Skin Care Myth: Dry skin and dehydrated skin are the same things.
Skin Care Truth: A common misconception that many people have is that dry skin and dehydrated skin are the same things. It’s an easy mistake to make as both have similar characteristics.
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.
Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin: Do you know the difference?
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.
Because dry and dehydrated skin is very similar and can even occur simultaneously, treatment for both is very similar. By incorporating a few of the following steps, you’ll help improve your skin’s natural moisture factor and hydration levels for better overall skin health:
Tips for Troubleshooting Dry & Dehydrated Skin
- Understand causes and triggers - Although you can’t control your skin type, both dry and dehydrated skin is heavily impacted by external and internal factors including age, hormones, lifestyle, and environment. Even weather can be a factor, as the colder winter months tend to be drier and therefore more challenging to struggling skin. Knowing this can help you prepare in advance and choose products that adequately meet your skin’s moisture needs.
- Eat more hydrating foods - It may sound like a no-brainer but eating more water-packed fruits and veggies is an easy (and tasty!) way to sneak some extra H2O 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. For dry skin, Image Skincare’s Vital C Moisturizer is a good option that restores both oil and water levels. Oily and combination skin types looking for added hydration will love the Clear Cell Mattifying Moisturizer, which infuses the skin with vital hydration and doesn’t clog pores.
- Supplement your skin the right way - If you feel like you’ve tried just about everything for dry or dehydrated skin, a daily supplement may be the up-level option your skin needs to really lock in the good stuff.
For promoting plumper, dewier, and more radiant complexion, Hush & Hush’s SkinCapsule Hydrate+ formula is a holistic skin-supporting supplement that targets dry and dehydrated skin. Super ingredients in this ultra-hydrating blend include Vitamin C, plus a multifaceted Hydration complex featuring Korean Red Ginseng, matcha extract, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and more!