Dehydrated skin is something that can sneak up on you, leaving your skin feeling tight, uncomfortable, and looking dull. It's also usually the cause for your makeup to look patchy, flaky or for it to fade quickly as your skin sucks any moisture out of the product. The tricky thing is that it can happen to any skin type. Whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin.
Below I’ll share how to spot if your skin is dehydrated and, more importantly, what to do about it to get your skin back to its best.
How to tell if your skin is dehydrated
Dehydrated skin means your skin is lacking water, not oil. And because it can happen to any skin type, it’s not always easy to tell. Here’s how dehydration can look, depending on your skin type:
Oily Skin: It might sound odd, but oily skin can still be dehydrated. If your skin is oily but feels tight or looks dull, that’s a sign it might not be getting enough hydration. You might also notice your skin producing even more oil to make up for the lack of water. Yup, that's a thing.
Dry Skin: If you already have dry skin, dehydration can make things worse. You might notice more tightness, flakiness, and even deeper fine lines appearing, especially around your eyes and mouth.
Combination Skin: For those with combination skin, dehydration can make the dry areas (like your cheeks) feel rough or sensitive, while the oilier areas (like your chin, nose and forehead) may seem oilier or more congested than usual.
Normal Skin: Even if you have normal skin, dehydration can leave it looking dull and flat. You might also notice that your skin feels tight, especially after cleansing.
What to do about dehydrated skin
The good news is, you can reverse dehydrated skin as it's a skin condition (the result of something happening to your skin), not a skin type (what you're born with)! Here’s what you can do to bring back that healthy glow again:
Start using a hydrating cleanser. The first step is to make sure you’re using a cleanser that hydrates your skin rather than strips it of moisture. Avoid foaming cleansers that can dry out your skin. Instead, go for something gentle that will cleanse without causing tightness.
Add in a hydrating toner or serum After cleansing, apply a toner or serum that’s packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera. These ingredients help to pull moisture into the skin, keeping it hydrated all day long.
Use the right moisturiser A moisturiser is key to locking in hydration. If you have oily skin, opt for a lightweight gel moisturiser that won’t clog pores but will still give you the moisture your skin needs. For drier skin, a richer cream will do the trick. The goal is to keep moisture in and prevent more dehydration.
Don’t skip SPF The sun can make dehydration worse, so make sure you’re using an SPF every single day. Even on cloudy days, the UV rays can contribute to skin damage and loss of moisture, so make SPF part of your routine.
Hydrate from the inside Drink plenty of water through the day. Your skin will thank you! Also eating foods with lots of water in like cucumber and watermelon, can also help keep your skin hydrated from the inside.
Need help? Take my skincare Quiz!
If you’re not sure whether dehydration is what’s affecting your skin, or if you need a more personalised skincare routine, I’ve created a quick skincare quiz that can help you understand your skin type better and therefore what products to help battle dehydration. You’ll get simple, personalised advice on how to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
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