How to Get Glowing, Hydrated Skin
With winter well and truly upon us, you may be dealing with one of its unfortunate side effects: dry and dehydrated skin. If so, you’re not alone. Between indoor heating, cold air, and windy, rainy weather, it’s common to deal with dry, flaky skin during the cooler months.
While dealing with dry skin can be somewhat challenging, it’s by no means impossible. With the right skincare products and a tailored daily skincare routine, you can easily restore moisture to your skin and keep your complexion hydrated and glowing even in the depths of winter. From how to hydrate skin to our favourite skincare products for dry skin, read on to discover our top skin hydration tips.
What’s the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?
Before we get into the specifics of a hydrating skincare routine, it’s essential to establish what your skin concern actually is. Firstly, it’s important to understand the difference between dry and dehydrated skin.
Dry skin is a skin type that lacks oil (or lipids) on the surface, and can be uncomfortable, flaky, and itchy. The lack of oil weakens the skin’s natural protective barrier, meaning that moisture evaporates quickly and cannot be easily “locked in” to the skin.
On the other hand, dehydrated skin lacks water, rather than oil, in the top layers of the skin. When your skin is dehydrated, it might feel tight or look a little dull or lacklustre. You might also notice fine lines, dark circles, and other signs of ageing.
Top Tip: To figure out if your skin is dry or dehydrated, simply do the “Pinch Test”. Pinch your cheek, the back of your hand, or your arm for a few seconds, then let go. If your skin springs back immediately, it’s dry. If it takes a few seconds to bounce back or looks wrinkled, it’s dehydrated.
What causes dry skin and dehydration?
Dryness is usually caused or exacerbated by environmental factors like air conditioning, heating, wind, hot showers, and the skincare products you use. If the ingredients in your products don’t interact well with each other, you may also experience dryness.
Meanwhile, dehydration is often linked to internal factors, like not drinking enough water or eating enough hydrating foods. Sun exposure can also dehydrate your skin – yet another reason to always wear SPF and other sun protection!
How to hydrate dry skin
To effectively treat dry skin on your face, it’s essential to nourish your skin protectant barrier. Supporting this barrier will prompt your skin to start producing essential natural oils that prevent moisture loss and seal in existing hydration.
To do this, start by looking at your lifestyle. Even the best hydrating skincare products can give lacklustre results if unaccompanied by the right lifestyle choices, so aim to:
- Boost your water intake by drinking at least 2L of water a day and loading up on hydrating foods like cucumber, lettuce, watermelon, and strawberries.
- Add Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet to moisturise skin from within. Foods that are rich in Omega-3 include oily fish, avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil.
- Avoid long, hot showers, which can strip your skin of its natural oils and compromise your skin’s protective barrier.
- Cut down on caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate your skin.
- Sleep for 7-8 hours every night to give your skin cells a chance to renew and repair themselves.
- Use air conditioners and heaters sparingly, or consider investing in a humidifier to return moisture to the air.
- Steer clear of harsh skincare ingredients such as sulphates, fragrances, and parabens, all of which can make dry skin worse.