A lot of skin care articles and product recommendations talk about dry skin. Dry skin can be irritating, hard to treat, and can lead to serious problems like cracked and even infected skin.
However, if your skin is feeling dry, that may not be the whole story. Dry skin is often confused with dehydrated skin, but both require unique skin care treatments and routines. Treatments that work for dry skin will do little to help deal with the underlying issues associated with dehydrated skin.
Effective skin health starts with accurately identifying your skin type. Follow this guide to learn about the difference between dehydrated vs. dry skin and how to treat each type.
Dehydrated skin is skin that lacks water and is considered to be a condition. People with all skin types, even oily skin types, can suffer from dehydrated skin. On the other hand, Dry skin lacks natural oils and is a skin type rather than a condition.
When you have dry skin, your glands don’t produce enough natural oils that are required to keep your skin feeling hydrated. Your skin needs some added hydration by using appropriate creams to add moisture and prevent future moisture loss.
Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin can result in the following symptoms:
When you have dehydrated skin, it has nothing to do with the production of natural oils. It means that your body is losing more water than it is taking in. This could be caused by a number of things, including not drinking enough liquids or side effects from some medications.
Sometimes determining whether you have dehydrated skin is as simple as an at-home pinch test. Pinch a small portion of your skin around your cheek area. If you notice the skin between your fingers is wrinkling and doesn’t bounce back quickly after you let go, you likely have dehydrated skin.
Your aesthetician or dermatologist can also help you diagnose dehydrated skin with a simple examination.
Most people can tell their skin is dry because it feels uncomfortable. It may feel tight, scratchy, or even chapped. However, dry skin is often confused with sensitive skin, and it can be hard to tell the difference.
Here are a few signs that your skin is dry:
While dry skin can be uncomfortable, it is almost always treatable with the right skin care products and dedication to using them on a daily basis. Routine use of the right hydrating products can get your skin from dry and uncomfortable to smooth and soft again.
If you leave your dry skin untreated, it can become cracked and get worse over time. Chronically dry skin can even lead to painful splitting that starts to bleed. Cracks also allow germs and bacteria to enter the body, increasing your chances of skin infection.
The good news is that learning how to treat dry skin is easy, and you can avoid these negative effects with a simple four-step skin care routine: cleanse, tone, moisturize, and protect.
One thing hasn’t changed throughout the years of beauty developments, and that’s the cleaning step. Every skin care routine, including a dry skin care routine, should start with a proper cleanse. Cleansing your skin takes away excess dirt and skin, making way for your moisturizing products.
Start your routine with our Rice Milk Crème Cleanser . It’s gentle on your skin and creamy in texture. This cleanser gives you a fresh slate without upsetting your skin’s pH balance. It is loaded with rose flower oil, amino acids, and a special blend of goodness that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and moisturized.
Toning is the best way to prime your skin before using other products like moisturizers. Toning helps create a clean and balanced canvas so that you can get the most out of your other skin care products.
However, many toners use alcohol as the main ingredient, which can further dry out your skin. Look for a gentle toner that is alcohol-free.
For dry skin, moisturizing is one of the most important steps in your whole routine. The right moisturizer can restore your skin, leaving no evidence that you have dry skin at all. Finding the right moisturizing product can take some experimentation.
For example, some skin types require the application of a light moisturizer with a heavier cream on top. Other skin types break out when mixing products. For serious hydration, try our Super Cream with Bakuchiol . This cream delivers high-intensity moisturization while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
During your morning routine, protecting your skin is critical. Every skin type should be using an SPF product, especially dry skin. UV light leads to premature aging and can make your dry skin even worse. Look for sunscreens that protect and moisturize, and apply daily before going outside.
One of the biggest differences between dry vs. dehydrated skin is the routine required to get the skin back into top condition. While both dehydrated and dry skin need moisture, the treatment required is very different.
Dehydrated skin often involves a more complex treatment regimen because dehydration is more than skin deep. To properly treat dehydrated skin, you’ll need to adopt some lifestyle changes in addition to a dedicated dehydrated skin care routine.
The root of dehydration is a lack of water, so replenishing your body’s natural loss of hydration is key. A good start is to make sure you are drinking plenty of water each day.
If you already drink eight glasses of water per day or more, you may need to work with your doctor to determine what levels are right for you. Eating water-rich foods such as vegetables and fruits can also help your skin’s hydration.
Other diet and lifestyle changes that can help with dehydrated skin include:
As always, your health care professional can help you determine whether you have any underlying conditions or medication side effects that are impacting your hydration levels.
Drinking more water alone won’t resolve all of the issues associated with dehydrated skin. In addition to these lifestyle changes, you should adopt a consistent skin care routine that involves plenty of moisture. Dehydrated skin often needs moisture from the inside and the outside, so your skin care routine can round out your full treatment.
First, start with a cleanser that is gentle but that still removes makeup and impurities. That’s exactly what our Revitalizing Cleansing Oil does for your skin. It does not include detergents or water, and it magically melts away stubborn makeup, oils, and impurities without drying your skin.
Next, revitalize your skin with oil before applying moisturizer. Oils tend to penetrate your skin more effectively than moisturizers, so incorporating oil into your routine before your moisturizer can make a big difference for dehydrated skin. Our Restoring Face Oil is full of vital omegas and antioxidants to help maintain your skin’s elasticity and smoothness.
Let the oil fully soak into your skin, then follow up with a moisturizing step. During the day, select a moisturizer that includes protection from environmental exposure, like our Replenishing Day Cream .
Feel free to use something a little heavier that can deliver intense hydration while you sleep at night. Whish’s Rose Hip + Lotus Firming Sleep Mask uses botanical smoothing ingredients to deliver intense moisture while softening fine lines.
Learning how to treat dry skin or dehydrated skin is not a process that happens overnight. Even once you determine whether you have dry vs. dehydrated skin, it may take time and some experimentation to find the perfect routine.
While it can seem like a chore to experiment with routines and products, finding a skin care routine that works for you is a great long-term investment that will pay dividends later on. With proper skin care, you can avoid many signs of aging and serious skin problems experienced by older populations.
At Whish, we use gentle, plant-based ingredients so you can experience hydrating skin care products without harsh chemicals. No matter what skin type you have, we have a high-quality product to help you reach your skin care goals.