It took me a while to realise in the recent few years that my skin wasn’t falling into the “combination” category. It was in fact, “combination-dry-dehydrated” but no one ever gives you that as an option. So I tell people I have dryish skin. Dryish. It’s about as close as I get to the truth 😛
Upon working this out, I have worked out different ways in which I use various types of skincare products to balance the hydration levels in my skin which helps my skin be more “normal”. As normal as it can be anyway LOL!
How did I work out that I had dehydrated or even dry skin then? Well here were some signs I noticed (this isn’t gospel but it’s a starting point) and remember, age plays a part too, as does climate, weather and lifestyle.
- fine lines – dehydrated skin lacks moisture and fine lines on skin, especially if you press on your cheek area to “lift” it, are more prominent
- flaky skin – in drastic circumstances, skin would get dry and flaky
- dull complexion – when your skin cells aren’t lying flat as properly hydrated cells do, it reflects light any which way which leads to your skin looking dull
- tight feeling on skin – If you pay attention to your skin you may notice when it feels tight or uncomfortable
- lack of elasticity – I noticed that when my skin is dry or dehydrated, it seems to “hang” rather than bounce back and that of course, makes you look older too.
Do you have dry or dehydrated skin? How do you treat or deal with it? Here are some ways I addressed mine and although it’s always a work in progress for me as skin conditions do change a lot and you have to listen to your skin, it again, is a starting point 🙂
1. Layer moisture on your skin and use hydrating creams
I start off by a floral water mist (I usually use the ones by Melvita although you can use any mists) and then while my skin is damp, I apply a hydrating lotion (toner) followed by a hydrating serum and then a facial oil and a moisturiser. The layering of products that help add moisture to the skin in thin layers helps my skin far better than piling on a thick layer of cream. Using a lightweight serum and cream targeted at hydration too helps the skin. But use thin layers.
2. Use a hyaluronic acid intensive hydration serum
You can use a serum like Hydraluron which works well or any other similar product that helps boost moisture and retains it in your skin. I personally prefer Dr. Lewinns Line Smoothing Complex S8 Super Hydrator but as it isn’t available here, the alternative available locally will be Hydraluron.
3. Drink sufficient water daily
Our bodies are 70% water and we need water to stay hydrated so be sure to drink sufficient water (not just liquids as tea, coffee and sugar waters dehydrate the body, not hydrate it) throughout the day. Drinking a jug in one go doesn’t do it. It’ll unbalance your electrolytes. Just have a glass of water every hour or so.
4. Lay off the peeling and drying skin care products
It could be your acne treatment products that could be drying out your skin. Products that contain tea tree oil, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide etc dry out the skin and can make them feel uncomfortable. I personally find that treating my skin with moisturising products and keeping it well hydrated helps my skin heal more quickly than any acne product out there. Of course, Effaclar Duo is the exception to the rule 🙂
5. Is your cleanser too drying?
I had been using cleansing oils for years and thought they were all I ever needed until I realised that my skin was feeling stripped and dried out from using them. No amount of hydration or products would help so I eventually switched away and my skin has felt so much better since! It comes down to paying attention to what you use and how your skin feels. So, pay attention!
6. Gentle regular exfoliation can help
Contrary to point No. 4 above, gentle exfoliation can actually help skin feel and look better and not so dry/dehydrated. From personal experience, when I exfoliate (I use a face flannel daily which performs a gentle exfoliation and a AHA based toner once or twice a week) it helps my skin absorb my hydration products more readily and effectively. It facilitates cell turn over and that can also help your skin look better.
These are just some of the ways I treat my dry/dehydrated skin. I also use facial oils and I use a few lotions at a time that I’m sure people will be quite put off by the length of my routine but then when I see results, I’m happy and it’s all worth it 🙂
Do you have dry or dehydrated skin? How do you deal with it?
It is pertinent to note that even those with oily or acne skin can have dehydrated skin too and sometimes, if skin is too dehydrated then breakouts can happen too. It did with me. So don’t take this as gospel, but if you have a sudden bout of spots and realise that you are exposed to a lot of air-conditioning or are out in the sun a lot, consider going on a hydration regimen for a change, instead of a drying anti-acne one and see if that helps you. It just might! If you already have dry/dehydrated skin, I’d love to hear your tips for treating it because we can all learn from each other 🙂
Paris B
Me! Me! I used these set of skincare products that causes even more dryness due to the AHA content so now after ditching them, I am happy to announce that my patchiness and flakiness are kept at bay. No.5 is something very, very true. Many who live here is malaysia tend to search for cleansing foams that foams up really well to give them a clean, squeaky feeling. Foam can be very harsh on the skin, actually.
That’s true about foaming cleansers. I never realised how much they stripped my skin yet to an extent most if not all cleansers will strip skin moisture to a degree. It’s just a matter of finding one that makes us feel the most comfortable.
I learnt it the hard way when I was over-exfoliating my skin back in those days when my skin was very congested and problematic. I thought that was the way to go until the surface of my skin got really dry and my skin produced more oil, making problems even worse.
Thanks to your post years ago I realised that hydration is key. little did I know (and little did most beauticians know too) that the secret was to hydrate.
on the drinking fluids part, I’m so lazy and have never succeeded in gulping 2L of water daily. I wonder how some people can do that so easily. I forget to drink sometimes and only realising it when I start feeling really thirsty.
I know what you mean Juan. So often when you have oily or congested skin, the first thing you’re handed is some drying anti-acne product and exfoliator so you can “remove the dead cells and unclog skin” If only it was so easy! You know that post was my lightbulb moment. Born out of a moment of desperation I realised that drenching my skin in moisture (not necessarily heavy creams) helped it so much more than all these anti-acne stuff ever could! As for drinking more water, one suggestion is to set an alarm to go off every hour so you remember to drink. At the office, I have a big bottle on my table so it’s easy to remember. But at home, I too tend to drink less coz I forget so these days, I carry a bottle with me at home too!
me too have been battling with dry skin for a few years now, i do notice that cleansers play a huge part in the entire routine because they are the first thing that will strip off the moisture. i have long converted to milk cleanser in the morning, and double cleanse with milk and cream cleanser in the evening. milk cleanser somehow helps to create a barrier to prevent water loss from cleansing. and the best milk cleanser i have ever used will be from decleor. now the cleansing part is settled, it will be the forever search of the perfect moisturizer/oil.
I definitely noticed that about cleansers. I tried milk cleanser but I don’t like how it feels. The Antipodes Juliet one is quite gentle so I’m using that in the morning and I go cleansing blams in the evening but I do follow up with a foaming cleanser. Milk cleansers are definitely better for anyone with very dry skin. I’m always on the hunt for the perfect cream/oil too but you know I don’t think it exists 😛
I have normal combination oily skin and because of that, I do need more exfoliation to keep dead skin cells at bay. There was a period when I failed to do so and my skin became dull and flaky and dry on the surface, but still oily on the T-zone, if that made sense. I exfoliated every day using my Clarisonic Plus and my skin got brighter in 2 weeks. I kept doing that diligently for about half a year then eased off to about a few times a week and now once a week. I use hydrating serums and lotions and made sure my moisturizer is rich enough at night. Now, my skin is so much better, less breakouts too 🙂
Gosh I don’t even remember when my skin was combi-oily anymore LOL! Yes it definitely needs more exfoliation to keep things at bay. Perhaps that’s why the Clarisonic works for you coz it sure played merry hell with my skin! I’m always finetuning as I go, depending on how finicky my skin gets. These days, I’m just all about oils!
I have exactly that kind of skin. Used to be So confusing n annoying when it comes to skin care. U use those for combination skin, its not enough & u look kinda dull. U use those for dry skin, u will get slime n pimples all over.
I have changed my products since a year ago& now pretty happy with my skin.
I use milk cleanser after removing make ups with n oil make up remover. Then pat whole face with a hydrating moisturiser before sleep. Then waterbased moisturiser mixed with facial oil.
Daytime i just wash my face with a milk cleanser then straight to hydrating sunblock + facial oil if it is wintertime.
Spot treatment once a month during that hormonal time. Once a fortnight gentle exfoliation followed by hydrating mask/sleeping mask.
I dont use those creams for dry skin anymore.
It sounds like you have your routine down pat, Ana that’s awesome! I do use creams for dry skin because hey, I can’t deny that I have dry skin LOL! but I do thin layers instead of spreading it on like butter. That way my skin feels better 🙂
That’s my skin type too. I use the serum and moisturizer from the Origins Make A Difference range and that has worked well for me for the past 5-6 years. I would really like to try out the Hydraluron but it’s difficult to get hold of it. Must put it on my shopping list the next time I head down south.
Aside: I love the Origins MAD Plus+ moisturiser! It’s my day cream and I just finished a tub! horrors! LOL It’s a pity that Hydraluron is so hard to get to. It’s ridiculous really. It should be more accessible!
I used to have dry skin. As I aged, my skin becomes combination-dry (dehydrated on the cheeks, a little oily on the nose and chin). I started to change my skin care products and routine. My cheeks are ok now. My T-zone is still slightly oily though. 🙁
Regarding your point #3 on drinking sufficient water to keep ourselves hydrated, I went to a skin specialist last year (for my eczema) and was told no matter how much water I drink, it will not hydrate my skin enough. Application of moisturiser is still the best. I was like… uh? I was and still am confused…
Hi Ping,
I’d like to respond to your comment as I too, have eczema. Although I’m no skin specialist, I’ve found through my years of battling eczema that that statement about moisturiser is only partly true (in my case anyway).
Eczema normally affects the top most layer of your skin and when that occurs, your skin is no longer in the state of being able to self-sustain the layer of protection that people with regular skin have to retain hydration levels. That’s why people with eczema usually have it in tandem with dry skin and are more dehydrated in comparison with a regular person. This is also why moisturisers that work for normal skin seldom have as much effect on eczema skin. The purpose of application of moisturiser is usually to deliver a quick shot of hydration directly to the affected skin surface, to enable the skin to ‘repair itself’ and hopefully, perform like it is supposed to.
Having said that, external application of moisturiser without sufficient hydration internally will only help your eczema to a certain extent. You will need to hydrate both internally (by getting enough fluids) and externally (with a good moisturizer or barrier protectant) in order to get the best results in managing eczema. I find that this goes hand in hand for me.
Hi rinnah,
Thanks for sharing! I read your post too. My eczema occurred on my limbs last year (first time in my life :/). I have been drinking lots of water and applying lots of moisturiser since then. Once in a while it will flare up. 🙁 Maybe I can consider applying my Nature Republic aloe vera as a mask on the affected areas. 😀
Thanks for helping out Rinnah!
Hmm not having a problem with eczema I’m not the best person to talk about it but I do believe that there is a co-relation between what goes on internally as much as what we use externally. I think Rinnah helped out best on this issue and while I wouldn’t disagree with a specialist, I don’t personally believe a moisturiser/cream will solve problems if we don’t keep ourselves hydrated 🙂
What’s the AHA based toner you’re using at the moment? I found my skin is lacking on absorption of skincare essential recently…
I’m using Alpha H Liquid Gold and also the Hada Labo refining toner. I find that if my skin starts looking dull then a few days using an exfoliating toner helps get things going again. I’ve heard the Clarins Exfoliating toner is good too so I might try that another time.
Where you buy the Alpha H Liquid Gold? Seems interesting for this newbie to me. But Clarins’ one is much more accessible, tempting to try too~
I bought it online off Cult Beauty but there are many sites selling it that ship here too. I haven’t tried the Clarins so I can’t help on that one 🙂
How do you find the Alpha-H? Good to use?
I quite like it. I’ll have a review go up soon. I keep forgetting 😛
I do! Dry, dehydrated, fine lines, dull skin. Like you, I’ve learnt by layering my serums. Always a hydrating toner – pat in. A thin layer of hyaluronic serum. Hydrating serum. An all over anti-ageing serum and moisturiser. Every now and then I pop on a hydrating mask as a booster. But like you, water intake is extremely important. And I’ve also noticed if I’ve had a big night (of drinking), my skin suffers the next day. I’ve practised the rule of thumb of 1 glass of wine to 1 glass of water before I resume another glass of wine, etc. 😀 (not alko :P)
Isn’t this layering thing great? I used to be of the piling on school of thought but now, thin layers work so much better! I don’t drink a lot thankfully but I definitely feel the dehydrating effects when I do! Will bear your 1 for 1 practice in mind the next time I have a night out 🙂
i think the more annoying part for me is my oily t-zone (which still boils down to dehydration)! the richer moisturisers break me out and make me oilier, while the gel types like clinique’s moisture surge just aren’t hydrating enough for a full day of air-condition. so i use ANR in the day too for that extra bit of hydration
Which is why I use 2 different moisturisers and serums on different parts of my face. Overkill but at least it keeps the skin happy 🙂 ANR is a great product, glad to see it’s helping you even in the day
I have the same question like Wynnce, what AHA toner do you recommend?
I’m using Alpha H Liquid Gold at the moment and sometimes the Hada Labo Refining Toner which I’m not sure if it’s AHA based. I’m thinking of trying the Clarins Exfoliating Toner some time.
Every facial I go to seems to declare that my skin is dehydrated. LOL. My skin is combination and might have reverted to normal according to the Kanebo facialist I visited in November. I guess the best thing for dehydrated skin is besides drinking at least 2 litres of water per day is to incorporate more hydrating products into your skincare.
Some changes to my skincare over the last few months is Olay Pro-X tool, using Bioderma micellar water instead of cleansing oil, regular hydrating mask, Hydraluron and Olay Night Resurfacing Essence. Not sure if it has made my skin better though but I rarely get breakouts or flaky skin although I do have dull skin sometimes which is not helped by my dark eye circles.
Have you heard about the skincare that you are using not actually penetrating the surface of your skin and just sitting at the top layer due to lack of exfoliation and massage and if yes, what are the signs? I was told that I have this problem by the same Kanebo facialist but I find that it is difficult to determine if what she said is actually true.
You know what? I used to get that too. Even all those machine things will tell me the same thing. Skin is dehydrated. But recently, after I was doing all these hydrating things, I had a skin test and everything was great from elasticity to hydration with my primary problem being pigmentation! So there is probably some truth in the dehydration and for this, the Hydraluron should help kickstart the better hydration 🙂
Actually yes, I have heard about the theory about skincare not absorbing into skin due to lack of exfoliation and it’s something I believe in too. For me, it would be when my serums or creams feel tacky on my skin for too long, or if my skin just doens’t feel comfortable and looks dull. I usually find that a few days with an exfoliating toner does the trick for me as does the flannel 🙂
Thanks for the insights. I am guessing you only use an exfoliating tonner a few times a week and not everyday right? Caroline Hirons recommended the Clarins Exfoliating Toner as well but I think recently, she cautioned her readers to not use it everyday like she did because it might be too drying for the skin. Since I cannot really get my hands on Alpha H Liquid Gold in Malaysia, I might be tempted to add the Clarins toner into my skincare steps.
Yep I use Alpha H every other night (Or about 3 times a week) and sometimes the Hada Labo one which is less intensive. I am really keen to try the Clarins one thanks to her but I definitely do not recommend using it daily. I did with the Hada Labo and found it too harsh 😛
I have recently experienced dry dehydrated skin, due to weather and I’ve been spending most of my time in airconditioned rooms.
I am using the Olay Regenerist line, w/c I believe is geared toward a more mature age group. At night I’m using the Revitalising Night Cream and Night Resurfacing Elixir. I find that it’s not enough for my dehydrated skin so I layer Laneige Water Sleeping EX. At day, use Olay Regenerist Day Cream.
About a year or so ago, I used Laneige Water Sleeping Pack sparingly, once or twice a week because it used to give me breakouts. But now I use it every night and it’s sufficient enough that it keeps my skin from drying out.
Ugh aren’t air-conditioned rooms the worst? I mean they’re so necessary where we live yet they dry out our skin like crazy! I am planning to try the Regenerist Micro Sculpting cream. Are you using that? It’s good to know you’ve found a routine to work for you and that it’s affordable! That’s so important because as good as pricey products may be, upkeep is more important 🙂
Hi PB
I’m not too sure if I have the same skin condition as you but what you said sounds very familiar LOL.
Maybe I can send you a picture.
I drink fresh milk and exercise 3 times a week minimum to keep my skin acceptable to me and so far I’m pretty happy most days lol.
Haha I’m no expert ST 🙂 Drinking milk and exercising regularly definitely helps keep skin looking good. I don’t take milk as I’m lactose intolerant and I’m working on exercising but I”m lazy haha!
Oh yes, of cos inspired by you I picked up the kiehl’s MRC for evening use. Thx! I just layer it on and zzz. Tried to mix Estee ANR b4 but it made me broke a little. Prob too rich?
Hope you like the MRC! Yes maybe the combination is too ‘powerful’. I do have drier skin than most other bloggers around so it might be why it works for me. Enjoy!
All the while I thought my skin was oily, until I went for facial and was told that my skin was actually dehydrated and how it made my face oily/combination. Ever since then, she recommended milk cleanser to me and i stopped using foam cleanser. True enough, my skin has been improving.
I also stop using matte foundation when my skin is dry because it seems to make my face feel tighter. Cream foundation is definitely a better choice 🙂
That’s great to know Florence! I too found out at a facial about dehydrated skin and I was all “How can? My skin feels oily!” Isn’t it interesting? At the very least it helps us address our problems and you’re right about anything mattifying or shine or pore control. All these things are really drying to the skin and I don’t think anyone should use them for a prolonged period of time.
I definitely have combination to dry to dehydrated skin! I do try to drink water and use serum’s and oils but at the same time I also need to use exfoliators like glycolic acid and salicylic acid since my skin is prone to acne! yet to try hydrating toners…which one would you recommend?
I find that a hydrating toner after a peeling one really helps the skin too. For hydrating toners, I’m using the La Mer The Treatment Lotion, Estee Lauder Micro Essence Lotion interchangeably. I also found that the Estee Lauder Nutritious Toner was very good and hydrating too and if you can get hold of it, Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid lotion.
I have normal skin with some dry areas, on my left cheek (yes, just one of them! weird, I know) and around my nose.
I’ve noticed that gentle exfoliation really helps and I’m using Lush’s Let the Good Times Roll for that 🙂 Definitely taking notes of all of your tips! x
Ah to have the good skin of youth, S! 😀 Definitely take good care of it now and it’ll reward you in later years 😀
My skin is dehydrated normally during sep to nov, when there is change in weather. Or when I travel and experience that kind of change in weather.
After I have learnt to deal with acne from the inside out by reducing inflammation in the body, my skin has returned to normal from congested state.
Quite happy most days too. 😉
That’s awesome to know Shay 🙂 It’s always great to have that lightbulb come on and find that whatever we do helps our skin right? It may not be conventional but if it works, hey let’s do it!
Is the wagon too full to fit another me? 😛 Seems like lots of us are on the same bandwagon.
Although I don’t have flaky skin, I have fine lines and semi-oily T-zone. So that would make me a combination-dehydrated-super-finicky skin, right? I’m not kidding when I say my skin is finicky. For example, I tried to “treat” the dehydration by switching to a slightly more hydrating toner, and it broke out like crazy. And it would only behave when I use a specific set of skin care. Did I mention that it’s an expensive combination of products?
My current winter-skin savior is the Chanel La Nuit De Chanel. Does wonders. 😀 Hydrates without the oiliness.
By the way, loving the REN Glycol Lactic Mask (pretty sure I just butchered the name there). Thanks for the recommendation. 😉
LOL Never too full to fit a fellow dehydrated skin sufferer 🙂 Gosh you’re right. Your skin is finicky! And Chanel works for you? Awesome! Ok, so not so awesome for your wallet but at least something does 🙂 That REN mask is nice right? It works well and I find it so much more gentle than most other types of similar masks.
I’ve been told that I have dehydrated skin, it’s tight but oily. I tend to stay away from products formulated for oily skin because many times they are too harsh and irritate my skin. I try to use cleansers that are formulated to moisturize skin and are mostly non-foaming which helps a bit with the tight feeling in my skin.
Have you read Dr Leslie Baumann’s book “Skin Type Solution”? She’s quite famous in the US. She doesn’t believe in the 4 traditional categories for skin type. In the book there is a long questionaire about your skin and lifestyle. From the answers you fall into one of 16 skin types. Each skin type has it’s own chapter in the book which discusses what kinds of products might help your skin and ingredients to look for in products and what ingredients to avoid. Also what cosmetic procedures might be beneficial for your skin type. According to the test I’m oily, sensitive, nonpigmented and wrinkled. I took a bit of offense at the wrinkled part since I’m not wrinkled yet but have the tendency to show signs of ageing early due to a childhood of living in sunny Florida with no sunscreen and living in a house full of second hand smoke.
Hmm I haven’t come across that book, Melanie but thanks. I’ll keep a lookout for it 🙂 I think trying to peg ourselves into a a specific category doesn’t work either because all of us are so different! Oh dear and I’m not supposed to laugh I know but I did supress a giggle at “wrinkled” What a category to create! At least now you know you’re prone to wrinkles you can do something about it 🙂 I’ve found that although we may be prone to something, taking care of our skin before the signs of aging show does help slow it down 😉