Dry and dehydrated skin craves moisture outside just as much as you do on the inside, and it’s important to your skin’s health that you listen when it says it’s parched. But the worst part about treating dry skin is that, unlike us living and breathing beings who can talk, skin can’t cry out for moisture, at least not in the traditional sense. You have to know how to read subtle clues to ensure that you’re properly moisturizing.

Though dry skin and dehydrated skin are often thought of as being synonymous — and, indeed, even the best skincare experts and dermatologists sometimes use them interchangeably — it’s important to know just how different they are, and it’s especially important to know how to properly treat each condition.

Farmacy has several products that help moisturize and protect parched skin. But first, make sure you know what daily activities and stresses are ridding your skin of the moisture it needs in the first place.

Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin

The words “dry” and “dehydrated” are often used interchangeably, but it’s important to interpret the difference between the two terms. If you truly understand what is causing your skin to react in specific ways, it is much easier to know how to treat it.

Let’s start by differentiating between the two conditions. If skin is dry, it simply lacks oils. If your skin is dehydrated, it’s lacking water. A good way to remember this is by simply associating the word “dehydrated” with other ways it’s used (i.e. think of being thirsty because your body is dehydrated). There are many ways your skin can become dry or dehydrated, so it’s important to pay attention to how you treat your body.

Dry skin can occur from even the most innocent activities, like swimming in a chlorinated pool or turning up your thermostat. The thermostat can especially affect the dryness of your skin, even without you knowing it, during all seasons due to low levels of humidity. You may notice dry skin occurring from cold wind outside, as well as chilly temperatures inside, but too much use of central heating in your home could be the culprit, as well. A humidifier in the bedroom can help quench your dry skin by restoring some moisture to the environment.

Dealing with dehydrated skin is not quite as easy as simply monitoring your thermostat more closely during the changing seasons. Dehydration is often caused by a diet that lacks sufficient water.

Drinking too much coffee or alcohol can contribute to dehydration, so it’s absolutely crucial to make sure you drink enough H2O throughout the day. Dermatologist Harold Lancer, MD, explains that skin cells are naturally plump and protected by a lipid barrier, but dehydration can impair these barriers. Thus, it’s imperative to keep your skin moisturized to prevent dryness and dehydration.

So, what are the best ways to keep your skin moisturized? Let's find out by looking at our favorite products for dehydrated skin and dry skin below.

Dehydrated: Honey Drop

One of the most beneficial ingredients for dehydrated skin is honey, and it is one of the safest and healthiest ways to rejuvenate dehydrated skin. In fact, it’s one of the best natural humectants out there because it helps the skin absorb water and draws in even more moisture from the environment. Used in conjunction with a healthy, water-rich diet, it can truly do wonders for your skin. Honey Drop is long-lasting and helps your skin stay moisturized all day. 

This honey moisturizer boosts your skin’s natural moisture, and since it is rich with antioxidants, it nourishes the skin for a smooth and hydrated finish. Therefore, if you’re feeling dehydrated and your skin is starting to show it, Honey Drop is one of our favorite products for dehydrated skin and is the best remedy to your body’s lack of H2O.

Dry: Green Clean

Dryness and sensitivity often go hand in hand when discussing skin; this means it’s important to find products that are both hydrating and gentle. The Green Clean cleansing balm is perfect for combating dryness, and though it does include papaya extract, a natural exfoliator, it is totally safe to use on dry and delicate skin. In fact, exfoliating is recommended (followed by a great moisturizer!) for dry skin in order to rid the surface of pesky flakes.

Remember: dry skin lacks oils. Green Clean is chock-full of nourishing oils like sunflower oil, ginger root oil, and lime, bergamot and orange oils. Though each of these oils provides other benefits in its own right, the very existence of them in Green Clean means they will help lock in the moisture that dry skin desperately needs.

Give Your Skin a Drink

Your skin can get thirsty, just like you. Make sure to come up with a realistic and balanced skincare regime because, as Dr. Lancer explained, trying to reverse dry or dehydrated skin by slathering on an abundance of product can be harmful, as well. A healthy amount of Green Clean for dry skin and proper use of Honey Drop for dehydrated skin will help naturally reverse these symptoms.

Just make sure that you’re listening to your skin in the same way you listen to your body when it says it’s thirsty. As long as you’re able to identify when skin is dry or dehydrated, you’ll be able to water it appropriately.

The post Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin: When Skin Needs a Drink appeared first on Farmacy Beauty.