Hello lovelies, tell us, have you had any water today? No? Well, drop everything and go grab a glass of water. NOW! Okay, assuming, and we are really trusting you here, that you have drunk a glass full of water, Beauty Insider would like to discuss something many people neglect. Just like how you forgot to drink some water and hydrate yourself today, many tend to forget to hydrate their skin as well! Dehydrated skin is not a good look and it brings forth several skin concerns too. Dehydration is when your skin doesn’t get the moisture it deserves. Your skin is thirsty and it is crying out! But some of you are missing all the obvious signs of dehydrated skin. It isn’t just when your skin looks and feels dry, it could also show in oily skin. 

What Makes Your Skin Dehydrated?

Contrary to popular belief, dry skin isn’t the only reason for dehydrated skin! There are several factors that can cause your skin to become dehydrated. Most of the time, dehydrated skin is mainly caused by the skincare products you use! That’s right, what you think might be healing your skin, might just be breaking it. This is because some skin care products contain ingredients that are harsh or sensitive to the skin. Sometimes, you don’t realise that they are irritating your skin because the effects are so mild! These harsh ingredients can even penetrate and disturb your skin’s microbiome. 

Ingredients such as alcohol, fragrances, peppermint and menthol are culprits of drying out your skin and leaving it dehydrated. Besides that, it can also increase the production of excess oil, which makes your skin oilier and pores are clogged. So, your skin isn’t oily because it is full of moisture, it’s oily because it’s dehydrated! Depending on your skin type, you can’t have too much of a product either. This is because although skincare products and ingredients are beneficial to your skin, too much of anything can leave your skin dehydrated. 

Aside from the products you use on your skin, environmental factors also contribute to dehydrated skin. For example, constantly being in an air-conditioned room can dry out your skin. Not drinking enough water, or even sleeping enough can also make your skin dehydrated. The weather, no matter if it is dry, cold or humid, can also contribute to your skin being dehydrated. Since it is caused by the lack of water inside your skin, it is easy even for the air around you to suck it all out! 

Signs of Dehydrated Skin

If you can’t tell if your skin is dehydrated, look out for these signs and you just might be able to solve your skin problems! The obvious is if your skin is looking quite dry and has an uneven complexion. If it doesn’t look dry, your skin may be trying to deceive you! So, make sure to look out for other signs such as itchiness, dullness, inflammation, along with rough and tight-feeling skin. Itn can also show signs in sunken eyes, dark circles and even fine lines that have become noticeable! If you have severely dehydrated skin, symptoms like a dry mouth, dizziness, weakness and lightheadedness can appear. But if you need another verification to be sure, try pinching a small area of your cheeks. If it wrinkles, then it is a sign that you have dehydrated skin. 

Difference Between Dehydrated And Dry Skin

One thing about dehydrated skin is that it is actually different from dry skin types. To help you identify which is which, you’ll need to learn the difference between the two! If you have a dry skin type, it usually feels tight and dry. You also wouldn’t be able to find a single drop of oil looming on your skin too. If so, you are born with dry skin and do not have dehydrated skin. Since dry skin depends mostly on the glands that produce oil within your skin, it rarely fluctuates. Meaning that your skin will most likely feel dry throughout the year. The only reason for it to change or worsen is because of changing seasons, climates and environments. 

Although dry and dehydrated skin sounds fairly similar, there is one thing that keeps them apart. Dehydrated skin usually does not persist. It tends to come and go! What’s more, is that it is likely to be accompanied by excess or normal amounts of oil appearing on your skin. Although your skin is producing excess oil, it can still feel tight when it is dehydrated. What’s more, is that your skin may start to flake as well. So, if your skin feels dry but has an oily top layer, chances are that you have dehydrated skin. 

How To Solve Dehydrated Skin

Now that you’ve figured out whether you have dehydrated skin or just dry skin, it’s time to treat it! Here are a few solutions that can help you heal and get your skin back to its hydrated and healthy state. Time to say bye-bye to feeling flaky, dull and irritated by the dehydration your skin is experiencing. 

1. Drink More Water

dehydrated skin

The most important thing you can do to heal dehydrated skin is by drinking more water! What do you do when you get thirsty? You drink water! So, your skin needs the same thing your body needs. When it is crying out for thirst, you need to feed it and hydrate it so that it doesn’t dry out. Drinking enough water throughout the day not only helps rehydrate your skin and ensures you don’t get dehydrated, but it can also clear up your complexion! So, if you want a brighter skin tone, make sure you are drinking enough water every day! 

2. Use A Gentle Cleanser

dehydrated skin

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Another way you can rehydrate your skin is by using a gentle cleanser. Don’t underestimate gentle cleansers because they can be quite effective! Most will not leave your skin feeling dry, greasy or tight afterwards either. Look for cleansers that are free of harsh chemicals and go for organic skincare instead! It is also best to wash your face with lukewarm water instead of hot water. Harsh chemicals can be harmful to sensitive skins and cause unwanted irritations. So be sure to always check the ingredients list before purchasing a new cleanser. 

3. No To Caffeine

coffee

For all the caffeine addicts, it is time to say goodbye and break the chain! Not all liquids are good for your skin, so stop using that excuse to drink 5 cups of coffee a day! We know your frequent trips to Starbucks. Some of you even spend your entire day there! How much coffee did you actually drink? Caffeine affects your body by draining its water content. Thus, putting your body’s health at risk.

One to two cups of coffee a day is fine, but more than that? No! If you really can’t give up your love for coffee, then you better be bringing a water bottle with you on all these coffee trips. For every coffee or tea you drink, (yes tea contains caffeine as well!) drink some water. Thus, your skin will be much more balanced and your skin won’t suffer the dangers of being dehydrated, or worse. 

4. No To Harsh Scrubs

dehydrated skin

Although exfoliation is a great way to cleanse your skin of dead skin cells and brighten it up, you shouldn’t be using super abrasive scrubs either. If your skin is in a healthy state, it would usually take 25 days for your skin to renew itself. But if your skin is dehydrated, this process can take longer! For dehydrated skin, we recommend using much gentler exfoliants and as rough scrubs can cause sensitivity to your skin. You want to cleanse your skin, not irritate it! 

5. Hyaluronic Acid 

dehydrated skin

Hyaluronic acid is the best ingredient to rehydrate your skin. It is a humectant and works a miracle to secure moisture in your skin. Making it appear supple and soft! It works as a magnet for moisture, and can even hold weights up to 6 litres of water! Besides that, it also binds moisture within your skin and allows your skin to feel healthier, plump and even more hydrated! So if you ever find yourself with dehydrated skin again, look for hyaluronic acid in your skincare products! It could just save you from suffering!

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