is my skin dry or dehydrated?

When your skin feels dry, you may naturally assume that it is dry. But it might just be dehydrated and in need of water. What does that really mean? We’ll explain.

First, there's skin type and there’s skin condition. Your type is what you're naturally born with, such as oily or dry skin. Your condition, however, is something that can cause you to experience other problems like acne and irritation. It can happen to anyone, temporarily or longer, and in some instances, a skin condition can stay for good.

If you have a dry skin type, it means you’re lacking oil. You were born this way, and you’re dry everywhere else on your body including hands, scalp, legs, etc. When you put on moisturizers and lotions, chances are they soak up fairly quickly. If this sounds like you, be sure to use a dry skin regimen that contains oil- or cream-based products daily. You may also want to keep a hand treatment for dry skin with you at all times.

If you have a dehydrated skin condition, your skin is lacking water. This can be caused by lots of factors such as makeup, diet, incorrect product use, weather; it goes on. But here’s where it gets tricky: When skin is dehydrated, it creates more oil to make up for the missing water. This can cause breakouts, irritation and dry patches. Skin can even feel oily and dry at the same time. Sound familiar? Try to identify what's dehydrating you and correct it. Use products like Skin Hydrating Booster and Skin Hydrating Masque to help balance your skin as needed. And keep a toner handy to hydrate your skin throughout the day.

Bonus Tip: While we’re on the topic of water, it helps to know that skin is the last organ to receive the nutrients we consume, which means it’s the last to get the water you sip. It isn’t quite enough though; making topical products a must for skin that feels comfortably hydrated.

shop for dryness and dehydration