There is a difference between dry and dehydrated skin, but both tend to feel about the same - dry. Read the differences and see whether your skin is dehydrated or dry so you can determine which you have and alter your routine accordingly.
Dry skin frequently feels tight and dry. This situation rarely fluctuates and skin feels dry all year long. The dryness might get worse depending on the climate, season, or activity, but regardless of these factors, without great skincare products to target dry skin, the uncomfortable dry, tight feeling persists.
Dry Skin is a skin type
- Lacks sebum (oil)
- Typically feels dry everywhere (hands, scalp, etc)
- Skin type developed at birth (genetics)
- Needs products that are oil-rich
- Small pores
- More prone to premature aging
- Constantly needs moisturizer, particularly in the winter
Best products for dry skin: argan oil, aloe vera, antioxidants
Dehydrated skin is not a skin type as much as it is a condition of the skin. It doesn't discriminate between dry, oily, or combination skin and can be aggravated by topical skin care as much as lifestyle (binge drinking or smoking, for instance). Dehydrated skin can look and feel like dry skin but tends to come and go.
Dehydrated skin is a skin condition.
- Lacks water
- Experienced by all skin types
- Can appear oily, but feels dry in some places
- Triggered by a change in diet, routine, or environmental factors
- Needs products that can lock in water
- Prone to breakouts
Best products for dehydrated skin: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalene oil