Dry vs. dehydrated skin

We tend to throw around “dry skin” and “dehydrated skin” like they’re the same thing…but they are not the same. If you’ve ever felt tight, oily-but-somehow-still-dry, or like your makeup isn’t sitting right…chances are, you’re mixing the two up.

Let’s break it down -

Dry skin = Lacks oil

Dry skin is mostly genetic. It means that your skin naturally doesn’t produce enough sebum to keep itself soft and cushiony.

Common signs of dry skin:

• Flakiness or rough patches

• Tightness

• Fine lines that look crepey

• Makeup that clings to dry spots

• You rarely get oily

• Your skin feels better with creams and oils

If this is you, your routine needs moisturizers that focus on barrier repair, gentle low-foaming cleansers, and ingredients like ceramides and shea butter. Here are a few of my favorite products for dry skin:

• Cleansers:

  • La Roche Posay Toleraine Hydrating Cleanser

  • Vanicream Gentle Cleanser

• Serums:

  • The Ordinary HA Serum

• Moisturizers:

  • CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

  • SkinFix Triple Lipid

  • Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

Dehydrated skin = Lacks water

ANY skin type can become dehydrated. Dehydration is caused by lifestyle, weather, travel, and harsh skincare.

Common signs of dehydrated skin:

• You feel tight but still get oily

• Your makeup separates and looks cakey

• You see fine lines that go away with moisturizer

• Your skin feels dull and tired

• You drink more coffee than you do water (sorry, not sorry)

• You over-exfoliate or use drying actives (retinoids, AHAs, BP)

If this is you, your routine needs humectants to pull in water, light hydrating layers, a moisturizer that actually seals hydration in, and less harsh ingredients. Here are the best products for dehydrated skin:

• Cleansers:

  • Cetaphil Hydrating Cleanser

  • La Roche Posay Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

• Hydration:

  • La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Serum

  • Vichy Mineral 89

  • Naturium Quadruple HA Serum

How to know if you have dry or dehydrated skin:

Do the blot test:

• Blot your skin in the middle of the day

  • No oil on blotting sheet and tightness? Dry skin

  • Oil on the sheet and tightness? Dehydrated

Do the makeup test:

• Dry skin: makeup clings to texture and flakes

• Dehydrated skin: makeup separates, looks patchy, or cracks

Look at your fine lines:

• Dry = visible all the time

• Dehydrated = disappear when skin is plumped

Once you understand which one your skin is dealing with, everything - from your cleanser to your serums to how your makeup sits - gets SO much easier!