DEHYDRATED SKIN PRODUCTS

Dehydrated Skin Products

Dehydrated skin is no fun - it can be extremely uncomfortable, itchy, tight, and make you look older than you really are. Dry or dehydrated skin is one of the most common skin concern. If you do suffer from dehydrated skin, you need to invest in the best skin hydration to effectively treat your skin's moisture barrier.

What Causes Dehydrated Skin?

There are a few things that can cause skin dehydration. If your skin is dehydrated, that means your skin is lacking water. Where dry skin is a skin type, dehydrated skin refers to a concern with your skin health and your skin's ability to retain moisture. Environmental damage, skin stripping products, a high concentration of active ingredients, diet, water consumption, and exercise can cause skin dehydration.

Dehydrated skin can be dry and itchy with dull skin complexion while fine lines can be more visible. Dehydrated skin can be experienced with all skin types, but is most common with those that do not have oily or combination skin, and have dry skin. It is possible to treat dehydrated skin and get healthy skin back - you will need to invest in improving your skin's barrier, with an effective, hydrating, and consistent skincare routine.

Dehydrated Skin Vs. Dry Skin

Dry and dehydrated skin are two different concerns. Dehydrated skin is when your skin lacks water which is a skin condition. Meanwhile, dry skin is a skin type as it lacks natural oil, something we call sebum. Dry skin is a skin type whereas Dehydration is considered a skin condition.

If you possess dry skin as skin type, this is when your sebaceous glands don’t produce enough fatty acids and natural oils to naturally hydrate the skin. Dry skin types mean that the sebaceous glands don’t produce enough natural oils and can sometimes be associated with skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, and even post-acne breakouts.

However, this isn’t the same as having dehydrated skin. When your skin lacks sufficient water, you will need an entirely different and regimented skin care routine for dehydrated skin.

At the very source, dehydrated skin means that your body is losing more water than it’s taking in. Aside from not drinking enough water, it can also be related to changes in diet, hormonal changes, increased urination from caffeine or diuretics or even sweating from exercise.

Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin features the following symptoms:

• itchiness
• dullness
• darker under-eye circles
• sunken eyes
• “shadows” around the face (especially around the eyes and nose)
• increased appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Do I Have Dry or Dehydrated Skin?

You can test whether or not your skin is dehydrated.

Pinch a small portion of the skin around your cheek area, squeezing lightly. If you notice any wrinkling and if the skin’s surface doesn’t bounce back after you let go, you may benefit from an intense dehydrated skin care regimen.

Products that contain Hyaluronic Acid or have hydrating properties are excellent for dehydrated skin as they help plump the skin, prevent dehydration and moisture loss, and help the skin to start to retain moisture again.

What are the best dehydrated skin products?

Dehydrated skin can be complex to treat but it’s manageable once you diagnose it correctly. Aside from changing your diet and lifestyle changes, implementing the following dehydrated skin care products may help you see some improvements.

Finding and using the best products for dehydrated skin means tossing out the harsh, sensitising formulations in your current skin care routine that are stripping skin. This means you must:

• Opt for gentle, yet effective cleansers that don’t leave the skin feeling tight, dry or greasy.
• Avoid cleansing brushes and harsh scrubs with granular particles
• Use non-alcohol-based rehydrating toners that avoid stripping the skin of its natural barrier.
• Avoid products with fragrances, both synthetic and natural- (denatured alcohol, menthol, peppermint)
• Use targeted solutions that quickly revitalise the skin’s natural moisture. Apply them on alternate days or every other day to see how your skin reacts.
• Choose an antioxidant protection product to prevent environmental factors from impacting your skin.
• Find skincare that is backed by board certified dermatologist professionals. Dermatologists are experts at treating dehydrated skin and helping others to get healthy looking skin.

Restrict your skin care to toners, boosters, serums and lightweight moisturisers that are loaded with essential oils, antioxidants, skin-replenishing and skin-restoring ingredients. We also suggest avoiding using makeup for a period of time as makeup can aggravate the skin. This will give your skin the best chance to bring back moisture into the skin layers, and make it appear young, healthy and radiant again.

What not to do

It’s important to stick to a strict dehydrated skin care routine.

Using the wrong combination of products or using products far too frequently can certainly mess up your skin’s natural biome, and dehydrate the skin further —an undisturbed skin surface is key to healthy, happy and hydrated skin.

Best Ingredients to rehydrate the skin

If you’re on the hunt for the best dehydrated skin care products, these game-changing ingredients will work wonders for you:

Hyaluronic Acid - Naturally hydrates the skin without making the skin’s surface appear greasy. Because this natural ingredient is already present in the body, it’s unlikely to cause any sort of irritation to dehydrated skin.

Aloe Vera- The world’s most natural moisturiser, the cooling properties of the aloe vera locks in moisture back into the skin without irritating the skin surface. The acemannan compounds within this super plant also contain anti-fungal properties which treat inflammatory skin conditions.

Ceramides - Ceramides are an important part of the skin’s natural protective barrier, and prevent sensitive skin concerns like rashes, burning, scaliness and the like. A targeted treatment or serum of ceramides can mend and replace damaged skin cells and help keep your natural skin barrier sealed shut.

Vitamin E - Vitamin E is one of the most hydrating ingredients that can help with visible signs of dehydration. Alongside other fatty acids and essential oils, vitamin E can help to brighten and protect the skin's barrier.

Tea Tree Oil - This all natural ingredient can gently soothe and soften dehydrated skin by reducing itching and irritation.