Dry skin vs Dehydrated skin

Hello Little Wonderlanders,

As the weather gets colder and the winds get harsher, many people experience seasonal skin dryness – skin that’s itchy, tight and/or flaky. Dry and dehydrated skin both tend to feel the same – just plain dry. But there’s a difference between dry and dehydrated skin. Learn how to identify if your skin is dry or dehydrated and how to treat it.

What’s the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin?

Dry and dehydrated skin both affect the condition of the uppermost layer of the skin. The symptoms are very similar and may include tightness, flakiness, itchiness, redness and sensitivity. Rather than smooth and supple, dry or dehydrated skin may feel papery to the touch.

The big difference between the two is that people are born with their dry skin types, but dehydrated skin can happen to anyone. Dehydrated skin lacks water and dry skin lacks oil. So, your skin could be dehydrated, dry, or both. This is why it is important to choose the right product and know how and when to use them.

Dehydrated skin

Dehydrated skin is caused by a lack of water, not oil. Dehydration can be triggered by unbalanced diets, lifestyle changes like frequent traveling or poor sleeping habits (and sometimes medications), environmental factors – basically anything that would suck the water content out of your skin. When skin is dehydrated, it creates more oil to make up for the missing water. This can cause breakouts, dry patches and irritation. In fact, skin can even feel oily and dry at the same time. If your skin type is on the oily side, try not to go too crazy overloading your face with tons of rich heavy moisturizing treatments. This can lead to clogged and congested pores. Try to reach for humectants like hyaluronic acid, aloe, glycerin, and marine extracts that will put water back into your skin before sealing it in with a good moisturizer.

How to treat dehydrated skin?

For dehydrated skin, you’ve got a wealth of options within K-beauty. In fact, one of the main things we really love about K-beauty is its dedication to hydration. Hyaluronic acid is one of the best ways to achieve that beautiful complexion and plump skin, as it has the capability of attracting and holding a crazy amount of moisture.

We recommend COSRX Triple Hyaluronic Moisture Ampoule that you can add to your routine that will make dramatic improvements to your hydration game. This moisturizing serum, formulated with 3 types of hyaluronic acids, is especially designed to give massive hydration. It’s also wise to find a cleanser with hyaluronic acid, such as the Klairs Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser. This cleanser is alcohol- and paraben-free and contains Aloe Vera Leaf extracts to keep the skin hydrated. Here you can read more about the benefits of Aloe Vera. Anything with snail is also a wonderful hydratior that gets the job done quickly without feeling slimy. COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All-in-one Cream will get your skin on track with its 92% snail goodness.

Dry skin

If you have a dry skin type, it means your skin is lacking oil. Go easy on using products with drying and irritating ingredients like alcohol, and fragrance, and keep all those emollients close at hand. We recommend oils because they penetrate deep into the skin and allow the skin to breathe. So, try to protect the oil content the skin does have by using a gentle, oil-based cleanser, cleansing with lukewarm water, limiting exfoliation and applying an oil-based moisturizer.

How to treat dry skin?

For dry skin, it’s as simple as adding oil to your routine, and that’s another thing K-beauty does so well. A great first step for your double cleansing rituals is the iUNIK Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil, formulated with only 6 natural oils that leaves your face smooth and moisturized. Your skin will absorb this stuff and you feel like you can smile again without cracking.

Huxley’s Oil Light and More will knock out that dry dullness with its rich oils.  The highly concentrated blend of organic oils, like Jojoba oil and Sahara Prickly Pear Cactus Oil, melt seamlessly into your skin to give real suppleness and plump the skin. You can also mix 1 drop with your regular moisturizer for an extra boost.

What if you have both dry and dehydrated skin?

All you’ve got to do is use the products for both the dry and the dehydrated skin, and then seal that goodness in with a barrier cream. Start with the hydration, add some oil, then seal it all in with a generous application cream. Mizon’s Intensive Skin Barrier Cream does exactly what is says and creates a barrier that ensures that precious moisture we’ve put back in our skin isn't getting out throughout the day (or night)

Do you have dry skin or dehydrated skin? Or do you have both? Tell us what you like to use to treat your dry skin or dehydrated skin.

XXX - Siham