Is your skincare routine disappointing you?

Are you confusing dehydrated skin with dry or oily skin?

This is the case for many people. Dehydrated skin lacks water, while dry skin lacks oil. When we refer to water, we will sometimes call it water or moisture, so even oily skin can be dehydrated and some people don’t choose the correct products because of this. Some people can be lacking in both, but only use products for dry skin and target the lack of oil but not the lack of water or moisture. Confusing dehydrated skin for oily is one of the biggest issues that we see in salons, and some simple changes to your routine could make a huge difference.

How do you know if you have dehydrated skin?

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition and not your skin type, and we all have an element of it. Skin conditions happen because of your lifestyle, the environment you live in and climate and more often than not, incorrect product use, which leads to a compromised skin barrier. This is where your outer layer isn’t as protective as it should be allowing precious water loss. Damage can be caused by harsh, aggressive products or by following a poor skincare routine.

How to recognise your dehydrated skin?

You will be able to see dehydration on your skin’s surface. The problem is it can often be mistaken for an oily shine. If your skin barrier is compromised it is not able to do its job properly, which is to keep the ‘good stuff’ in, like water and oil, and the ‘bad stuff’ out, like dirt, pollution and bacteria. It’s your first line of defence, if you keep chipping away at the defence line the bad guys will get in leading to other complications.

Do you have underlying congestion, pimples and texture?

Underlying congestion is often another problem linked to dehydration. Without the fluids to self-flush and clean, stagnant toxins are trapped within your cells this congestion can then develop into spots if left untreated. Underlying congestion will look like little lumps under the skin and you will be able to feel the texture but they won’t initially be red and inflamed.

Let’s talk pores...

Open pores can be present on dehydrated skin, and they can get confused as blackheads. The base of your open pores is grey, this makes your skin look dull. The pores on dehydrated skin are open and because of the lack of water, they are grey at the base, whereas blackheads are plugs of oil and debris which when removed are a dense, compact oil build-up. The grey colour from a dehydrated pore is easily flushed away with the correct skincare ingredients. The open pores and damaged barrier allow moisture and oil to escape onto your skin’s surface too. The two mixed feel like a light oily fluid and present as a shine part way through the day also adding to the confusion that the skin is oily.

Not all open pores are a sign of skin dehydration. It’s worth noting that open pores can be genetic or part of the ageing process of your skin. However, if your skin takes on a sallow, grey look in areas, check your open pores. If they look dark at the base, your skin is likely to be dehydrated. 

Then there is a lifestyle...

What we put into our bodies and what we come into contact with also has an effect. Things such as caffeine, alcohol, inadequate water intake and certain medications impact skin hydration levels. Then you have external issues like central heating, and air conditioning, if you are outdoors a lot, lack of sleep and stress. These can all affect your skin and they could be contributing to the misconception of dehydrated skin as oily skin.

Correcting a dehydrated skin condition

It’s important to get into good habits with your skincare regime. 

A good cleansing routine in the morning and evening will help keep your pores clean and prevent them from becoming unnecessarily blocked. Using a cleanser that isn’t harsh or aggressive and doesn’t alter your skin pH will help protect your skin barrier. So avoid soap, shower gels, high-foaming face washes, and daily scrubs, well scrubs in general for that matter (which has given me an idea for my next blog).

We always recommend double cleansing in the evening. The first will remove surface dirt, pollution, and makeup if you wear it, allowing the second cleanse to clean the pores. It’s likely your skin barrier will need a little TLC. It’s time to go back to basics, rebuild a strong, healthy skin barrier, and avoid harsh cleansers or scrubs.

If you feel like you are going round and round in circles with your skin routine and would like some guidance, book a consultation and we can help you get more skin confident.