DRY SKIN

Dry skin is a type of skin (similar to oily or combination skin) that is caused by genetics, or certain mediations. Dry skin lacks sebum (your skin’s natural oils), resulting in a an impaired skin barrier that allows water to escape (i.e., transepidermal water loss.) Symptoms of dry skin includes:

• Itchiness
• Redness
• Flaking Skin
• Irritated Skin

DEHYDRATED SKIN

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition or concern that can happen to any skin type (yes, even oily skin.) Dehydrated skin can be caused by extreme hot or cold climates, over-exfoliation, aggressive cleansers/products and air-conditioning. Dehydrated skin lacks water, and requires hydration to soothe symptoms of:

• Dull/dark looking skin
• Prominent dark circles around the eyes
• Appearance of fine lines / wrinkles
• Dry mouth
• Puffy eyes

Not sure if you have dehydrated skin? Try the pinch test. Pinch an area of your skin, and if it doesn’t bounce back immediately, your skin is likely dehydrated.

TREATING DRY SKIN

• Double Cleanse - Ditch micellar water and makeup wipes and opt for an oil-based balm or cleanser with a Zoe cleansing padd as the first step in your nighttime skincare routine. This effectively removes makeup and sunscreen without stripping your skin of oils.
• Avoid harsh scrubs, cleansers and toners which rid the skin of its natural oils. Ingredients to avoid: alcohol and fragrances as they are known to trigger dryness and irritation. Opt for cleansers with the words ‘gentle’ or ‘mild’ in them instead.
• Moisturizing products - Ingredients to look for: glycerine and hylauronic acid both act to retain moisture in the skin.) Urea and ceramides work to reduce moisture loss. Always apply products to damp skin to seal the moisture in. Add an oil like squalane or rosehip to strengthen the skin barrier for particularly parched skin.
• Exfoliate (sparingly) - Rids the skin of dry patches and dead skin cells to allow moisturing products to be able to work their magic. Use a tool like our best-selling Clara 4-in-1 Pore Cleanser once a week to exfoliate away any dry patches and increase product absorption by up to 12X. Be careful not to over-exfoliate (stick to once a week) to avoid damaging the skin barrier.

TREATING DEHYDRATED SKIN

• Hydrate from within. Ensure you drink atleast 8 glasses of water each day and limit caffeine and alcohol which can reduce the water content of the skin. Try to avoid sodium-fuelled snacks and opt for water-rich foods like watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers and celery.
• Limit hot showers. It’s common to assume that longer showers or baths would help with dehydration, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Hot water especially can cause a loss of moisture and body oils that cause dehydration. The rule of thumb is if the water is steaming, it’s too hot for your skin. (Sorry to those in colder climates who live for hot showers!) Try and stick with lukewarm water to retain the much-needed moisture on your skin. Bonus – your hair will love you for it too as hot water can cause breakage and split ends.
• Use a humidifier. This is especially important if you live in a dry climate. The lack of humidity in the air results in your skin losing its moisture. Our best-selling Rivo facial steamer is the perfect addition to your skincare routine to help tame dull, dehydrated skin. Use it weekly to soothe the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles.
• Hydrating products. Water-based with active ingredients can penetrate the skin barrier to nourish and maintain hydration. Hylauronic acid is a Fancii-wide personal fave. Its water-binding properties can retain more than 1,000 times its own weight in water. This helps to replenish your skin and prevents early signs of ageing. Other ingredients to look for: aloe, honey, snail mucin, lactic acid are all great to relieve symptoms of dehydrated skin.