June 21, 2021

What is the Difference Between Dry & Dehydrated Skin?

Is your skin dry? Or is it dehydrated? Do you know the difference?

It’s a common misconception in skincare that dry skin and dehydrated skin are the same thing. Many people - and sometimes even beauty brands - use these words interchangeably but, in fact, they mean very different things. What’s more, knowing the difference can make treating your skin so much easier. Here’s what you need to know:

Dehydrated, Dry or Both?

Simply put, dry skin is skin that is not producing enough oil. It is considered a skin type, because it is determined by genetics and cannot be changed. Dry skin can usually be identified by a person having small, barely visible pores. Other indicators of dry skin include tightness and rough texture.

Dehydrated skin on the other hand, is a temporary skin condition, caused by a lack of water in the skin, even if you chug water all day. This difference is important because it’s worth noting that even the oiliest skin types can still suffer from dehydrated skin.

It’s also possible to be dry and dehydrated at the same time. Some tell - tale signs that your skin is dehydrated include feeling dry, tight or crepey. When your skin is dehydrated, you may even notice that it drinks up topical products quickly.

How to Treat Dry Skin

Struggling with dry skin? Your skin may need extra care because it lacks its own natural protection. Dry skin often doesn't produce enough oil to maintain healthy barrier function. Oils and lipids are what help protect the skin from environmental stress and a lack of these components leaves the skin more vulnerable.

The key to treating dry skin is stimulating oil production and protecting the skin with supportive, nourishing products. Using lipid-rich products and ingredients that promote barrier repair will help to combat excess dryness and encourage skin healing. Ingredients we love for dry skin include glycerin, shea butter, babassu, apricot and avocado oils. You can also try our Ever Glow Bakuchiol Face Oil, formulated with nourishing plant - based oils and Bakuchiol for anti - aging benefits.

How to Treat Dehydrated Skin

Factors that contribute to dehydrated skin include both internal and external stressors. Certain medications, coffee, alcohol, sun exposure, excess exfoliation, or using too many aggressive products can all lead to dehydration.

The fix for dehydrated skin is - of course - drinking more H20, but additionally, use of hydrating ingredients in your skincare can be a big help to give your skin a boost. Dehydrated skin responds well to water-binding ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which holds 1000x it’s own molecular weight in water - our Hydro Boost Serum 1.5% hyaluronic acid serum will do the trick.

Once you’ve addressed hydration internally as well as topically, we recommend identifying any environmental or product triggers that may be affecting water retention in your skin, such as a dry climate or drying ingredients in your daily cosmetics. Knowing what causes water loss in your skin will help you troubleshoot and avoid dehydration in the future.

Other Things to Know

If you’re dealing with dehydrated skin, know that it is natural for your skin to try and compensate for lack of water by producing more oil. When this happens, the skin may react by breaking out, becoming irritated, or developing dry patches.

At Bellavana Beauty, our products are formulated with both hydrating and moisturizing ingredients from natural, plant - based sources. To avoid dehydrated skin and keep dry skin issues at bay, we recommend treating the skin with both water and oil-based products.

Just like you wouldn’t omit water or healthy fat from a balanced diet, you’ll want to be mindful to feed your skin with both oil and water for happy, healthy, glowing skin.

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