How to Fix Dehydrated Skin: Identify & Treat

Oily, dehydrated, normal, dry - the differences between these skin types and conditions are obvious, right? Wrong!

In fact, there’s actually a TON of confusion here. Dehydrated skin can often masquerade as oily skin, and even people who do have an oily skin type may also be dealing with skin dehydration (what?!). All this confusion leads to ineffective treatments and more problems like dehydration lines on the forehead - after all, if you don’t understand what’s really going on, you’re probably not using the right skincare products to treat dehydrated skin and your impaired skin barrier.

Let’s clear up the confusion and give you a healthy skin game plan that will work for oily dehydrated skin.

Not sure if you have dry skin, oily skin, or something else? If you want to learn more about skin hydration, you can start with this comprehensive guide for identifying your skin type. 

Let’s start with the basics of dry, oily, and dehydrated skin:

Do you notice your face feels tight during the day? You may have circumstantial dry skin - because of, say, harsh skin care products or a sunburn - or you may have a dry skin type. Dry skin type produces little to no natural oils. If you have dry skin, you may often notice almost invisible pores, red patches, reduced elasticity, dull complexion, and noticeable fine lines on your skin’s surface. Your dry skin may also have a flaky outer layer.

It's important to distinguish between dry skin and dehydrated skin; dry skin is a result of having little to no natural oils present in the skin, while dehydrated skin occurs when there isn’t enough water in the cells. If you have dry skin, unfortunately, it doesn’t go away as you age. But with the right product, treatment, and lifestyle changes, dry skin shouldn’t cause any problems.

Contrary to popular belief in skin care, dehydrated skin is not a skin type - it’s a skin condition. You can actually have dehydrated skin if your skin type is oily, dry, normal, or a combination! And that’s where the confusion can really begin.

If you really have an oily skin type, you’ll notice significant shine all over your face, along with possible breakouts. You may also notice enlarged pores and a dull, shiny, or thick complexion. Not sure if your skin is dry, oily, or something else? You can find a comprehensive guide to identifying your skin type here.

The confusion comes with dehydrated skin. Dehydrated skin is oily, dry, combination, or normal skin that lacks water and feels tight. Any skin type can dehydrate, and dehydrated skin can still produce (or overproduce) oil.

In fact, this is usually what happens when you don’t keep your skin hydrated enough. Because your skin doesn’t contain enough water, it will usually overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of moisture. That’s why dehydrated skin can be easily misdiagnosed as oily skin.

What’s more - if you do have oily skin, it’s actually most likely also to be one of the symptoms that your skin is dehydrated.

Those with dry skin may feel like their skin is tight. Unlike dry skin, oily skin may manifest in grease and shine on the skin’s surface. In those with oily skin, hydration is usually not a problem, but the way oily skin is treated may lead to dehydration. 

If you have oily skin, you may feel the need to wash your face multiple times a day. While your skin may feel drier, washing more frequently than needed can strip away the natural oils needed to protect and keep your skin hydrated. As a result, your skin is oily and dry, which is a sign that your skin is dehydrated. 

People with oily skin types tend to use the harshest and most stripping skincare products to manage their oil and dry out blemishes, and they don’t usually use enough moisturizer to balance things out. Dehydrated skin occurs when they lose water after drying out skin without replenishing moisture.

Oily and dehydrated skin that is completely out of whack and totally difficult to treat can be of concern and very frustrating. That’s how many women end up feeling like no matter what they do, the problem keeps getting worse.

Luckily, there’s a solution to treat dehydrated skin.

First, you have to identify the root of your face hydration problem. If you think you may have a truly oily skin type, you can find out for sure here.

Alternatively, if you think that your skin is dehydrated, you can do a simple dehydration skin test to confirm. Grab a magnifying mirror and pinch your forehead very gently, using your pointer and middle fingers. If you notice a shiny, crinkly effect (like there’s a layer of Saran wrap on your skin), then that is a sign of skin dehydration. 

If you’re still not sure, you can repeat the process on other areas of your face, though the forehead is where skin dehydration is usually most visible.

You may also notice common skin dehydration symptoms like tightness and sensitivity.

Whereas redness and irritation can be signs of dry skin, signs of dehydrated skin have the following symptoms:

• Dull skin
• Itchy skin
• Dry, oily skin
• Dark under-eyes
• Sunken eyes
• Dark “shadows” around the eyes and nose
• Noticeable fine lines
• Skin tightness, even after moisturization
• Increased breakouts
• Decreased skin flexibility

Two of the most common and often most complained about skin dehydration symptoms include dehydrated lines and dehydrated rashes. Let’s break these down further. 

Skin dehydration lines are an unpleasant reminder that dehydrated facial skin has a negative impact on your skin health and overall appearance. Skin dehydration lines appear as fine tiny, triangular lines that are more visible on a dehydrated forehead. Skin dehydration lines under the eyes also tend to be more defined.

Skin dehydration can also cause rashes or dry skin patches. Dehydration rashes often occur in cold weather and can be hard to identify and treat. When treating dehydration rash as is with other kinds of skin rashes, avoid scratching the skin to prevent cuts and scrapes. Doing so can allow bacteria to enter, causing an infection.

In rare situations, you can become experience severe dehydration and require medical attention. Severely dehydrated skin symptoms include:

• Dry mouth
• Dizziness or weakness
• Dark urine or the need to urinate less than normal
• Oily and dry skin

More often than not, those who are severely dehydrated will have dull skin with a persistent tight feeling on their skin that does not go away with moisturizer.

Skin dehydration lines can sometimes be confused with wrinkles since both have the characteristics of thin fine lines. But unlike dehydration lines, wrinkles are part of the aging process and look more like creases, folds, and ridges on your skin. And while you can delay the aging process by keeping your skin hydrated, you cannot completely get rid of wrinkles. 

Dehydration lines, on the other hand, are a result of, well, dehydration. These lines are temporary and appear when you’re not drinking enough water. When you keep your skin hydrated well, dehydration lines become less visible and can even disappear. Dehydration lines can also be caused by weather conditions or too much exposure to air conditioning.

Having oily skin does not mean that you should skimp out on moisturizers or other products that keep skin hydrated. In fact, not applying enough moisturizer will make your skin lose water and therefore, overcompensate and produce even more oil.

That’s why it’s important for those with an oily skin type to maintain a comprehensive skin care regimen that includes - at the very least - a cleanser, an exfoliant, a moisturizer, and sunscreen.

• Use a moisturizer that contains humectants like hyaluronic acid - but that's non-comedogenic, oil-free, and silicone-free. You may be better off sticking to lighter formulas like serums, gels, and lotions.
• Consider incorporating an AHA like glycolic acid or lactic acid to reduce oil production and prevent clogged pores.

And always avoid harsh scrubs and overly-rich products like shea butter or coconut oil.

Treating dehydrated skin starts from within: you have to make sure to keep your body and skin hydrated by consuming enough water (either drinking it or making sure that you incorporate foods with high water content, like watermelon and cucumber).

In terms of topical treatments, it’s important to incorporate serums or moisturizers rich in water-soluble humectants like hyaluronic acid, aloe, or glycerin. Products with AHAs, like lactic acid, are great for removing dead skin cells and improving the function of the skin barrier in general.

As for oil skin care products, yes, oil products are great, and they do help add nutrients, balance the skin, and lock in moisture, but you must use humectants AND oils to actually add moisture and seal it in. If you use oils alone, you will not get the extra hydration that your dehydrated skin needs to recover.

Also, be sure to avoid products with denatured alcohol, alcohol SD or ethanol (they’re different names for the same thing) as an active ingredient. This type of alcohol dries out the skin and any moisture along with it, and it’s usually hiding in more products than you may think.

Treating dehydrated skin starts from within. You have to make sure to keep your body hydrated by consuming enough water (either drink water or make sure that you maintain a healthy diet rich in foods with high water content, like watermelon and cucumber).

Avoid or limit triggers that can lead to skin dehydration–anywhere from mild to severe dehydration. This requires being aware of your surrounding and the items you consume on a regular basis, including how your skin reacts to them. 

Limit beverages like coffee and alcohol, which can result in dehydrated skin. Avoid areas with environmental factors that cause dehydration, such as high exposure to UV rays, high pollution, or cigarette smoke. Whenever possible, replace hot showers with warm showers.

It may take some getting used to, but changing unhealthy habits into healthy ones can make a world of difference for skin care and body care in general. Healthy habits lead to healthy skin. These include:

• Getting enough sleep (8-9 hours)
• Using sunscreen to protect against UV rays
• Exercise regularly
• Invest in a humidifier
• Use natural skincare for dehydrated skin
• Protect your skin in cold or dry weather
• Add more Vitamin D and Vitamin C to your diet
• Eat a healthy diet rich in collagen and omega-3

With daily skin care, those with oily and dehydrated skin can see results within a few days. Dehydrated skin is treatable and can completely heal, unlike dry skin.

However, those with severely dehydrated skin can expect to see results in 1-2 weeks. It may take longer, but even severely dehydrated skin can bounce back.

If you have oily and dehydrated skin, find out how to treat dehydrated skin without drying it out using our Eight Saints dehydrated skin products. The first step to healing dehydrated skin is ensuring you get enough water daily, followed by healthy lifestyle changes and a curated skin care regimen.

By creating a routine infused with skin care products specially created to hydrate and combat oily skin, you can see results sooner rather than later.

Start and end your day with a gentle dehydrated skin cleanser formulated to remove dirt and build-up without drying or irritating quickly. Using an all-natural cleanser like our Bright Side Cream Cleanser provides additional benefits, such as antioxidants and moisturization, while nourishing dry skin. This will leave you with smooth skin that is ready for the next step in your skin care regimen.

Before putting on serums or moisturizers, apply a face toner to restore your skin’s pH level. A face toner helps to remove dry patches while providing extra hydration, which is important for dry but oily skin. 

An all-natural face toner, our Coast Is Clear Face Toner is infused with witch hazel and anti-inflammatory agents like Vitamin B5 to absorb trapped dirt and oil without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

Follow up with a hyaluronic acid serum, one of the best products for dehydrated skin, to add additional hydration. A natural substance found in our joints and eyes, hyaluronic acid provides elasticity, healing properties, and water retention.

Formulated with hyaluronic acid, our Pep Rally Face Serum instantly brightens skin while plumping it up with extra hydration. A lightweight hydrating serum preps your skin, making it the perfect base for your next skincare step: moisturize.

To treat dehydrated skin, use a moisturizer for dehydrated oily skin formulated with important components like humectants, emollients, and occlusive. 

A lightweight moisturizer, our Daydreamer Natural Face Moisturizer, contains jojoba oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid to help oily flaky skin retain water without drying it. Our moisturizer also contains anti-aging and healing properties making it the best natural moisturizer for dry skin.

Exfoliating regularly is important to remove dead and dehydrated skin cells. But there is such a thing as too much exfoliation, especially if you use harsh skin care products for exfoliation. Avoid this by exfoliating once weekly rather than multiple times a week, and choose the right skin care product.

Use an exfoliator combined with hyaluronic acids like our Soulmate Brightening Treatment. This multidimensional combo uses glycolic acid to remove dead skin cells, revealing healthy, luminous skin underneath, while hyaluronic acid helps to retain moisture.

Remember to also treat the skin under your eyes. Many skincare products advise avoiding the eyes to avoid irritating them, leaving you with dry skin thirsty for moisture. 

Hydrate the eye areas with our soothing All In Eye Cream. This weightless eye cream is formulated with vitamin C to brighten the skin, while green tea and olive oil are used to counteract puffiness, bags, and dark circles while providing moisture for visibly plumped skin.  

Your skin goes into renewal mode overnight, but this also means it produces less oil overnight, reducing its level of protection. As a result, your skin can lose water more quickly, meaning you need to apply a gel moisturizer.

After cleansing your face at night, add extra hydration by applying a night gel like our Night Shift Hydration Gel. Providing an instant explosion of hydration, this gel also uses vitamins C and E to repair skin cells as you sleep.

To take your skincare routine up a notch, apply a hydrating face mask 1-2 times a week to keep your face hydrated. Face masks help to maintain hydration while detoxing your skin, among other benefits.

Our No Plans Clay Mask has a natural kaolin clay base to pull impurities and pollutants from the skin without drying it out. This powerful pink clay is known for creating soft and smooth skin.

Don’t leave your skin dry in the cold weather. Extreme temperatures such as frigid, cold temperatures and low humidity levels can suck out the moisture from your skin. It’s important to protect your skin from the elements by bundling up and using the best product for dehydrated skin.

If you’re still unsure of which products to use or looking to give the gift of a winter glow-up, check out our Best Week Ever Routine. This set includes 5 of our bestselling skincare products proven to provide glowing, hydrated skin. 

Dehydrated skin can cause frustrations, but with some TLC, dehydrated skin can disappear sooner than you think. By changing your lifestyle (i.e., drinking enough water, eating a healthy diet rich in hydrating nutrients, and getting enough sleep) and incorporating the dehydrated skin tips above into your daily skin care routine, you’ll have youthful, hydrated skin in no time. 

If you still have questions about your skin type, skin concerns, or the right products for you, feel free to reach out here.