Is your skin DRY or DEHYDRATED?
Yes there is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Make sure to understand the difference between the two so that you can identify your skin concern.
DRY SKIN is a skin type.
DEHYDRATED SKIN is a skin condition.
DRY SKIN does not produce too much oil (sebum) on its own.
Skin needs oil to retain moisture. Without that oil, its ability to retail moisture is reduced and this results in dryness.
DEHYDRATED SKIN means that your skin lacks water due to a variety of reasons:
- It could be because you have dry skin to begin with and have not taken enough care of it.
- Oily skin can also be dehydrated - the biggest reason for that is overly harsh skincare products like prescription retinoids, or foaming cleansers etc
- Age, and lifestyle are also two factors responsible for dehydrated skin.
So you CAN have oily dehydrated skin, or normal dehydrated skin or dry dehydrated skin.
What you CANNOT have is oily and dry skin :-)
If you are not sure whether you have dry skin or not - then this is what you need to do:
- Wash your face with your daily face wash; pat dry and wait for 10 minutes.
- Do not apply any other product on your face.
- Evaluate your skin after 10 minutes - if it feels tight, stretched and dry then you have dry skin
HERE IS THE BEST SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR DRY SKIN
MORNING ROUTINE
Morning routines are all about hydration and protection
STEP 1: CLEANSE
Wash your face with a super gentle, non foaming or lathering cleanser. Cleansing milks or lotions are a great choice for your morning cleanse.
We recommend Vya Naturals Vitamin C Face Wash - a gentle non foaming face wash that is paraben and sulphate free Contains antioxidant rich Vitamin C as an active ingredient.
STEP 2: TONE
Flood your skin with extra hydration using a splash of floral water toner. Spritz generously and let your skin soak in all the goodness.
Dry skin types should be especially mindful about reading ingredients - avoid toners formulated with alcohol as they dry out your skin (read labels - they can be listed as SD alcohol 40, denatured alcohol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol).
We recommend Vya Naturals Luxury Rose Water Toner - a refreshing floral water toner made of fresh steam distilled rose petals. It is 100% alcohol free and does not contain artificial colour or artificial fragrance.
STEP 3: SERUM
Dry skin benefits from serums that penetrate deep into the skin and hydrate it further. A Hyaluronic Acid Serum will have your skin saying thank you!
Look no further than Vya Naturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum which is formulated with Sodium Hyaluronate as well as Glycerin, Green Tea Extract, Aloe Vera Extract and Vitamin C.
STEP 4: MOISTURISE
Your moisturiser should be hydrating and nourishing. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil in your moisturiser.
We recommend Vya Naturals Vitamin C Moisturiser - a light-weight, beautifully formulated moisturiser. It contains antioxidant rich Vitamin C active and keeps skin moisturised and radiant.
STEP 5: SPF PROTECTION
Apply a generous amount of sun protection on your face and neck (dermatologists recommend min ½ teaspoon of fluid for an average sized face).
Select a broad spectrum sunscreen with minimum SPF 30 (UVB ray protection) and PA rating +++ (UVA ray protection).
EVENING ROUTINE
Evening routines are all about repair and recovery
STEP 1: CLEANSE
Same as morning routine
STEP 2: TONE
Same as morning routine
STEP 3: SERUM
Same as morning routine
STEP 4: MOISTURISE
Same as morning routine. If your skin feels especially dry ( or if you sleep in an artificially cooled or heated room) pat in a few drops of facial oil after your moisturiser. This can be sweet almond oil, jojoba oil or rosehip oil.
ADD ON TO THE BASIC ROUTINE
If you have mastered the basic skincare routine for your dry skin but would like to take it a step further, here are some things we recommend.
BONUS STEP 1: EXFOLIATION
Your skin cells have a life cycle. Old skin cells are replaced by new ones. This process is called exfoliation and it occurs naturally in our bodies.
However by the time we reach our 30’s this process slows down. Old skin cells sit for longer on the surface of our skin making it look duller.
Select a scrub that is non abrasive and gentle on the skin. Avoid scrubs containing crushed walnut kernels as these create micro tears in the skin.
Plastic micro-beads are easier on the skin but tough on the environment. So look for natural ingredients like oatmeal and besan in your exfoliant. Include exfoliation once a week into your skincare regime.
We recommend Vya Naturals Rose Balancing Scrub - a nourishing and hydrating mask + exfoliant that contains finely milled oatmeal, milk powder, neem leaves and real rose petals. To be used once a week.
BONUS STEP 2: DOUBLE CLEANSING
If your skin is exposed on a daily basis to a lot of pollution it may need a more intense cleanse.
Double cleansing is a two step process:
- Start with an oil cleanser to remove oil based impurities (sunscreen, makeup, sebum) and then
- follow up with a mild, non foaming water based cleanser to remove oil based dirt and impurities.
Double cleansing will leave your skin feeling hydrated and soothed despite the additional step you just added to your cleansing regime.
BONUS STEP 3: VITAMIN C SERUM
Serums are the true work horses of any skincare regime. While we love treating dry skin to Hyaluronic Acid, try including a Vitamin C serum to your morning skincare routine.
Vitamin C can undo oxidative damage done to your skin during the day. It also boosts collagen levels thereby delaying the formation of fine lines.
It helps prevent hyperpigmentation and increases the sun protection powers of your sunscreen. Apply it after cleansing and toning and then follow up with your moisturiser and sunscreen.
We recommend Vya Naturals Vitamin C Serum - a light-weight water based highly stabilised Vitamin C serum. Can be comfortable worn under moisturiser and makeup.
BONUS STEP 4: DIY Masks
Here are some easy to make DIY routines with which you can pamper your skin on a daily basis. Dry skin has a damaged moisture barrier. This means that it loses moisture very easily as well as lets irritants in. Your DIY masks can offset this loss of moisture.
YOGURT HONEY OATMEAL MASK
Apply a thin layer of this mask on your face. Rinse off after 10 minutes and gently pat dry. Yogurt contains lactic acid which is a natural source of AHA or alpha hydroxy acid. Oatmeal moisturises and soothes dry skin. Honey is highly hydrating and anti bacterial in nature.
AVOCADO HONEY YOGURT OLIVE OIL MASK
Apply a thin layer of this mask on your face. Rinse off after 10 minutes and gently pat dry. Avocado and olive oil contain omega fatty acids. Honey is intensely hydrating. Yogurt is rich in lactic acid. You can substitute bananas, papayas or strawberries if you can’t find an avocado in your kitchen.
OATMEAL EGG WHITE OLIVE OIL MASK
Apply a thin layer of this mask on your face. Rinse off after 10 minutes and gently pat dry. Oatmeal moisturises and soothes dry skin. Olive oil is intensely hydrating and contains omega fatty acids. Egg white tightens the skin.
TO SUMMARISE
Dry skin is an uncomfortable situation that can involve redness, irritation and itching. It occurs when skin cannot retain sufficient moisture. However with the right skincare regime - one that includes humectants (moisture attracting ingredients) and occlusives (moisture loss preventing ingredients) - your dry skin can feel hydrated, healthy and happy.
Do let us know if you enjoyed reading this blog in the comments below. We would love to hear any questions or suggestions that you may have.