Dry or dehydrated skin: how to recognize and care for it Often, due to hormonal fluctuations, endogenous problems, or sudden temperature changes during the winter season, the facial skin begins to feel tight, appear dull, lack tone, and become irritated. Although the terms are used interchangeably, dry skin is a skin type (lipid-poor), while dehydrated skin is a temporary condition (lack of water in the tissues). Recognizing these differences is the first step to investing in truly effective products and building a targeted routine that works in synergy with the skin barrier.
In this article, you will discover the differences between dry and dehydrated skin, the signs to look for in the mirror and how it feels to the touch, and how to set up a targeted skincare routine with the right actives and formulas that respect the skin barrier, integrating specific steps with LeLang Skincare treatments to restore comfort, radiance, and elasticity to your face.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Understanding the difference between dry and dehydrated skin
What is dry skin?
When talking about dry skin, it refers to a true skin type, just like oily skin, normal skin, combination skin, etc. Essentially, dry skin is distinguished from others because the skin produces few lipids and sebum, so its natural "protective film" is poorer and struggles to retain hydration effectively.
Living with this type of skin is not easy: dry skin is prone to irritation and redness, feels uneven to the touch, and is difficult to apply makeup on because foundation spreads with difficulty. Additionally, there is often a sensation of tightness, stiffness, and signs appear more pronounced due to lack of elasticity.
Dry skin is a chronic condition that can worsen at certain times, for example with cold, wind, harsh cleansers, and does not resolve with just any moisturizing cream. A severe lack of lipids in the stratum corneum increases transepidermal water loss, or the TEWL effect, making the skin appear thinner, fragile, and vulnerable to external stimuli. Dry skin is arid, with few lipids between the cells of the stratum corneum and a very thin hydrolipidic film, where water evaporates more easily.
It often appears in the form of:
- Visible flaking, peeling, and rough texture to the touch
- Sensation of tight skin, especially after cleansing
- Itching, burning, or discomfort sometimes with localized redness
- Reduced elasticity and dull, lackluster complexion.
What is dehydrated skin?
Talking about dehydrated skin means talking about a temporary condition of the skin caused by various factors. Generally, dehydrated skin indicates a lack of water in the skin tissues and can appear on any skin type, even oily or combination skin. It is therefore not "dry skin" in the strict sense, but a momentarily thirsty skin that cannot retain water due to factors such as stress, climate, overly stripping cosmetics, or unbalanced routines. Precisely because it is related to a hydration deficit and not lipids, dehydrated skin is reversible: with targeted skincare to restore water content and strengthen the skin barrier, the situation tends to improve.
In dehydrated skin, the main problem is not a lack of lipids but of water: the skin loses or does not retain water molecules sufficiently and consequently appears dull and less elastic. The most common signs, in this case, are always skin that feels tight during the day and rough to the touch, but with fine dehydration lines especially around the eyes and a grayer, more tired complexion. An important detail is that even oily skin can be dehydrated: in this case, it may appear shiny in the T-zone but feel tight after cleansing and show fine lines and areas that slightly flake.
What are the causes of dry and dehydrated skin?
Being a skin type, dry skin is often a genetic condition: some people naturally produce fewer lipids and have a thinner hydrolipidic film, so the skin barrier is less efficient at retaining water and defending against external aggressions. Over time, skin aging, some hormonal imbalances, for example menopause, and conditions such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis can further weaken the skin barrier, making the skin even drier, more fragile, and prone to itching and flaking.
A different matter concerns dehydrated skin, a condition that often arises from a mix of stress, lifestyle, and an unbalanced cosmetic routine. Chronic stress, insufficient sleep, a diet low in water and good fats, smoking, and alcohol use can alter the quality of the skin barrier and reduce the skin's ability to retain water. Frequent use of overly degreasing cosmetics, such as aggressive foaming cleansers or excessive exfoliation, also removes useful lipids and damages the hydrolipidic film, increasing transepidermal water loss and leading to dehydration, even in naturally oily or combination skin.
The skin barrier functions like a wall made of bricks, that is, cells, and mortar, the lipids: when this structure weakens, the skin becomes more permeable and internal water evaporates more easily. A barrier alteration can depend on genetics, skin diseases, wrong cleansers, but also on overly aggressive treatments such as peels, scrubs, actives in unbalanced concentrations, and the visible result is more reactive skin that itches and reddens easily, often accompanied by dryness and dehydration. In some cases, air pollution is an external factor that damages the skin: pollutant particles and free radicals generated can oxidize lipids and proteins of the skin barrier, making it less compact, and with a barrier under oxidative stress, the skin tends to lose water more rapidly.
The best skincare routine for dry and dehydrated skin
Even dry or dehydrated skin needs cleansing. For both, the goal is to avoid tight skin feeling through gentle yet effective cleansing.
Cleansing
Therefore, it is necessary to prefer oil-based cleansers like Cleansing Gentle Oil, a cleansing oil that comes into contact with makeup and dirt, removing them without depleting the hydrolipidic film. Perfect for both dry and dehydrated skin, to be removed using lukewarm water.
Cleansing Gentle Oil Gentle and nourishing cleansing oil. Discover Cleansing Gentle Oil
Serums and Targeted Treatments
After cleansing, it's time to use a fluid face serum with concentrated actives capable of penetrating the skin more easily.
In case of dry and dehydrated skin, Licoglow Serum illuminates the skin and provides an innovative anti-pollution shield that defends the skin from daily aggressions. On one hand, it improves skin hydration and reduces flaking, on the other, it defends and protects against oxidation. Thanks to the presence of Verbascum with a luminescent effect, it brightens the complexion. Perfect to apply in the morning.
For the evening, instead, if you have particularly dehydrated skin, you can apply the 5 Complex Night Face Oil, an exclusive blend of nourishing oils that help support, protect, and regenerate dehydrated and dull skin overnight.
If your skin needs more intense nourishment, also consider the Skinage Advance Face Mask to use once or twice a week, or as an SOS when the skin looks particularly dull or rough. Skinage Advance is designed to provide a boost of functional actives, helping to improve comfort, elasticity, and radiance, aspects often compromised in the presence of dryness and dehydration.
If instead you are looking for a fluid and soothing product to carry with you during the day when you feel your skin starting to tighten, try Pro Age Thermal Water: a spray toner based on thermal water that soothes the skin, provides useful minerals, and supports hydration helping to reduce the feeling of tight skin, for an extra hydration boost whenever you want.
Face Creams and Moisturizers
The final step but also the most important in a routine for dry or dehydrated skin is the face cream: the choice of cream is what “closes" the routine, sealing water and actives and modulating the right supply of lipids.
Choose Hyaluronic Advance if you have dehydrated skin and need to work on retaining water molecules. The Hyaluronic Acid and actives help retain water in the skin, providing firmness and comfort.
Hyaluronic Advance Cream for intense hydration. Discover Hyaluronic Advance
If, in addition to hydration, you need extra support for tone and elasticity, the Alba face cream is ideal for dry or mature skin that has lost intensity. Its action is designed to support the skin structure and offer a more enveloping nourishing sensation, ideal in winter or in particularly dry environments.
Alba Face Cream Nourishing cream for dry and mature skin. Discover Alba Face Cream
In Conclusion: Tailored Skincare for Your Skin
Knowing how to distinguish between dry skin and dehydrated skin is the first step for an effective skincare routine and to break the cycle of discomfort and irritation. Remember: dryness is a skin type that requires a targeted supply of lipids, while dehydration is a condition that needs molecules capable of retaining water in the tissues, such as hyaluronic acid. The key to regaining comfort, elasticity, and radiance is consistency and the use of active and gentle formulations, like those offered by LeLang Skincare. Don’t forget to monitor your skin’s signals and adapt your routine seasonally. Explore our product section to find the best remedies for dehydrated and dry skin and start your journey today towards healthier, more radiant skin.
