DRY SKIN VS. DEHYDRATED SKIN

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I think it's pretty fair to say my skincare knowledge has come a long way in the past 10 years! When I was a teenager, I looked at my oily t-zone and regular breakouts and decided to use every harsh anti-blemish, mattifying product I could find in the aisles of Superdrug. At the same time I was starting to get lines on my forehead. I really couldn't understand what was going on; I mean, skin can only be dry or oily, right? Wrong! Obviously... What I didn't realise was that although I had combination skin (which leaned towards oily back then but is more combo-dry these days), I also had dehydrated skin so I was stripping it of moisture in my attempts to control my hormonal skin. Today we're talking about what dehydration is, how it's different to having dry skin, telling the two apart and which products can help you beat both of these concerns!

- IS YOUR SKIN DRY OR DEHYDRATED? -

If you have dry skin, it's going be lacking in oils (sebum), so you may experience tightness, itchiness and flakiness. If your skin is dry, it's consistently this way, and the rest of your body is probably dry too. Overall you're born with dry skin; it's a genetic factor that you can't fundamentally change, you can only manage it.

If you're dehydrated, your skin is lacking in water and you're likely to notice that the look and feel of your skin varies considerably depending on diet and environmental factors. Dehydrated skin often shows fine lines, though you might notice that on some days they're really obvious and on others they're barely visible. It's also easy for dehydrated skin to look dull.

I personally have combination skin that's usually pretty dehydrated. The skin on my body has always been dry, however I think the skin on my face is more on the combination side due to hormonal reasons. It's a constant battle to hydrate my skin without overloading it with rich products that are better suited to dry skin!

- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DRY SKIN -

Cleanser: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm | £47 | full review
This is a super-nourishing balm-to-oil cleanser that emulsifies if you add water. It contains hydrating Vitamin E and rose oils, leaving my skin so soft and smooth. I actually use this to remove makeup, however so many people love this as a morning or second cleanser directly on the skin, which is how I think it would be great for drier skin.

Serum: Alpha-H Vitamin E* | £29 | full review
I absolutely love this Vitamin E serum! It's soothing, it's hydrating and it gives me such lovely, dewy, radiant skin. If your dry skin causes redness or irritation; definitely give this a try! I really don't know why this product doesn't have more hype because it's been one of my heroes.

Moisturiser: Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream* | £24 | full review 
This is a really lovely moisturiser - ceramides help the skin retain moisture and rose is incredibly hydrating so it's the perfect combination for dry skin. It gives a gorgeous dewy finish on me personally, so I think the dry-skinned amongst us would really appreciate getting that fresh glow using this product. It's intensely nourishing but isn't greasy or anything like that.

Eye Cream: Kate Somerville Goat Milk De-Puffing Eye Balm* | £32 | full review
I tend to avoid overly rich eye creams for my skin personally but there's one that works for me that I think dry-skinned people will love too. This is a stick eye balm formulated with manuka honey, natural milk proteins and plant stem cells so it's incredibly hydrating on the eye area (along with being cooling and de-puffing).

Overnight Treatment: Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial* | £49 | full review
This oil-serum contains Vitamins A and C, rose oil, Q10 and a bunch of other ingredients. I put this on before bed and I wake up with my skin transformed! It's hydrating, it's smoothing, it gives my skin this amazing glow and I can't recommend it enough. I don't think any skin type should be afraid of oils but this one in particular is something I'd recommend if you have dry skin.

- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEHYDRATED SKIN -

Cleanser: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser* | £30 | full review
This is a lovely non-foaming gel cleanser with a lovely fresh scent and feeling on the skin. It's lightweight, hydrating and softening without being rich or heavy on the skin. I tend to use it as a morning cleanse but it also works for removing makeup.

Serum: Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Concentrate Serum* | £18.50 
This product contains glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which are both lightweight hydrators that will help your skin to retain water. This is a non-greasy product that absorbs easily into the skin and also softens and plumps it. It helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and gives my skin a healthier look and a smoother feel. I really do recommend this if your skin is dehydrated but not necessarily dry and needs something that will quench its thirst without being rich or heavy. 

Moisturiser: Dr Roebuck's No Worries Hydrating Face Moisturiser* | £30 | full review
This is one of my absolute favourite moisturisers because it's so hydrating (with hyaluronic acid, macadamia oil and rosehip oil) but the texture of the cream itself is so lightweight. It smooths and moisturises my skin without leaving any excess on its surface. 

Eye Cream: Fresh Lotus Eye Gel* | £40 | full review
If your eye area isn't dry but needs more hydration and you want to look awake and alert; I suggest using something gel-based. I personally love this one from Fresh Beauty - it contains jojoba, lotus fruit and other natural ingredients to soothe and hydrate the eyes.

Overnight Treatment: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask | £42 | full review
This is a great cream mask that I slap on a generous layer of before bed. It's formulated with vitamins, ceramides and antioxidants to gentle smooth and hydrate the skin overnight. It's not greasy or anything like that, though it's a tad richer than something I'd wear in the day. It doesn't clog my pores, it just makes me look a tiny bit more shiny than usual, which makes it great for overnight use, so I can pack in a good dose of hydration.

Do you suffer from dry skin or dehydrated skin? Which products do you use to combat these issues?

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