Chapter 67: How to Tell If You Have Dry or Dehydrated Skin

Last Updated: 20 May 2021

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

Beauty Book

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How do you know if you have dry or dehydrated skin? Here’s a hint: one is a skin type and the other is a skin condition. It’s important to distinguish the two, so you use the right products to treat your skin.

Can’t tell the difference between dry and dehydrated skin? This chapter covers everything you need to know on the topic.

What is dry skin?

Dry skin is a skin type that produces less sebum compared to normal skin. Dry skin lacks oil, so your skin can feel rough, dry and flaky. Since dry skin doesn’t retain sufficient moisture, the skin barrier can easily be compromised, which can result in irritation, breakouts and redness.

How to take care of dry skin

When treating dry skin, it’s important to find products that keep dry skin hydrated and prevent moisture loss. Avoid harsh cleansers that strip skin of moisture and reach for gentle cleansers like NEEDLY’s Mild Cleansing Gel.

Use a hydrating toner or, even better, a face mist in between steps throughout your skin care routine to help your serum, ampoule and moisturizer absorb better. RNW’s DER. SPECIAL Ceramide Mist is a great option for dry skin as it doesn’t just boost skin’s hydration but also fortifies the skin barrier, thanks to ceramide in its formula.

Applying moisturizer is the most important step for dry skin as it seals in all the moisture and prevents dry or flaky patches. Use a rich cream such as the Birch Moisture Boosting Cream from Anua. If your skin feels extremely dry, try incorporating a sleeping mask into your routine daily to deeply nourish skin.

NEEDLY / RNW / ANUA / NEOGEN

What is dehydrated skin?

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition where the skin lacks water but still produces enough sebum. Any skin type, even oily or acne-prone skin, can be dehydrated. Different factors, including harsh weather conditions, lifestyle practices and aging, can lead to dehydrated skin. It can also be caused by over-exfoliating, so if you’re guilty of overusing exfoliants, then it’s time to take a step back from them.

Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin doesn’t feel rough. Instead, dehydrated skin feels tight and looks dull. A lackluster and dehydrated complexion can accentuate fine lines, so using hydrating products is also key to improving the appearance of wrinkles.

How to take care of dehydrated skin

When curating a skin care routine for dehydrated skin, it’s important to focus on hydration. Steer clear of cleansers that leave skin feeling tight and limit exfoliating to once a week. The Pure Fit Cica Creamy Foam Cleanser from COSRX is formulated with Pure Fit Cica-7 Complex that gently cleanses skin while soothing it.

Double up on hydration by adding an essence into your skin care routine. If you think a hydrating toner is good enough, just wait until you try incorporating an essence − you’ll be left with hydrated and glowing skin! Give AROMATICA’s Vitalizing Rosemary Concentrated Essence a go for a mega boost of moisture. The essence contains rosemary extract to revitalize skin for a noticeable glow.

Most importantly, use humectants such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, amino acids and aloe vera to replenish moisture in the deeper layers of skin. Count on serums such as Haruharu WONDER’s Black Rice Hyaluronic Anti-wrinkle Serum or THE PLANT BASE’s Waterfall Moist Balanced Hyaluronic Acid 100 to improve skin’s oil-water balance and give your skin a dewy look.