How Dry I Am

True or false:

There is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. True

You can have oily skin that is also dehydrated. True

OK, you may be asking how both statements can be true. The key to this puzzle is that skin moisure is actually water, not oil. Which of course makes today's topic a bit confusing.

Many "moisturizers" use oil to trap water by sealing it to your skin and preventing it from evaporating. So skin that is "coated" with "trapped water" is considered hydrated.

Oily skin holds moisture because it already has it's own oil. (The reason some people have oily skin, is that their bodies are overcompensating by producing to much oil.) This is often caused by washing the natural oils off your skin -- by either washing too much or using harsh soaps.

Have I lost you yet?

So what should I look for in a moisturizer? Some of the more common oil-based ingredients you may recognize are: Jojoba oil, shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, sesame oil & canola oil. You may not want to use an oil-based moisturizer if you have trouble with oily skin.

(On a side note, if you're worried about using something that might clog your pores, look for products labeled as non-comedogenic.)

But there are non-oil ingredients found in skin care products that also bind water. Hyaluronic acid, gycerine, lanolin & alpha hydroxy acids. You have options. 

  

And finally, did you know that dry skin is more prone to wrinkling? (Not something I want to experience!) So, drink that water to help keep your skin hydrated. Why? Because skin is made of cells that are mostly filled with water. Without enough water, your skin can't do it's job properly. How can you tell if your skin is dehydrated? Look for the following: dryness, tightness & flakiness.

So drink up! Here's to your health!