7 things you may not know about dehydrated skin

It doesn’t matter what skin type you have: everyone’s skin is vulnerable to dehydration. This means that all types of skin need extra hydration every day – even when it doesn’t feel dry.

Here are our favourite tips for keeping dehydrated skin at bay:

Seasons change, so should your routine

Environmental irritants, our rapidly changing climate, busy lifestyles, and many other factors all deplete skin of critical hydration. In short: the environment you’re in affects your skin. Skin care isn’t one size fits all – so when it comes to your routine, you have to pay extra attention to your skin’s needs. What your skin needs can depend on the weather or even if you’re in a big city vs. small town. Look for key changes in your skin, and adapt your routine with the changes of the elements around you. If you’re unsure, book an appointment with our professionally trained skin care therapist and let us do the rest.

Always remember your SPF

The sun can be warm and welcoming; however, UV rays aren’t! Sun damage doesn’t just cause burns or irritation, it also dehydrates skin (even before it burns). Keep skin healthy-looking and hydrated with SPF protection. Mix your moisturiser with SPF and reapply as needed during your time out in the sun. Even if you’re indoors, apply SPF – UV rays can travel through windows! Choose your sun protection now.

Take note of hydration evaporation

Many hydrating serums seem to evaporate into thin air the moment we apply them. In order to effectively manage dehydration and maintain an optimal moisture balance, we want to minimise the amount of hydration evaporation that occurs. To accomplish this, we need skin care products that advance skin’s hydration cycle – minimising TEWL while also replenishing skin’s hydration, both topically and from within. Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) is the evaporation of water from skin’s surface. Skin can lose up to half a litre of hydration through TEWL each day!

The snowball effect of dehydrated skin

Forgetting to hydrate can cause a snowball effect – once skin is dehydrated your barrier is compromised, leading to potential redness and irritation. This can be caused by not drinking enough water, forgetting to add a hydrating serum, neglecting to moisturise, or by not being diligent about your SPF. It may be overwhelming at first to keep up with all of these steps, but keep at it: any effort to combat skin dehydration is better than no effort at all!

Sustain hydration

Hydrating every day helps skin stay better-hydrated in the long run because this will help maintain a healthy barrier. When skin is optimally hydrated, it appears smooth and plump. We typically think of skin’s hydration as coming from topically applied products – but dietary sources and the water we drink throughout the day also have a significant impact on skin’s hydration.

Ingredients matter

Wasting time and money on the wrong ingredients may leave your skin dehydrated. Make your routine work for you and your skin and learn which ingredients are best for skin hydration.

Moisturiser alone is not enough

Do you sometimes feel like even after applying moisturiser, your skin still feels dehydrated? You’re not alone! Try adding in a serum. Hydrating serums are formulated to deliver optimal hydration into the skin – but unless that hydration is ‘sealed in’ with a moisturiser, it may evaporate into the environment. Moisturisers’ comparatively heavier formulas sit on top of the skin, forming a barrier that holds hydration in.

As we can see, hydration loss has many sources. Neglecting to replace the skin hydration we lose on a daily basis can lead to dehydrated skin, a compromised barrier, and eventual skin sensitivity. Notice skin dehydration? Try Circular Hydration Serum to flood skin with hydration, replenish from within, and help prevent future hydration evaporation.