Most of us use dehydrated and dry interchangeably, because in both cases, the skin feels, well, dry, but in reality, the two skin situations are worlds apart. And until you figure out whether your skin is dehydrated or dry, no amount of slathering of moisturisers, creams and oils is going to help. In a nutshell, dehydrated skin lacks water. Maybe you're just not drinking enough of it, or you're exposed to harsh cold or hot temperatures for long periods of time, making your skin rapidly lose water.
Dry skin, on the other hand, is caused when there is an imbalance of lipids, an essential part of the barrier that protects the skin from losing moisture. Dry skin also lacks sebum, the oily waxy substance that lubricates our skin and hair, when produced in normal quantities, and gives it an oily sheen when produced in excess. You may be genetically predisposed to dry skin, or it might be a function of age, since the skin's oil gland's shrink as you grow older.
Even though the skin might feel the same in both situations - tight and dry - once you figure out what you're dealing with, you need to use a completely different set of products to help it regain its health and glow. Since it can be difficult to differentiate between dehydrated and dry skin, we recommend a visit to the dermatologist or aesthetician to help you figure out what you're dealing with.
TLDR: Dry skin is a type; dehydrated skin is a temporary and reversible condition.
Winters, with their inherent lack of moisture in the air, tend to dehydrate the skin, not dry it. Another very important thing to remember is that both oily and dry skin can be dehydrated. So even if you have oily or combination skin, watch out for signs of dehydration.
Dry skin tends to be tight, itchy and easily irritated. Dehydrated skin is usually dull, sunken and flakes easily. You are also more likely to dark circles and fine lines if you have dehydrated skin. Once again, if you have doubts, do visit an expert to correctly help you identify your condition, your skin will thank you for it.
Dehydrated skin needs products that will help reintroduce water back into the skin and help hold it there. So you need products that contain strong humectants.
Humectants draw water from the surrounding area and towards itself. What this means is that if you're wearing a product with a humectant on your face, it is literally sucking water from the air around and replenishing your facial skin with it. Pretty cool, isn't it? To make things easier, look out for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin or honey in your products if you have dehydrated skin.
To treat dry skin, you need to use products rich in occlusive agents (ingredients that form a film on the skin and prevent the skin from losing water) and emollients (ingredients that are penetrate deep into the skin and be absorbed into it). Lanolin, shea butter, olive oil and coconut oil are all great occlusive as well as emollients properties. Personally, I am a fan of jojoba oil - it is a lot like the skin's natural oils and so helps avoid breakouts.
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