Dull, dry, dehydrated. They all mean the same thing right? Or do they... sometimes trying to figure out what’s actually doing on with your skin can pretty difficult. We’re talking all things dry, flaky and I need of hydration, helping you to get to grips with your skin... here is is, what is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

SO dehydrated skin is a condition where your skin lacks water. 
This can be the result of not drinking enough water or a range of external factors like, heating/air conditioning or exposure to the sun and/or cold temperatures. Anyone & everyone, no matter their skin type can suffer from skin dehydration (yep even if you’re oily.)

 

A good (but weird) test is to gently pinch your cheek. If the skin wrinkles instead holding its shape, your skin cells are parched aka dehydrated. Dehydrated skin will feel tight, look dull, and shows accelerated signs of ageing & you might be suffering from redness, tightness and inflammation.

 

Dry skin is a skin type where your skin lacks natural oils. 
Dry skin lacks oil because it produces less sebum than ‘normal’ skin. A lack of sebum (aka natural oil) means your skin is without the essential lipids it needs to retain moisture and build strong barriers to protect against external aggressors. Often down to genetics but worsened by external factors, signs that your skin is dry are itchiness, flakiness, redness & ashy skin (that last one is mostly experienced by those with darker complexions).

 

Luckily whether your skin is dry, dehydrated or both – the solutions are pretty similar!

• Wear SPF! You’ll hear us say this ALOT, but UVA rays can actually dehydrate your skin & increase damaging free radicals in the cells. So, top up even when it’s cloudy.
• Turn down aircon/ heating & turn on your humidifier. Your surroundings could be depleting your skin from the hydration it needs!
• Eat foods rich in fatty acids like salmon, olive oil, walnuts & pumpkin seeds to improve skin’s hydration levels
• Use hyaluronic & polyglutamic acid! You already know this one, you have Hydration Hero, BUT this is going to plump your skin with hydration & leave it soft, rehydrated & glowy. There is a reason that It was called the G.O.A.T of Hyaluronic Acids – Amelia Olivia.