Dry skin and dehydrated skin are not exactly the same thing. Dry skin mainly lacks lipids and is often a more persistent skin type. Dehydrated skin lacks water at a given moment and can affect dry, normal or oily skin.
How can you recognise dry skin?
It may feel tight, rough or uncomfortable and can show flaking or small cracks when very dry. It generally has fewer protective lipids and may react more strongly to cold, wind or harsh cleansing.
How can you recognise dehydrated skin?
It may lack suppleness, show fine lines more easily and feel uncomfortable despite normal or high sebum production. Dehydration can be temporary and linked to the environment, an overly aggressive routine or a weakened skin barrier.
Which ingredients are useful?
Humectants
Glycerin and hyaluronic acid help attract and retain water in the outer layers of the skin.
Emollients
They improve softness and skin feel by filling gaps between surface skin cells.
Occlusives
They reduce water loss by forming a protective film. They are especially useful when the skin barrier is very dry.
A simple routine for dry skin
- use a gentle cleanser and avoid very hot water;
- add a hydrating serum if useful;
- apply a cream that combines humectants with lipids;
- finish with sunscreen in the morning;
- reduce exfoliants or irritating actives if the skin feels tight.
Is hyaluronic acid enough on its own?
Not always. It can improve surface hydration, but very dry skin often also needs a cream with emollients and/or occlusives.
V10 Plus Hyaluronic Acid Serum can be used as a hydrating step before a suitable moisturiser.
Will drinking more water fix dry skin?
Drinking enough matters for general health, but dramatically increasing water intake does not replace topical care when the skin is dry. The main goal is to support the skin barrier and reduce water loss.
When should you seek medical advice?
If dryness is severe or persistent, or comes with intense itching, patches, cracks, pain or inflammation, a skin condition may be involved and dermatological advice is appropriate.
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