Ever feel like no matter what you do, you still get flaky and dry skin?
The key is to create a skincare routine specific to treating dehydrated skin.
So What’s the Difference Between Dry and Dehydrated Skin?
Dry skin is a skin type that lacks oil and usually a result of genetics. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a skin condition where it lacks water.
When our skin is running low on water, it’ll produce more oil to make up for it. This is why many of us experience dry patches or even breakouts when we have dehydrated skin.
You might not realize this, but your battle with textured skin, acne, or patchy, irritated skin could potentially all be the result of pure dehydration and not necessarily your skincare routine.
The good news is, dehydrated skin is usually developed over time and can be corrected by taking the appropriate skincare steps.
Where Does Dehydrated Skin Come from?
Dehydrated skin is really just a symptom of our skin not getting enough water.
An obvious cause is not drinking enough water, but dehydration can also come from an especially dry climate, the environment, our diet or sometimes our stress level.
Another possible contributor to dehydrated skin is a damaged “skin barrier” that has lost the ability to hold water on its own.
Our skin depends on an outer layer of cells and lipids (called a “skin barrier”) to protect the skin and keep it hydrated and healthy.
Without a healthy skin barrier, any hydration that you put into your skin will just evaporate like nothing ever happened.
I repeat, it’s like you didn’t even put the hydrating product onto your skin — this is why taking hydration seriously is so essential — it impacts our skin in a massive way.
How Do You Treat Dehydrated Skin?
We’ve already mentioned a few times that hydration has everything to do with water, so it only makes sense that treating dehydrated skin is all about pumping up its water content.
You’ve probably heard of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, honey, aloe vera. These are some of the most popular ‘humectants’, a class of ingredients that have the ability to attract water into our skin and are often called ‘water-magnets’.
If you’re looking to save your dehydrated skin, look for these ingredients in the beginning of ingredient lists so you know there’s a high concentration of it!
Now let’s put that knowledge to use - here’s a super simple, but super hydrating routine that targets dehydrated skin. Stay consistent, and you will definitely see results within a few weeks, or even days!
1. Cleanse
Any effective skincare routine begins with clean skin. Go for a gentle but powerful cleanser like LUCE Beauty Aloe Vera Gel Hydrating and anti-microbial cleanser — Beyond gentle cleaning, this specially formulated product helps reveal a smooth complexion and lift away impurities with a fresh luxurious soft soap-free lather.
This time-tested combination of Aloe Vera and Coltsfoot safeguards against microbial function leaving the skin looking younger, clean, pure, silky-smooth and radiant.
Always make sure to use a medical grade silicone device instead of your fingers. An electric device worked as a exfoliator and keep the skin clean without destroying the skin healthy barrier. Use the LUCE180° Facial Cleansing and Anti-Aging Device from LUCE Beauty.
LUCE Beauty Aloe Vera Face Wash Gel is 50% Aloe Vera a powerful antioxidant, that helps your skin in retaining its moisture and give back its radiance.
Also prevent premature aging of the skin by improving the elasticity of skin and repairing skin cells. This is a great cleanser for those hoping to rebuild their skin barrier gently.
2. Exfoliate
Always use a combination of glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid to brighten and exfoliate the skin.
And if you aren't using a serum to help with skin cell turnover, we highlight recommend incorporating a retinol into your nightly skincare routine.
A warning: If you haven’t used chemical exfoliants before, start slow by incorporating this every few days before diving into daily use. Also, skip this step if you think a broken skin barrier is contributing to your dehydrated skin.
3. Hydrate
Now we’ve come to the most important step - hydrating. You can actually use multiple products and layer them in order of consistency, starting from the most watery (toners), to the most viscous (serums).
A multi-layer approach will allow the ingredients to really sink in, but if you don’t have time for multiple steps, the Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is a great choice for a powerful boost of hydration.
4. Moisturize
Natural organ oil can boost the health of your skin with essential fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidants. These ingredients have been shown to be anti-inflammatory and can also restore our skin barrier. Plus, it will give you the most unbelievable glow!