As temperatures are beginning to drop here in the northeast, we’ve got to remind you of something very important: you can’t develop dry skin over time. Yep, read it again if you need to. The truth is, what many people think is dry skin is actually just dehydrated skin. Let us explain.

Dryness refers to a skin type, while dehydration refers to a skin condition. There’s a big difference between dry and dehydrated skin, though the most common symptom of both is that the skin that feels dry. If your skin type is dry, it means you’re lacking oil. You were born this way, and you’ve likely got dry skin on other parts of your body as well. If you have a dehydrated skin condition, your skin is lacking water. Dehydration can occur due to a wide variety of causes, including makeup, diet and caffeine, using the wrong skincare, external factors such as weather, and more.

What’s more confusing is that your dehydrated skin may be producing too much oil to compensate for your lack of water. This can lead to breakouts, irritation, and patchiness. Your skin might even feel both dry and oily at the same time!

So how can you tell if you have dry skin or dehydrated skin? One way to test is by gently pinching your cheek: if it wrinkles easily and doesn’t hold shape, you’re in desperate need of water. Here are some additional key points to determining the difference:

Dry:

• Lacking lipids
• Is genetic and generally lifelong
• Only feels dry
• Occurs year-round
• Can co-exist with dehydration

Dehydrated:

• Lacking moisture
• Comes and goes (is temporary)
• Can lead to breakouts
• Can feel dry and oily

If your skin is truly dry, you want to look for lipid-rich products that offer barrier support and use ingredients such as phytoactives and plant oils, shea butter, or ceramides. If your skin is dehydrated, you want to opt for water-rich products and ingredients to enhance hydration like hyaluronic acid, cucumber, or even algae.

If your skin is dry, you need to drink more water, and possibly invest in a humidifier. If your skin is dehydrated, follow the below routine to support your skin's barrier:

1. Exfoliate: Slough off the dead skin cells that are stopping your skin from absorbing product correctly with Immunocologie's Exfoliating Lotion. Clearing your skin of dead skin cells will allow your skincare routine to be readily absorbed by the skin.

2. Incorporate Hyaluronic Acid or Serum: Your body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, so it's important to supplement the natural plumping agent with proper products. Try Immunocologie's Hyaluronic Serum to hydrate, boost your natural moisture levels, calm inflammation, and soften fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Use a Moisturizing Overnight Cream: The human body naturally loses moisture while it sleeps. Combine that with dry indoor air and you've got a recipe for dehydration. A product like Immunocologie's Night Protection hydrates overnight for a brighter, more even complexion, helps stimulate natural hyaluronic acid for increased hydration, and nourishes the skin to help it perform at its best.