To perfect your skincare for supple, glowing skin, we have learned that the more specific the routine, the better. For example, dry and dehydrated are two terms that mean more or less the same thing, one would think. However, when used to describe our complexions, dry vs dehydrated skin are two very different concerns. They need to be treated with different approaches and solutions in order to be overcome. If this revelation has thrown a wrench in your skincare plans, fear not. We’ll discuss what dry skin is, what dehydrated skin is, and help you to plan your skincare routine around this new-found information.
Keep reading for Perricone MD’s guide to dry vs dehydrated skin.
What’s the difference between dehydrated and dry skin?
So let’s begin with establishing what the difference actually is between dry vs dehydrated skin. To put it simply, dry skin is a skin type that you are born with, whereas dehydrated skin is a condition that anyone can experience, even with naturally oily and combination skin.
What is dehydrated skin?
So, what is dehydrated skin? It is essentially skin that is lacking water in its top layer, which can be caused by lots of factors, from your diet to the weather. However, when the skin is dehydrated it tends to create more oil to compensate for its lack of water. As a result, when considering what dehydrated skin is, we must also remember that it comes hand in hand with the skin issues that come with over-production of oil, such as breakouts.
What does dehydrated skin look like?
Dehydrated skin usually looks dull and tired. The lack of water can even add years to the complexion, making fine lines and wrinkles appear more prominent. It can also contribute to sensitivity making dehydrated skin look irritated or show dry patches. Finally, thanks to the combination of excessive oil production and lack of water, dehydrated skin can look oily but dry at the same time.
What can you do to help dehydrated skin?
To help dehydrated skin, take a look at what you’re putting into your body. Drinking enough water and having a balanced diet are your starting points. If your entire body is dehydrated, you can presume your skin will be too. Also, avoid cleansing or showering with overly hot water as this can be severely dehydrating on your skin’s surface.
Another thing that you can do to help dehydrated skin is to assess your skincare. Using overly harsh products or too many stimulating ingredients in one routine can be counter-productive. What’s more, with all of the steps within skincare regimens today, it’s common to be overdoing it unknowingly. For example, using ingredients that chemically exfoliate during the day can cause our skin to become over-exposed to pollutants and UV rays, leading to dehydrated skin.
The products that can help dehydrated skin are ones that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. For example, High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum is designed with a mix of molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to penetrate different layers of the skin and deeply hydrate for a smoother and plumper-looking complexion.