Written by Jenny Deneen

Honoring your body starts with treating it right… but sometimes taking proper care of our bodies is easier said than done, especially when it comes to skin. The beautiful individuality of each person’s skin can make it hard to find products that work best for your body, especially in the colder months of the year. 

 As the leaves start falling and the crisp magic of autumn transcends upon us, our skin starts to leave many of us feeling like we are playing a guessing game with our bodies, with the biggest question of all being: is my skin dry or dehydrated? Wyld has put together a guide to help best care for your skin and debunk this unsolved skin mystery just in time for winter. 

Step One: Know the Basics

The first step to understanding how to treat your dry or dehydrated skin is to understand what it even means to have dry or dehydrated skin. When your skin is dry, your body is struggling to produce the adequate amount of your skin’s natural oils. Dry skin is a skin type that produces less sebum. This means the skin doesn’t have enough lipids to retain moisture or build a strong protective barrier. 

 Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, has nothing to do with oil and everything to do with water, or lack thereof. Dehydrated skin does not have enough water and is often caused by external factors that diminish water content within the skin. These external elements could be weather, environment, diet and/or caffeine consumption. 

Step Two: How to tell the difference

 It can be difficult to tell the difference between dry and dehydrated skin but here are a couple of ways you can come to a confident conclusion. Common signs of dehydrated skin include redness, lots of congestion and inflammation. Dry skin feels a bit different. When your skin is dry, it tends to be tight, flaky, and itchy. Additionally, the most affected areas are typically near the eyebrows and around the corners of the nose and mouth.

 An easy way to figure out whether your skin is dry or dehydrated is to pinch your cheek. If it’s wrinkling with gentle pressure instead of holding its shape, your skin is dehydrated. On top of this, dehydrated skin will have a dulled down version of your natural radiance and you may notice an exaggeration of wrinkles and dark circles. 

Step Three: Show your skin some love

Now that you have spotted the difference, it’s time to kick your treatment into high gear…

When your skin is dry, it is essential that you are choosing the right products to nurture and moisturize your body. We recommend incorporating  oil-infused, hydrating products into your daily ritual. In addition, gentle exfoliation is key to rejuvenating your skin. 

Wyld’s gentle Konjac exfoliating sponge removes dead skin without stripping healthy oils and infuses your pores with rich minerals and vitamins. Our sponge is the perfect exfoliant to aid dry skin and leave your complexion even and glowing. 

 When your skin is dehydrated, clean your skin with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. We recommend Wyld’s Seas the Day creamy gel cleanser. Our cleanser will gently clean your face while hydrating your skin. The Seas the Day cleanser is the perfect emulsion of nourishing plant oils and marine plant extracts that is ideal for dehydrated skin. 

Most importantly, incorporating a plant-based hyaluronic into your skincare ritual gives your dehydrated skin a major hydration boost. It’s like giving your skin a huge glass of water. We recommend getting your dose of hyaluronics with Wyld’s Moon Dew Serum. The botanical hyaluronics infuse your skin with plant-based hydration, grabbing moisture from the air and putting it into your skin. Your skin will drink it up, leaving it feeling hydrated, plumped and healthy. 

As the leaves change color and the air turns chilly, remember to continue loving and honoring your body with the right products. Don’t forget our helpful tips, stay warm out there and good luck!

Sources: 

1.     Moira Lawler, "10 Surprising Causes of Dry Skin," Everyday Health, January 17, 2020, [Page #], accessed October 3, 2021, https://www.everydayhealth.com/beauty-pictures/7-surprising-causes-of-dry-skin.aspx. 
2.     "Dry skin," Mayo Clinic, last modified August 20, 2019, accessed October 3, 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20353885. 
3.     Christie Pike, "4 Signs Your Skin Is Dehydrated & How To Fix It," Eminence Organic Skincare, March 23, 2016, accessed October 3, 2021, https://eminenceorganics.com/us/blog/2016/03/23/4-signs-your-skin-dehydrated-how-fix-it. 
4.     "Dry skin," Mayo Clinic, last modified August 20, 2019, accessed October 3, 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20353885. 
5.     Allison Duncan, "How to Tell If Your Skin Is Dry or Dehydrated, According to Experts," Allure, April 14, 2020, [Page #], accessed October 3, 2021, https://www.allure.com/story/dry-vs-dehydrated-skin-whats-the-difference. 
6.     Christie Pike, "4 Signs Your Skin Is Dehydrated & How To Fix It," Eminence Organic Skincare, March 23, 2016, accessed October 3, 2021, https://eminenceorganics.com/us/blog/2016/03/23/4-signs-your-skin-dehydrated-how-fix-it. 
7.     "7 Surprising Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid," Healthline, accessed October 3, 2021, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hyaluronic-acid-benefits.