24/07/2025
Is my skin dry or dehydrated?
Dehydrated skin occurs when there’s a lack of water in the skin. Skin looks dull with a loss of elasticity and surface wrinkles and can occur in anyone, even people with oily skin.
Dry skin occurs from a lack of oils, or lipids and looks flakier and drier in appearance.
Moisturisers are classified as:
- Emollients which fill intercorneocyte cluster gaps and include almond oil, colloidal oatmeal, castor oil, coconut oil, palm oil, ceramides, and squalene.
- Occlusives, substances which create a shield or film on the skin to slow or prevent moisture evaporation and include petrolatum, liquid paraffin, mineral oil, silicon and lanolin.
- Humectants, which are substances that attract water from the air or from the deeper layer in the skin. Common humectants include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, alpha hydroxy acids, aloe vera, panthenol (Vitamin B5) urea, algae, seaweed.
