Dry VS. Dehydrated Skin – What’s the Difference?

Did you know that skin dehydration and dryness are completely different skin conditions, yet many of us get confused between the two?

Dehydrated skin lacks water while dry skin lacks oil, so your skin could be dehydrated, dry, or even both. Today we’re going to explain the difference between dry and dehydrated skin, how you could be in both categories, and how to combat them externally and internally.

Dry Skin

What Is It?

Dry skin is what you normally feel after cleansing the skin: rough and crackly with dry skin patches or flakes after moisturizing. Unfortunately, dry skin is caused by genetics and can leave your skin feeling sensitive. This is due to the skin lacking oil production from the sebaceous glands so you will need an external moisturizer to re-hydrate the skin.
The upside to having dry skin is the absence of acne and breakouts, but you might see lines and wrinkles forming a little earlier than those who have oily skin.

Solution

For people with dry skin, keeping the skin moisturized is your number one priority. Fortunately, there are many methods to restore your skin’s moisture. When looking for skin products, narrow down on products that contain deep moisturizing ingredients like facial oils and vitamin E.

Internally

Beauty also comes from within so here are some foods that can help moisturize your skin from the inside.

Foods to Eat

• Avocado
  • Avocados are superfoods packed with minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, fibers, and protein.
• Sweet Potato
  • Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and vitamin A, which are great for preventing dry skin. More importantly, these antioxidants also help repair tissue damage and premature aging.
• Salmon
  • Salmon is rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids which can help the skin retain moisture and increase the skin’s barrier against free radicals and pollution.
• Nuts
  • Nuts are rich in Vitamin E, which is known to be the skin’s savior. Vitamin E has UV protection properties and helps prevent your skin from oxidative cell damage.

Dehydrated Skin

What is it?

Dehydrated skin is when you see dry patches with flaky skin but you still feel oily. Skin dehydration also tends to look dull. Your skin many feel itchy or tight even when properly moisturized.

Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin is temporary and is usually caused by factors such as stress, high-sodium or processed foods, and even exposure to UV rays or a drastic change in weather. For dehydrated skin, your body still retains its moisture so it will overcompensate for the lack of water by producing excess oils.

Solution

Because dehydrated skin is caused by diet and environmental factors, focus on hydrating your body from within by drinking water or using a humidifier. You can also use a hydrating serum with hydrating ingredients such as humectants, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, or honey.

Internally

Foods to Eat

• Cucumber
  • Cucumbers have a whopping 96.7% water content, which is the highest out of all the vegetables.
• Iceberg Lettuce
  • This vegetable has a water content of 95.6% and is the ideal vegetable for rehydrating the body.
• Tomatoes
  • Tomatoes have a 94.5% water content and is known for their amazing taste. Tomatoes are also abundant in Vitamin E, B6, Folate, and Vitamins A, C, and K.
• Watermelon
  • With a water content of 91.5%, watermelons are hydrating and rich in lycopene, a cancer-fighting antioxidant found in red fruits and vegetables, and amino acids which help contribute towards healthy skin.
• Strawberries
  • These sweet and juicy berries have a water content of 91%, which makes it the best hydrating berry. Strawberries are rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C, and fiber.
• Spinach
  • Spinach contains 92% water and are rich in magnesium, potassium, iron, and Vitamins C, E, A, which are great for your skin.

Skincare Routine

Here’s a simple routine that you can follow for both dry and dehydrated skin types.

1. 1. 1. Cleanse with a milk or cream cleanser
         Using cleansing milk or cream as part of your cleansing routine is ideal. They are super gentle, moisturizes your skin well, and do their job of removing makeup, oil, and dirt at the same time. We recommend the following cleansers:
         • Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser ($18)
         • Murad Resurgence Renewing Cleansing Cream ($28)
         • Krave Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser ($16)
         • Mario Badescu Cleansing Milk with Carnation and Rice Oil ($12)
      2. Exfoliate to remove dead skin
         Dry skin often leads to flakiness and the first impulse is to scrub the flakes away. If you’re using an exfoliant every day, you actually risk irritation, redness, microscopic tears within your skin, and further drying to your already dry skin. Limit your exfoliation to one to two times a week and avoid any products that have beads or grains. Instead, use a gentle scrub, a warm washcloth, or even chemical exfoliates that contain AHAs or BHAs. We recommend the following exfoliators:
         • Soap and Glory The Scrub of your Life ($30 for 2)
         • Organic Blue Tansy Resurfacing Mask ($48)
      3. Use Toner to rebalance pH levels, remove excess sebum or oil, and cleanser residue
         Contrary to popular opinion, a small amount of alcohol in your skincare products isn’t always a bad thing because they help increase the product’s efficacy. However, toners have high amounts of alcohol and can very likely dry out your skin. Always research the ingredients before buying a new product and do a patch test. We recommend the following toners:
         • COSRX Clarifying Treatment Toner ($13.97)
         • Teddie Organics Rose Water Facial Toner Spray ($10.88)
         • Natural Pacific Fresh Herb Calendula Tincture Toner ($19)
      4. Use an Essence, Serum, or a Light Moisturizer
         Incorporating a hydrating serum for dry skin is one of the most effective ways to plump your skin. Choose a product that contains nourishing or moisturizing ingredients like Vitamin E, peptides, humectants, hyaluronic acid, or collagen. It helps to exfoliate dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling fresh, smooth, and moist. We recommend the following serums and moisturizers:
         • Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum ($16)
         • Mizon Original Skin Energy ($10)
         • Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer ($39)
         • Ole Henriksen’s Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator ($34) 
      5. Beauty Oil 
         End your skincare routine with an extra boost to your skin’s hydration level with an additional layer of beauty oil. Look for products that contain super moisturizing ingredients like coconut, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, or vitamin E. Beauty oils we recommend:
         • Drunk Elephant’s Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil ($40)
         • Leven Rose’s Jojoba Oil ($14)