Winter can leave your skin dry, tight and irritated. Luckily, we’re here with expert tips, must-have ingredients, and product recommendations to keep your skin healthy and hydrated all season long.
Are dry and dehydrated skin the same?
In short, no. We asked Skincare Specialist, Alana, to explain the difference.
“Dry skin is a skin type caused by underproduction of oil, otherwise known as sebum,” explains Alana. “It is usually accompanied by symptoms such as tightness, itching, redness and irritation.”
“Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, refers to a lack of water in the top layers of your skin. When dehydration strikes, your skin will likely look dull (the opposite of the inflamed redness of dry skin) with shadowy, dark patches around the eyes and nose. In addition, fine lines and wrinkles will appear more visible. It can break out at any time on anyone, regardless of their skin type,” she adds.
Still not sure if your skin is dehydrated? Pinch the back of your hand lightly. If it takes several seconds to return to its natural state, it’s a big indicator of dehydration.
What causes dehydrated skin?
Simply put, you’re not drinking enough water. When we lose more water than we take in, dehydrated skin is our body’s way of sounding the alarm, letting us know we need to increase our H20 and bring things back into balance.
Drinking seven to eight glasses of water a day, or more if you sweat while exercising, will help keep your skin supple and supple.
And if you enjoy a pepper in the evening, this might sting you a bit. Alcohol can quickly dehydrate skin cells due to its diuretic nature, so limiting your consumption can be beneficial for your skin.
How do I take care of dehydrated skin?
- If you know you’re not drinking water during the day, set an alarm on your phone to remind you every 90 minutes over a 12-hour period. That way, you’ll commit to eight periods of skin-satiating hydration every day.
- If you enjoy working out, make sure a water bottle is never too far away so you can replace the precious H20 you’ve lost.
- You don’t have to say goodbye to alcohol completely, just drink it in moderation. And remember to pour yourself a big old pint of water between each glass to balance the fluid levels in your body.
- When the weather takes an extreme turn, try to drink more to account for its effects on the body. Summer ticks will naturally make you sweat more and a cold will dry out your skin.
- You don’t have to get all the water directly from the tap. In fact, almost all living things contain water, so stocking your fridge with fruits and vegetables is a delicious way to top up your hydration intake and get your eight glasses on at the same time. Start with cucumber (at 96% water, it has the highest concentration of the cool stuff in any food) and try other juicy goodies like mushrooms, tomatoes, melons and oranges.
What ingredients are good for dehydrated skin?
Aloe Vera
Intensely soothing thanks to its high water content, this antioxidant-rich shrub deeply hydrates dehydrated skin. To instantly cool and calm you, we harnessed its power.
Resurrection flowers
Resurrection flowers can live for years without water. Once hydrated, they revive and transform into a beautiful, bright green flower. We use the highly resistant cells from this unique plant in ours Comfort Food Deep Hydration Mask – and it’s clinically tested and proven to improve skin hydration by an average of 175% after one use.
Hyaluronic Acid
A super ingredient that holds 1,000 times its weight in water, this powerful moisturizer can transform dehydrated skin. Us Rainforest dew it’s bursting with hyaluronic acid and is clinically tested and proven to improve skin hydration by an average of 111% in just two hours.
Tamanu oil
Known as “green gold” by the people of French Polynesia (where it was originally used by soldiers to heal battle wounds), tamanu is a beloved skin repair product. Rich in fatty acids, it strengthens the skin barrier to reduce water loss. Find it in formulas like Super Greens Nutrient Boost Oil and the iconic Tamanu Balm All-in-One Skin Savior.
Madagascar Life Sheet
Rich in flavonoids that help soften the skin and strengthen the skin’s matrix, this evergreen plant is also known as a “wonder of the world”. It has been used for centuries by the natives of Madagascar to heal and repair skin from redness and irritation, and now you can enjoy its moisturizing benefits in our Skin Re-Leaf Soothing Moisturizer.
