The Dry vs Dehydrated Divide
But whilst dry and dehydrated skin are two distinct states, the signs on our skin are remarkably similar - often resulting in a feeling of tautness, a lack of radiance and skin that feels coarse to the touch. These similarities can lead to confusion over both the cause of the dryness and the skin-quenching solution.
Here we break down how to tell if your skin is dry or dehydrated, and the best way to address the symptoms on your skin.
What Is Dry Skin?
Dry skin is a skin type, distinguished by skin that produces less sebum (or oil) than normal or oily skin. Sebum is crucial for our skin’s health, moisturizing and protecting against water loss. Therefore if sebum production is curtailed, our skin sees the effects.Dry skin is largely genetic, however, it is affected by other factors including age (as our production of sebum declines) as well as external influences such as cold or dry climates, hot showers and drying skincare or medical treatments.
The signs of dry skin tend to be more “extreme” than those of dehydration - you're likely to notice a rough, flaky or scaly texture, redness or small patches of irritation, as well as itching and tightness (particularly post-cleansing). The areas of your body that are most commonly affected are the hands, arms and legs, and dry skin can also increase susceptibility to skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
What Is Dehydrated Skin?
Dehydrated skin is a temporary condition where the skin lacks water, regardless of the skin type (even oily skin can be dehydrated). Our skin has a high water content, which it relies upon to maintain its elasticity and strength.When our skin becomes dehydrated, it generally appears dull and tired-looking. Tightness may still be apparent, but often there is a greasy surface. You’re also likely to see other visible signs of dehydration - such as a lack of elasticity, more pronounced fine lines and even dark circles around the eyes, which may come and go depending on your lifestyle factors (e.g. how much water you are consuming, exercise or adjusting to a warmer climate).
Like dry skin, dehydrated skin is caused by both external and internal factors that effectively damage the skin barrier. These can range from a lack of water intake or an increase in water loss, over-cleansing or using harsh products that affect skin barrier function and environmental aggressors such as extreme weather conditions, UV and pollution.
How to Tell the Difference Between Dry & Dehydrated Skin
Now you’ve got the differences between dry and dehydrated skin down, it’s time to assess your skin. Here’s the cheat sheet:Do you experience consistently flaky patches on the skin which feel rough to the touch, with possible redness and itching? If so, you’re suffering from dry skin.
Are you seeing dullness, tightness and fine lines that come and go, potentially alongside dark circles and an oily/greasy surface? It’s time for ‘The Pinch Test.’ Take the skin on the back of your hand between your thumb and index finger, pinch and let go. If it bounces back quickly, it's hydrated, if not, your skin is dehydrated.
How to Treat Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, it's important to take a holistic approach to treatment - whilst skincare can help solve some issues, lifestyle factors should never be overlooked.In terms of your self-care routine, it’s important to avoid harsh cleaners that strip the skin of its essential oils. Search out sulfate-free formulas with hydration-hits such as vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. MOON SWIM Body Wash contains both, along with prebiotic inulin and ashwagandha to gently lift away dirt and impurities and leave skin balanced and hydrated.
And as you can imagine, selecting the right moisturizer is imperative. Look out for hyaluronic acid, fatty acids, amino acids and ceramide-rich formulations that can help replenish lost oils. LITTLE LOVE Body Lotion and SUNDAY SOFA Body Butter are hydration heroes, rich in hyaluronic acid and amino acids.
It’s also important to treat your skin with care, take cooler, shorter showers to avoid exacerbating dryness, and make sure you avoid too much sun exposure and always wear high-factor SPF.
How to Treat Dehydrated Skin
Again, with dehydrated skin there is no one-stop solution: it’s all about a well-rounded approach to skin wellness.From a skincare standpoint, make sure you are looking for potent humectants (ingredients that attract water, evenly distributing it within the skin to keep its water levels balanced), for instance, hyaluronic acid, amino acids, glycerin and panthenol. It’s also important to ensure you are treating your skin barrier with care, and repairing damage where possible - ingredients like ceramides and squalane will help support your skin function.
DAYDREAMER Body Serum is formulated with skin hydration stars that help maintain healthy function of the skin barrier - squalane prevents moisture loss whilst inulin restores our skin’s delicate microbiome. It’s also important not to overlook hardworking hands: CONFETTI SKY Hand Treatment and WONDER·LAND Hand Lotion both contain hyaluronic acid, amino acids and inulin, whilst WONDER·LAND’s triple-ceramide blend has the added benefit of restoring skin barrier function.
In terms of lifestyle, it’s also important to ensure a healthy diet including water-rich vegetables and fruits and ensuring you are adequately hydrating with water each day, whilst limiting dehydrating alcohol and caffeine.
The Debrief Digest
Need a skincare sum-up? Here’s the digest on dehydrated and dry skin:
Definitions:
Dry skin is a skin type, distinguished by skin that produces less sebum (or oil) than normal or oily skin.
Dehydrated skin is a temporary condition where the skin lacks water, regardless of the skin type (even oily skin can be dehydrated).
Symptoms:
Dry skin has consistently flaky patches on the skin which feel rough to the touch, with possible redness and itching.
Dehydrated skin has dullness, tightness and fine lines that come and go, potentially alongside dark circles and may have an oily/greasy surface.
Solutions:
For dry skin, avoid harsh cleansers that strip the skin of its essential oils. Search out sulfate-free formulas with hydration-hits such as (vitamin E and hyaluronic acid) and moisturizers with hyaluronic acid, fatty acids, amino acids and ceramides. Take cooler, shorter showers and wear a high-factor SPF.
For dehydrated skin, look for potent humectants such as hyaluronic acid, amino acids, glycerin and panthenol, and skin-barrier supporting ceramides and squalane. Ensure a healthy diet and adequate hydration with water, whilst limiting dehydrating alcohol and caffeine.
Sum-Up:
Dehydrated and dry skin are two distinct issues, with different treatments. It’s important to diagnose your skin correctly to ensure the right self-care - so don’t hesitate to seek professional advice when needed.
