We’ve all been there, you know, those moments where our skin looks really dull and feels like all its elasticity is completely gone? If you’ve been experiencing this, chances are your skin is dehydrated. However, there’s no need to worry about it! In this blog, we will take you through how to hydrate your skin a few simple steps that require minimal effort and guarantee maximum results. But first, let’s set the ground rules and check whether your skin is actually dehydrated or if you’re more on the dry skin type side of things.
Is your skin dehydrated or dry? Here’s how to check:
Confusing dry and dehydrated skin is very common because some of the symptoms are very similar.
Dehydrated skin
Dehydrated skin simply lacks water. Therefore, it looks dull, fine lines and wrinkles are more visible, and so are dark, under eye circles and other shadows around your face. Dehydrated skin is not flaky compared to the roughness dry skin indicates, but keep in mind that there’s a chance your skin might be both dry and dehydrated.
Dry skin
Unlike dehydrated skin, dry skin lacks natural oils. Our skin normally produces oils (sebum) and the lack of those could cause roughness, tightness and dryness. Dry skin is considered as one of the main skin types, together with normal, sensitive, oily, combination, and flaky skin. If you have dry skin, it usually takes significantly more time and effort to restore its radiance compared to dehydrated skin.
How to check if your skin is dehydrated
There is a super simple way for you to check if your skin is dehydrated at home. Pinch slightly a portion of your skin on one of your cheeks. If it instantly bounces back, your skin is fine - but if it wrinkles there’s a high chance that your skin is dehydrated.
How to hydrate your skin in 7 easy ways
1. Sleep better
Lack of sleep can cause dehydrated skin. There is actually scientific evidence proving that people who sleep for 6 hours or less every day have much higher dehydration rates compared to those sleeping for more. For a plump, radiant and hydrated skin, aim to sleep for 8-9 hours every day.
2. Consider your showers
Who would have thought that your daily shower and your skin’s hydration levels could be linked! Well, they are. Taking long and hot showers can significantly dehydrate our skin. You should aim for 5-10 minute long showers with lukewarm water, not too hot.
3. Beware of your cleanser
We use cleansers every day, so we really need to be careful of the ingredients our products include. Harsh cleansers containing chemical exfoliants could cause flaky and dehydrated skin, as they strip your skin’s natural oils. Look for gentle products that don’t harm the skin.
4. Coffee and alcohol
Coffee and alcohol consumption is linked to our skin’s hydration. Drinking lots of both could cause dehydration throughout your body, not just your skin. Consume both liquids in moderation to avoid skin dullness.
5. Exfoliate & moisturize
To keep your skin well hydrated you should exfoliate once a week with a gentle exfoliator, to remove any dead cells that prevent your moisturizers from getting absorbed. Make sure your skin is well moisturized by using the right day and night moisturizers, preferably with an SPF.
6. Eat healthy fats
Healthy fats are a necessary part of our diet if we want our skin and body to function properly. Specifically, look for foods that contain Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids which nourish the skin and provide radiance and brightness. These healthy fats can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, avocados, walnuts and sweet potatoes.
7. Consider buying a humidifier
Especially if you’re living in a dry environment, this does affect your skin’s hydration levels. Consider investing in a humidifier and using it at home during the cold winter months when you have the heating on. The humidifier will increase humidity levels in your room and will help your skin lose less moisture.
Can you hydrate your skin overnight?
The short answer is no. You can’t fix any skin dehydration issues overnight. As mentioned above, you need to follow these simple steps for a short period of time at least, to give your skin time to restore its natural hydration levels. Using hydrating overnight masks can definitely help speed up the process.
Treating dehydrated skin is easier than you think and doesn’t require a lot of effort. You can simply follow our 8-step guide above and visit us for a ‘Moisture Restored’ facial, which features moisture-rich ingredients that help retain your skin’s moisture, radiance and balance.
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