Is your skin dry, or dehydrated?

It’s not the same, trust us.

Have you been told that your skin is dry, yet it still show signs of oiliness? You’ve most likely been misinformed…

Dry skin and oily skin do not co-exist together, BUT dehydrated skin and oily skin do. Dehydrated skin is when your skin lacks moisture, and to make up for it, your skin produces excess sebum, causing you to have oily skin. And because of that, you probably wouldn’t have realised that your skin was in fact, screaming for help and dying from thirst.

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What exactly is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin then, you may ask. Let’s find out more now!

WHAT IS DRY SKIN?

Dry skin produces little to no oil, causing the skin to become dry and flaky. It could be caused by a genetic condition or external factors such as one’s lifestyle habits. With dry skin, the skin produces less sebum than normal, and is unable to retain the moisture it needs – sebum (our skin’s natural oil) acts as a barrier to prevent water loss from the skin’s surface, and keeps our skin from drying out, – and as a result, could turn flaky, itchy and hyper-sensitive.

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How to save dry and parched skin

When it comes to dry skin, there are various methods to caring for it at home. Start with using the right products!

Antioxidants
More antioxidants and less acids in your skincare go a long way in improving the condition of dry skin! Antioxidants are full of anti-inflammatory effects that help to calm and relieve dry, irritated skin. Try the ést.lab VitaLift A+ OPC Antioxidant Cream which contains grape seed extract, which is a great source of antioxidants !

Exfoliate
Try exfoliating twice a week to get rid of any buildup of dead skin cells, allowing better absorption of your skincare. That’s right! If your skin is clogged, it doesn’t matter how much skincare you use because your skin wouldn’t be able to absorb it fully! Use ést.lab Lumiwhite Brightening Facial Scrub, which contains all-natural botanical exfoliating beads for a gentle exfoliation to reveal skin’s natural glow.

Facial Oils
Another quick tip would be to introduce some form of facial oils to your skincare routine, which should be used after your toner, and before your moisturiser. While you may doubt it, these oils would be able to retain the moisturiser on your face for a longer period of time, allowing it to do its job before it eventually evaporates off your face.

WHAT IS DEHYDRATED SKIN?

Dehydrated skin is a condition often found in normal, oily or combination skin that is lacking moisture, causing the skin to feel tight. As the skin is lacking water (moisture), it is still possible for the skin to turn oily! This is due to your body’s natural reaction of producing more oil to make up for the dryness your skin is feeling.

Dehydrated skin is a condition that could be caused by internal factors from a lack of water intake, or external factors where your skin dries out due to poor conditions such as weather and air-conditioning. Common signs of dehydrated skin: your skin wrinkles when pinched, dullness, congestion and inflammation.

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How to restore moisture to dehydrated skin

Dehydrated skin compared to dry skin might require more effort from you, because this may be caused by a lack of hydration both internally and externally.

Drink up
It is important to stay hydrated all day by drinking enough water. And that means, a minimum of 2 litres daily! There’s really nothing better than keeping it hydrated from the inside-out. Your skin (and body) will thank you for it!

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Hyaluronic Acid for added hydration
Of course, the products you use makes a difference too! Try to introduce a hyaluronic acid-based serum into your routine, to be used after a toner, and before your moisturiser for a much-needed moisture boost. Why not give the ést.lab ActivCalm Ultra Hyalusol Serum a try? It contains triple hyaluronic action to lock in, preserve and replenish moisture for parched skin.
Rehydrate the air
If you’re working in an air-conditioned office, try using a humidifier as air-conditioners tend to dry out your skin. If possible, try not to sleep with the air-conditioner on at night. This would allow for moisture to be present in the air, and keep your face from drying out. By keeping a bottle of face mist handy, you could also spritz some whenever your face feels too tight, or dry for a quick fix!

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