Cheat Sheet - Dry or Dehydrated?

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Cheat Sheet – Dry or Dehydrated? Are you DRY or DEHYDRATED? (or both!) Dry and dehydrated skins have similar characteristics, but different underlying reasons. Dry Skin – normally a skin type but can be a temporary skin condition

caused by lack of oil in the skin
small pores
‘tight’ feeling
may be flaky
milia, blackheads and spots may still be present
skin looks dull
skin is not plump
doesn’t absorb products easily
easily irritated – more likely to suffer reactions to products
aggravated by poor skincare

Dehydrated Skin – is a skin condition affecting any skin type – including DRY

caused by lack of water in the skin (not lack of water taken orally!)
pores can be large or small
skin feels tight and dry although it can confusingly sometimes look oily and have breakouts
absorbs moisturisers really quickly
blackheads and spots are still visible
makeup disappears (and goes patchy) throughout the day as the skin is absorbing any water in your foundation
skin looks ‘ashen’
aggravated by lifestyle circumstances – may suffer from a lot of headaches

Skin is made up of 70% water – around 20-30% of that is in the epidermis (top layer of the skin). In normal circumstances, your hydrolipidic film acts as a regulator and barrier – retaining moisture and protecting against germs. If – for whatever reason that is compromised, the moisture in the epidermis evaporates too quickly and the normal, healthy state of the skin is compromised. The reality is that most of us at one time or another are dehydrated. Any and all of the following can cause dehydration – standby:

Environment – wind, cold air, dry air, too much sun, air conditioning, central heating
Diet – the wrong foods, alcohol, caffeine, not eating enough water-heavy foods, not drinking enough
Lifestyle – stress, poor skincare routine, using the wrong products, medication – including birth control, smoking
Genetics – monthly cycle, pregnancy, hormones

It is quite common to be both dry and dehydrated but if by looking at the above you have ascertained that you are one or the other – these do’s and don’ts might help. Do and Do Not:

Do upgrade your moisturiser to something suitable for dry skin if you recognise the signs – go for products using the words ‘nourishing’.
Do change your moisturiser to something labelled ‘hydra’ or ‘hydrating’ if you suspect you are dehydrated.
In either case adding a little hyaluronic acid to your routine wouldn’t hurt.
Make sure you are not using products that are too harsh or too stripping for either.
Do steer clear of foaming anything – keep the bubbles for your dishes
Do use balms, oils and serums for dry.
Do use milks, specified oils and treatments for dehydrated.

A word on supplements – omega oils found in either flax or fish oil supplements will help both dry and dehydrated skins – however, you’ll need a good 3 months to see the benefits on your skin. Skin Rocks - The Moisturiser Skin Rocks - The Support Oil Skin Rocks - The Cream Cleanser