Dry Skin or Dehydrated Skin?

Here’s How to Tell—and What to Do About It

 

Dry or Dehydrated Skin? Or Both? Let’s Talk About It.

I know how frustrating it can feel when your skin suddenly changes—especially when you’ve been using the same products for years and they just… stop working.

You might be looking in the mirror and wondering why your skin feels tight, dull, or flaky, even though you’re moisturising like you always have.

The truth is, many of us go through a period, particularly during midlife, when our skin feels unpredictable.

A few of the changes that your skin may be going through are that

a) it may be getting dehydrated more easily - it’s harder to hold on to the water content in the skin

and

b) it may be getting drier as lipid synthesis in the skin starts to slow down.

That’s why it’s key to understand the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin.

They’re not the same thing, even though it can be tricky to tell the difference sometimes.

Knowing which one you're dealing with (or whether it's both) can completely change how you care for your skin—and how it responds.

What Is Dehydrated Skin? (Hint: It’s Not The Same As Dryness)

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition, not a skin type. You’re not born with dehydrated skin.

That means it can happen to anyone, regardless of whether you normally have oily skin, dry skin, or something in between.

It simply means that your skin is lacking water—and it’s usually temporary and treatable with the right care.

For me, dehydration often shows up when the weather changes or when I’ve been under more stress than usual, travelling, not sleeping well enough or drinking too much coffee.

My skin starts to look and feel flat, even though it doesn’t necessarily feel dry to the touch, and I definitely have more little fine lines showing, especially under my eyes.

Here’s what’s happening underneath the surface when skin gets dehydrated:

Our skin naturally loses water throughout the day through something called transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

But when your barrier is compromised—whether by weather, hormones, stress, or harsh skincare products—your skin can’t hold onto hydration (water) as effectively.

That’s when dehydration sets in.

And here’s the twist: your skin might still be oily and dehydrated at the same time. 

Your skin can also be dry and dehydrated at the same time - as you’ll see below.

What Is Dry Skin? (And Why It’s Not the Same as Dehydrated Skin)

Dry skin, on the other hand, is a skin type. You’re often born with it, and it usually stays relatively consistent throughout your life.

In essence, dry skin doesn’t produce enough oil (or lipids) to keep itself supple and protected.

I’ve never tended to dry skin - quite the opposite, actually - as in makeup sliding off my face by 11am kind of oily. 

My skin was very oily in my twenties; I’d say combination/oily in my thirties, but since my early fourties, it has been getting progressively drier (less and less oily).

The cleansing, exfoliation and moisturising products I used up until my early fourties were no longer doing what they used to. 

I could sense the shift in that I often had to use oil-free products, ie. oil-free foundation and sunscreen - but as time went on this changed a lot. 

I didn’t quite realise that my skin was begging for more oil until I tried a face oil around my 40th birthday (after avoiding it as long as I could because I misunderstood that skin actually needed more oil). 

My skin responded so well and within a few days it was as if the life came back into it.

That was actually the start the of Beauty by Ané Skincare and how our beloved Glow in a Bottle Face Oil was born.

Here’s what dry skin is missing:

Dry skin lacks lipids (fats)— things like ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids—that help form the skin’s protective barrier and keep water locked in.

Without enough of these lipids, your skin can feel rough, tight, or even itchy.

It may also look dull or flaky, no matter how much water you drink. 

What Causes Dry and/or Dehydrated Skin?

By now, you might be wondering—okay, but why is this happening to me right now? And how do I know the difference between the two?

Below are some of the most common (and surprisingly relatable) reasons I see, both in our community and in my own skin journey.

These factors can contribute to dry skin, dehydrated skin—or both at the same time.

Quick reflections to check in with yourself:

1. Dry Skin as your skin type

Let’s start here as it’s the most obvious for dry skin types—perhaps you've always had dry skin and find that it's getting drier as you're getting older. But now it may also be getting more dehydrated because of some of the points below.

2. Hormonal changes from Peri- and Menopause

One of the key, and often the first signs of estrogen decline in the skin, is that our skin barrier is getting thinner and our skins are feeling drier overall.

This is because less oestrogen in the skin also means that our skin synthesises fewer of the lipids and natural moisturising factors we need to keep our skin supple and hydrated from the inside out. And this isn’t just happening on our faces—it can impact our skin across our entire bodies.

3. Chronic Dehydration

One of the most obvious and easiest ones—are you drinking enough water/fluids to keep hydrated from the inside out?

This is such a simple one, and I must admit I’m not the best at this, especially when it's cold.Herbal teas like rooibos are a great antioxidant and caffeine-free option, but just drinking more water isn’t the only answer to dehydrated skin.

You still need topical hydration too through your skincare products (face and body).

4. Recent changes to your skincare routine

Have you made a recent change to your skincare routine?

Maybe added an exfoliating acid or a retinol—or perhaps both? A cleanser that’s too harsh or foaming? Over-cleansing and over-exfoliating can strip the skin of its protective oils.

That tight, dry feeling you get after washing your face might actually be a compromised barrier trying to tell you it’s overwhelmed.

5. Seasonal changes

Are you feeling the effects of autumn, winter, or even just central heating?

Colder air outside and dry, heated air inside are a harsh combo.

But in warmer climates, it’s the same story with air conditioning and humidity levels. Not just for your face, but you may notice it with your hair too.

6. Post-holiday dryness

Perhaps you’re back from a trip and your skin hasn’t quite bounced back.

Sun damage, long flights, or skipping your full routine can all impact your skin’s hydration and lipid levels.

And if you're going into summer now, it's more important than ever to stay consistent with your sunscreen and after-sun care.

7. Routine disruption and lifestyle stressors

Whether you're travelling, sleeping poorly, eating on the go, or dealing with more stress than usual, your skin picks up on all of it.

Excessive alcohol, coffee, sugar, and stress all play a role in dehydrating and inflaming the skin.

It’s not about being perfect, but recognising patterns helps you give your skin more of what it needs.

8. Hot showers

This one still gets me! I love a hot shower, but they can strip away essential lipids from your skin barrier. That tight, dry feeling afterward? That’s your skin saying: too hot!

9. Illness and medical treatments

Certain medications (like antihistamines or chemotherapy), health conditions, or medical stress can impact your skin’s hydration and lipid levels.

If you’re going through a particularly stressful life event, illness and / or chronic condition your skin may need more support—and extra gentleness—during this time.

How to Care for Dry and Dehydrated Skin (At the Same Time)

This is the most important part: your skin may need both hydration and moisturisation.

Here’s what that means:

• Hydration = water (humectants like Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid, Aminoacids, Urea, Panthenol, Sodium PCA)
• Moisturisation = oils/lipids and fatty acids (ceramides, squalane, plant oils, cholesterol)

You need both, especially in midlife.

When we have the optimum balance between water and lipid in our skin that’s when our skin functions best when it comes to hydration and moisture - and we have a healthy, well-functioning skin lipid barrier. 

What Else Helps? My Personal Go-To’s

• Gentle cleansing—I avoid anything that foams or strips, especially in winter.  I prefer an oil-based balm cleanser like our Radiance Reveal Cleansing Balm. 
• Barrier-building serums and moisturisers—Niacinamide, Ectoin, amino acids, and ceramides are game-changers.
• Humidifier at night—especially when the heating is on.
• Silk/satin pillowcase—gentler on skin and hair. I prefer satin these days because it's just much more affordable and easier to care for. 
• Diet & supplements—Omega 3s, evening primrose oil, nuts, eggs, fatty fish and more water-rich foods like cucumber are my go-to's. 
• Cutting back on known triggers—too much caffeine, alcohol, or stress (not perfect but a work in progress!)

Final Thoughts: Trust Your Skin’s Signals

If your skin feels out of sync right now, know this: it’s not your fault, and it’s not a lost cause.

It’s simply asking for a little more attention as it's changing and adapting. 

Whether you’re dealing with dryness, dehydration, or both, the most powerful thing you can do is listen and respond with what your skin truly needs.

I hope this helped.

In the next blog we will look at example skincare routines for Dry and/or Dehydrated Skin.

You may also want to check out the blog on your Taking Care of Your Skin’s Lipid Barrier.