Some Top Tips for Dehydrated Skin
As I’ve said before… I am no skincare expert! Anything I say here is entirely what has worked for me and my skin. We’re all very different, so it may not always work for you - but you don’t know until you try, right?! My skin is very dry and very sensitive and can always feel a little dehydrated so I spend a lot of my life trying to ensure it’s hydrated. You know what this means… fewer wrinkles (fingers crossed very tightly).
The key here is that dry skin is different to dehydrated skin. You can be one, or the other and I think I am probably both a lot of the time. Dry skin is permanent and it’s when your skin does not produce enough natural oil, so it tends to be itchy or flaky.
Dehydrated skin is (hopefully) temporary and it’s when the skin doesn’t have enough water. It could have been affected by a range of external issues (could be weather, diet, etc) and tends to be more red, dull and inflamed and it can even produce more oil than normal. So even if you don’t have dry skin, it can still be dehydrated…
So here are the ways I try to keep my skin feeling and looking hydrated:
On the Glow, Girl!
Water
Ok, so to be clear, drinking water is NOT going to solve dehydrated skin. But ensuring the rest of you isn’t dehydrated is a good place to start! Seems simple right, but this is actually the one I find the hardest. During the week I am much more discipled - even part of the H20 club at work - basically whoever drinks the most water gets love and respect forever (or in real life we roll our eyes and call the one who has downed gallons just to win way too competitive).
When you actually look into whether water really makes a difference to dehydrated skin it’s a debated topic - most sources seem to say that if you’re fairly well hydrated, drinking more water won’t actually help dehydrated skin as it’s an external issue. This makes sense but I guess it depends just how hydrated you are to begin with. I’d say it’s better to keep hydrated just for general health - rather than reaching for the caffeine, guzzle on some water because it just might make a difference to getting that glowing skin!
Finding the right cleanser
For a really long time, I thought that I was having a bad reaction to all foundations. They seemed to really affect my skin - I would be red and puffy after using almost anything and I hated not being able to find the right make-up. This was until I went into Kiehl’s for the first time and spoke at length to one of their lovely skin experts. She said it was highly unlikely I was reacting to loads of different products and much more common to be having an issue with my cleanser, which was then affecting what I put on my skin. Duh! I felt like an idiot but I hadn’t considered this before. I can’t even remember what I was using but it was back before I was really caring for my skin and paying attention to hydration etc. Whatever I was using was dehydrating my skin and just didn’t work for me. So make sure you find a cleanser that works for your skin type. You can read more about cleansers in my top 5 here. And if your skin is sensitive or dehydrated try not to use hot water - luke-warm will be a lot better for your skin.
Sun damage!
I know many people are desperate for a tan (especially as we come into summer) but this is where I start piling on the SPF. Actually that’s a lie, I wear it all year round. I can’t stress it enough but the UV light that helps you get a tan is damaging your skin, dehydrating it and WILL GIVE YOU WRINKLES! What’s ever scarier is that it can cause skin cancer so please be sensible - wear SPF. These days most decent day products tend to include SPF but I always use a very high factor one just for that extra protection. So if you want to protect against the biggest external factor there is, pile on that sun cream!
Key SPF products -
See More on Hydration products
Tap Here For My Top Five Products For Dry Skin
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is key for keeping your skin clear and plump, especially when it’s dehydrated, but that doesn’t mean you need a harsh scrub. In fact, when your skin’s dehydrated, you want quite the opposite. Exfoliating gets rid of any dead skin on the surface and lets that glow layer underneath shine through. It also ensures that all that stuff you’re using to hydrate actually gets through to the good bit and does some work. Use a gentle exfoliator and only do it maximum twice a week - otherwise you’re just going to irritate and aggravate it even more. I have been using the Oskia Renaissance Skincare mask and it’s been fantastic. Read more about that here. It takes the dead skin away without being too harsh in the way a scrub would be. I’ve also used Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro Peel Concentrate which is a very gentle way to get rid of that dead skin.
Avoiding Alcohol
Ok, so I’m partial to a pink gin (or 5) but actually alcohol can have a massive effect on your skin. And not in a good way. We probably all know it’s very dehydrating in general, which is why you get a massive headache in the morning after a few too many, but this extends to the skin too. So next time I am tempted with a gin I am really going to try to remember the regret with those extra wrinkles in a few years. Put that glass down- who’s with me?!
Serums, Acids and Moisturisers
Ok so Hyaluronic Acid sounds scary (I kept calling it hydraulic acid and it just sounds like it should go next to the Bunsen burner) but actually it’s one of the most effective products for tackling dehydrated skin. It’s something that’s already found in our body so we’re just adding it back in. However, it’s been said that because it acts as a sponge for moisture it could be taking moisture from elsewhere and just putting on the top layer of your skin - so great for short term but not really longer term help. It needs to be used in conjunction with great moisturisers and other products. Read more about using serums, acids and oils here. Outside of this, you want products which actually help you to retain moisture in your skin. Overnight masks and treatments are great for this so while you’re getting lots of rest (which also helps) your skin is getting a helping hand.
Being Aware of Your Environment
Other things that affect your skin are of course, the weather, which you can’t do a lot about, the temperature, pollution and things like air conditioning and central heating. You’ll probably notice at different times of the year, your skin behaves differently. The key here is to be aware of your environment. Find products that could help create a barrier for your skin, have antioxidants and keep hold of the moisture your skin needs. And if all else fails - shell out for a de-humidifier!