Is it dry or is it dehydrated?

The two are often used interchangeably and are thought to be the same – but dry skin and dehydrated skin are two very different things.

But fret not – we’re here to shed some light and lend you a helping hand, hopefully bringing you a step closer to moisturised and hydrated skin…

Dehydrated skin is a condition attributed to a lack of water or hydration. It can affect all skin types including oily and combination skin and is a result of dehydration. An insufficiently hydrated body will manifest itself with dehydrated skin.

SYMPTOMS OF DEHDYDRATED SKIN

ACTION

If you’re suffering from dehydrated skin, no amounts of moisturiser will help. Essentially you need to hydrate orally by drinking plenty of water and incorporate foods with a high water content into your diets, to hydrate yourself internally, which will then eventually hydrate your skin externally.

Also look for products with ingredients that can help to draw water into the skin like honey and glycerine, both of which are humectants. Another key ingredient to look out for in your products is lactic acid. This hydrating alpha hydroxy acid helps to improve the skin's natural moisture barrier, increasing your skin's ability to maintain water.

So, is your skin dehydrated?

THE PINCH TEST

1. Pinch a small amount of skin (from your hand, arm or abdomen) and pull for a few seconds.
2. Release.
3. If your skin bounces back instantly, you’re unlikely to have dehydrated skin.
4. If your skin takes a few moments to return back to normal you’re like to be dehydrated,

Please note: This is not a definitive test to determine dehydrated skin.

DEHYDRATED SKIN PICKS:

HONEY & OAT SKIN SOAP – Sulphate free cleansing soap which contains raw, organic honey. A natural humectant, helping the skin to hold and retain water.

SKIN SAVIOUR SOS BALM – A rich, essential oil free balm, which contains both honey and oat oil, two key ingredients that work in synergy to help retain moisture levels in the skin and prevent moisture loss from the skin.

SKIN CASHMERE – Contains yoghurt powder which is high in lactic acid, an AHA which improves the skin’s natural barrier and helps the skin’s ability to maintain water.

Dry skin is more of a skin type, like oily or combination skin and is a result of your sebaceous glands not producing enough natural oils (or sebum) to adequately moisturise and maintain your skin natural barrier (or microbiome). As result, people with dry skin can also suffer from eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis.

SIGNS OF DRY SKIN

ACTION

If not addressed, dry skin can sometime escalate into serious conditions like eczema, dermatitis. The lack of natural oils means that your skin’s microbiome is disrupted and can leave it vulnerable to infections. If you suffer from dry skin moisturising using a good quality moisturiser is a key to help to maintain your skin’s natural barrier against infections and inflammation. Although dry skin is categorised as a skin type, it’s severity can vary depending on season and sometimes even age.  

Look for products with moisturising ingredients like plant butters and oils which can help to replenish the natural oils that your skin is lacking. Rose, jojoba and oat oils as well as shea, cocoa and mango butters really are dry skin heroes.

DRY SKIN HEROES:

Rose & Sandalwood Skin Deep Body Butter – A decadent blend of cocoa, mango and shea butters, sweet almond, rose and neem oils. Known for their skin moisturising, healing and protecting properties.

Neroli & Patchouli Skin Deep Body Butter – With a pure plant butter base (shea, mango and cocoa butters) Jojoba oil is known to help to regulate sebum, the perfect balancing ingredient for skin that lack its natural barrier protection.

Argan & Orange Blossom Elixir – Rich in Essential Fatty Acids, vitamin E and antioxidants, all of which help to nourish, protect and moisturise dry skin without blocking pores and causing breakouts.

Whether is dry or dehydrated, or both - hopefully you're a step closer to healthier, nourished, moisturise and hydrated skin.

CAUTION

Dehydrated skin is one way the body manifests symptoms of dehydration. Dehydration affects your internal organs ability to function properly. Severe dehydration can go beyond dehydrated skin and cause dizziness, dry mouth/lips, faintness, weakness and dark urine. If you display any of these symptoms, please seek medical advice immediately.