The parched skin debate

ahhh dewy skin — easy to covet, hard to master. firstly, you have to understand if your skin is dry OR dehydrated; two different issues. basically, dryness refers to a skin type, and dehydration refers to a skin condition. dry skin lacks oil because it produces less sebum than normal skin, and the lack of sebum means the skin is without the lipids it needs to retain moisture and to build a strong barrier to protect against external aggressors. dehydrated skin does not have enough water. dehydration is caused by many external factors but the most common are weather, environment, diet, and caffeine consumption- all of which can result in diminished water content within the skin. OK. so how can you diagnose? a good test is to pinch your cheek. if it's wrinkling with gentle pressure instead of holding its shape, your skin cells are desperate for water. dehydrated skin will feel tight, look dull in the mirror, and you may notice more exaggerated wrinkles, or ones in places you don't remember having them, along with more exaggerated dark circles beneath your eyes. common signs of dehydrated skin include redness, lots of congestion and inflammation. dry skin, on the other hand, tends to be uncomfortable, flaky, and itchy. the worst areas are typically near the eyebrows and around the corners of the nose and mouth. GOT IT? now what can you do... well, for dry skin there are a number of ways to soothe parched complexions (i.e. amping up your antioxidant intake and reducing the number of acids in your routine). dehydration on the other hand, is a different story. obviously, drinking more water (consistently- like everyday) is key if you're suffering from dehydrated skin but there are a few other at-home treatment options to consider, too. 1) e x f o l i a t e: dead skin builds up & it can diminish the absorption of moisturizers. aim for at least once a week to remove dead skin cells which will allow your moisturizer to work better. 2) s e r u m: add this to your routine asap, it’s not the same as moisturizer. try to find one with hyaluronic acid. 3) m o i s t u r i z e: light in the day time, heavier at night. ✨