Yes it's confusing! Your oily skin could actually be a symptom of dehydration. Before you ask - How can oily skin be dehydrated at the same time? Surely it can't be dehydrated because I don't have dry skin? Let us clarify some confusion between dry skin and dehydrated skin, show you how to tell if you are dehydrated and what you can do about it. Dehydrated skin is a condition that can happen to everyone at any time especially in the cold winter months!

What's the difference between dry and dehydrated skin? So oily skin can be dehydrated at the same time? I'm confused. 

Dehydrated skin can easily get mistaken for oily skin. While oily skin and dry skin are both skin types, dehydrated skin is more of a skin condition. You may totally feel like you have an oily skin type your whole life but instead it could actually be a dehydrated skin condition.

The difference is that dry skin is a skin type that LACKS OILS whereas dehydrated skin LACKS WATER. 

Dehydrated skin is often associated with using harsh ingredients that strip your skin dry and can totally be the reason why your skin is oily. When your skin is feeling stripped dry or tight, it is lacking moisture and will compensate by producing more oil.  

How can I tell if my skin is dehydrated? 

Try the three-second pinch test on the skin of the top of your hand. Hold for three seconds and let go - if your skin stays upright from the pinch a little longer before returning back to normal, then you may be dehydrated. 

A lack of water in your circulatory system leads to less circulation and skin elasticity, hence why it takes longer for pinched skin to return to normal. 

Of course this method of checking for dehydration in your body is not precise because skin elasticity is affected by age and other factors but if you know your body after a few of these pinch tests, you can figure out the pattern and use this test as a general indication. 

Dehydrated skin means you are absorbing less nutrients, vitamins and oxygen so stay hydrated guys!

What can I do if my skin is dehydrated?

Apart from keeping your body hydrated with lots of water - even hydralytes, especially if you're a coffee/alcohol drinker,  you can make sure you moisturise your skin immediately after your shower while skin is still damp. 

Include humectant ingredients in your skincare routine such as Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerine which work to draw in moisture into your skin and lock it in there.  Be sure to apply on damp skin and seal in with a layer of facial oil to lock in the moisture. 

Avoid harsh key ingredients like alcohols and sulfates as a dominant ingredient in your skincare products as they can be really irritating and strip your skin dry. This means no sulphate-foaming facial cleansers and facial wipes - these are your skincare routine's biggest culprits for stripping your skin dry. 

If your skin is feeling dehydrated and in need of a skincare routine that has all the ingredients to really restore moisture levels in your skin, do check out our Winter Bundle below!