Dry and dehydrated skin can feel surprisingly similar.
Your skin might feel tight, look a bit dull or just not feel quite like itself. We often use dry and dehydrated to mean the same thing, but they’re actually different. And knowing the difference can help you give your skin more of what it needs.
Dry skin needs oil. Dehydrated skin needs water.
This is the simplest way to think about it.
Dry skin is a skin type that produces less of the natural oils that help keep the skin soft, comfortable and protected.
Dehydrated skin is a temporary skin condition caused by a lack of water in the skin. Any skin type can become dehydrated, including oily skin.
It’s also possible to have skin that is both dry and dehydrated at the same time.
How does dry skin feel?
Dry skin can feel rough, tight or uncomfortable, and it might get a bit flaky too.
As we get older, dryness can become more noticeable as the skin naturally produces less sebum. That’s one reason richer oils and moisturisers can start to feel more beneficial than they once did.
Dry skin generally benefits from products that help replace and retain some of those missing oils and support the skin barrier.
What about dehydrated skin?
Dehydrated skin can feel tight or look dull and may make fine lines appear more noticeable.
Unlike dry skin, dehydration can come and go. Weather, heating, air conditioning, harsh cleansing and your skincare routine can all play a part.
This is where hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid can be useful. These are humectants, which help attract and hold water in the skin.
Hydration and moisture work together.
Rather than thinking of hydration and moisture as an either/or choice, it can be helpful to think of them as partners.
Hydrating products help increase water in the skin, while oils and moisturising ingredients help reduce water loss and keep the skin feeling soft and comfortable.
This is why applying a hydrating mist or serum and following with a face oil or moisturiser can work so well, particularly for skin that tends to feel dry.
At Botanique Skin, this is also why you will often see hydration and nourishment used together in our routines rather than relying on one product to do everything.
So, what does your skin need?
If your skin feels persistently dry, rough or flaky, adding more nourishing oils and moisturising ingredients may help. Think - REPLENISH REJUVENATE Face Oils, RESTORE Face Cream.
If it suddenly feels tight, dull or thirsty, even though you wouldn’t normally describe your skin as dry, it may need more hydration. Think - HYDRATE Toning Mist, GLOW Serum.
And if it feels like a bit of both? Give it both.
Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes understanding what your skin is asking for is the best place to start.
Hydrate. Nourish. Keep it simple.
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