Dehydrated…or Something Else?

Your skin looks dull.

Your makeup isn’t going on as smoothly.

Those little lines around your eyes suddenly seem more noticeable.

Your first thought?

“I need to drink more water.”

Maybe.

But dehydration isn’t the only thing that can make your skin look dry.

Let’s talk about what’s really going on.

What dehydrated skin actually looks like

When your skin is dehydrated, it’s missing water, not oil.

That can happen to anyone, even if you have oily skin.

One day your makeup looks flawless. The next day it settles into every fine line.

Your skin may feel tight after cleansing. It can look dull, feel rough or lose some of its bounce.

The good news? Dehydrated skin is temporary.

Once you replace the water your body has lost and protect your skin barrier, your skin can bounce back.

Summer makes dehydration more likely

Think about everything your skin is dealing with this time of year.

More sun.

More sweating.

More time in air conditioning.

Pool water.

Salt water.

Travel.

Long flights.

Even that extra glass of wine on vacation.

All of those things can contribute to water loss, both in your body and through your skin.

But here’s where it gets interesting

Not every dry-looking face is dehydrated.

As we get older, our skin naturally produces less collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

Collagen gives skin structure.

Elastin helps it bounce back.

Hyaluronic acid acts like a moisture magnet, helping your skin attract and hold onto water.

When those three begin to decline, your skin doesn’t hold moisture the way it used to.

So even if you’re drinking plenty of water, your skin may still look drier than it did ten years ago.

Think of it this way

Water is only part of the equation.

Your skin also needs the structure to hold onto that water.

That’s why simply drinking more water doesn’t always transform your skin.

Healthy-looking skin depends on hydration, a healthy skin barrier and the building blocks that help your skin stay firm, smooth and resilient.

So what should you do?

Drink your water.

Wear sunscreen every day.

Moisturize consistently.

And support your skin from within.

Small daily rituals really do add up.

One stick pack won’t change your skin.

One stick pack every day just might.