:
- Lack of sebum (oil)
- Is a natural skin condition from birth
- Feels dry all over, including scalp and hands
- Needs oil rich products
- Needs constant moisture, especially in winter
- Is more susceptible to premature aging
Tips On Caring for Dry & Dehydrated Skin
Although you can’t control your skin type, both dry and dehydrated skin are affected by external and internal factors including age, hormones, lifestyle, and the environment, there are many ways to help our skin look and feel it’s best.
Eating more hydrating foods like water-packed fruits and veggies is an easy way to get more water into your diet. The more you hydrate internally by drinking water and consuming foods with high water content, the more fuel your body has to complete important tasks like digestion, detoxification, and cellular repair – all of which benefit your epidermis and keep your complexion glowing.
Choose products that support your skin – Because your skin relies on both oil and water for optimal performance, topical moisturizers and facial oils can be the helpful boost your skin needs to make up for a lack of hydration in the body, or natural moisture in the air.
Our professional team of compassionate estheticians are here for you, to help you determine your skin type and requirements for healthy, radiant skin, and to insure you have the best products and facial regime.