Dry or dehydrated? How to differentiate between them and treat your skin properly

It doesn’t matter what kind of skin you have, they all have their pain points.

Oily skin can make your makeup slip and slide down your face and is a nightmare in the warm summer months. Combination skin is the wild card - we never know what it’s going to do. Patchy today? Dry tomorrow? Who knows! Combination skin keeps us on our toes for sure.

But one of the most common skin types is dry/dehydrated skin.

Many of us fall into the category without even knowing it, which can cause us to treat the skin incorrectly and in turn create more skin problems by not treating it properly.

Read our guide to help you identify if you’re a closet dehydrated gal and how you can get your skin back on tip-top form.

Dehydrated and dry skin - Aren’t they the same thing?

What’s the difference between dry and dehydrated skin? Aren’t they the same thing? I certainly thought so until recently, how wrong I was!

Dry skin is an actually consistent skin type that people have, which can be caused by a hormonal imbalance or a natural lack of oil production within the body.

However, dehydrated skin is something that can happen to any of us no matter what our skin type.

While dry skin needs a consistent long term regime to ensure moisture is added and maintained at all times, dehydrated skin might be something we become more susceptible to at certain times of the year, if we are unwell, or even due to external factors.

Dry skin signs & fixes

The tell-tale signs of dry skin is a feeling and appearance of dryness, with flakey patches or blotches on the skin. These are particularly noticeable when makeup is applied.

Generally, this is characteristic to all skin on the face but can be more pronounced in some areas (e.g. nose or cheek area).

 

 

There’s no such thing as a quick fix for dry skin, it takes time and dedication to keep skin looking and feeling healthy and to stop premature signs of ageing.

Following a complete skincare routine is one of the most important things you can do.

Use moisturising and nourishing products (like Poko’s Ultra Hydrating Mosituriser) with natural ingredients that will help boost the skin's elasticity and stop it from feeling itchy and flaky.

Dehydrated skin - the signs

The characteristics of dry skin and dehydrated skin are very very similar, so if you’re still a bit confused as to which category you fall into, don’t be too hard on yourself.

Skin that’s dehydrated can be any skin type just going through a time where it’s not being fed enough moisture, internally or externally. You may feel your skin has a tight sensation, especially after washing with water.

Your facial skin is much more delicate than you may think, and using water that’s much too hot or exposing it to the sun and wind without protection can cause it to become very dehydrated very quickly.

Ensure that you’re prepping your skin for the elements, using SPF and not overexposing to hot water, intense air conditioning, or overuse of central heating. All of this very dry air lacks moisture and will only make the skin feel even more dry and dull in appearance.

How can I treat my dehydrated skin?

The good news, however, is that dehydrated skin can be treated and restored to its former glowing glory. One of the most important things you can do is to make sure you are getting enough water!

It may seem simple but water really is your best friend. If you’re not a fan of plain old H2O, try adding some fresh fruit slices with ice to add some extra flavour. This is helpful for all skins types, yes, but especially if you are having a period of dehydration.



Use products in your regime that add moisture and can be easily absorbed by your thirsty skin. We recommend the Luxury Facial Oil which can be applied everyday or used as part of a facial treatment along with our Correcting Eye Cream which contains hyaluronic acid - the secret weapon against dehydration.

 

Conclusion

So while dry skin and dehydrated skin are related, think of them more as cousins than siblings. They share lots of the same characteristics but need to be treated in very different ways.

Just make sure you know which one you are before treating and you’ll get back to normal sooner than you think!