9 Tips for Rehydrating Thirsty Skin at Home
Our bodies need water to function, and our skin is no exception to that rule.
Dehydrated skin looks and feels unhealthy, and it’s more prone to damage from the environment. That’s why keeping it hydrated is so important, both in the short term and in the long term.
We’ve got everything you need to know about skin hydration and moisturization, plus nine simple tips for quenching thirsty skin and keeping it that way.
Just What Is Hydrated Skin, Anyway?
There’s more to skin health than hydration, but in order for skin to be healthy, it needs to be hydrated.
That’s because skin doesn’t function properly unless it’s got enough water in it. Without adequate water, your skin won’t be able to protect and heal itself from the damage it sustains every day.
Water is what keeps our bodies working, and it’s what keeps our skin working, too. Hydrated skin is quenched, energized and operating at full capacity, so it looks and feels amazing.
Dehydrated Skin vs. Dry Skin: Which Is Which?
When you think of hydration, you think of water. So it follows that dehydrated skin is skin that’s lacking enough water.
But wait… isn’t that what dry skin is?
As it turns out, there’s a big difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin. Dehydrated skin lacks water, while dry skin lacks sebum — the oil that’s naturally produced by your skin.
So how can you tell if your skin is dry or dehydrated? Well, the symptoms are quite different, as we’re about to see.
Symptoms of Dry Skin
Dry skin is considered a skin type — there’s not much you can do to change it for good, since it’s characterized by a lack of sebum-producing glands in your skin.
If you have dry skin, you may deal with itchy, flaky patches that seem to come and go as they please. Your skin may be red and irritated quite often, especially around your eyebrows, mouth and nostrils.
- Gives dry skin lasting hydration without a sticky, greasy finish.
- Helps maintain the moisture barrier that keeps skin feeling comfortable.
- Softens dry patches on your face, hands and body with one rich cream.
Symptoms of Dehydrated Skin
Dehydrated skin isn’t a skin type like dry skin is. Rather, dehydration is a skin condition that occurs independent of skin type — and that means that it can be treated.
Itchiness can occur with dehydrated skin, which causes people to confuse it with dry skin. But if your skin is dehydrated, you’ll also notice symptoms like puffy eyes, dark circles and bags, dry mouth, fine lines and dullness.
Hydration Vs. Moisturization: Which Approach to Take?
Dry and dehydrated skin can feel surprisingly similar, and you can have both at once. A moisturizer that combines water-binding ingredients with ingredients that reduce moisture loss can help your skin feel more comfortable.
Many moisturizers combine several jobs in one formula: attracting water, softening skin and slowing moisture loss. You don’t always need separate products for each step.
Both hydration and moisturization share the same goal: making sure there’s enough water in your skin cells.
In practice, products labeled “hydrating” and “moisturizing” often overlap. The ingredients and how your skin feels matter more than the label.
Nine Simple Tips for Quenching Dehydrated Skin
1. Drink Plenty of Water Every Day
It sounds obvious, but if you don’t drink enough water, your skin is going to have a hard time staying hydrated.
Your body will distribute the little water it has to more essential systems and organs, and your skin will suffer as a result.
If you want hydrated skin, you need to make sure you drink enough water to go around. Eight glasses a day is a good start for most people, but if you sweat a lot or spend time in dry environments, you’ll need more.
2. Seek Out Skincare Products that Provide Hydration
Augmenting your skincare routine with a hydrating product can make a huge difference in your skin’s water content. By supplying water directly to the skin, hydrators instantly quench your thirstiest spots.
Hydrating products contain ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, glycerin or alpha hydroxy acids, which transport water directly to your skin cells.
These ingredients are known as humectants. Some, like hyaluronic acid, are available as standalone products, while others are found as ingredients in other products like toners.
- Replenishes dehydrated skin so it feels softer and more supple.
- Helps plump skin and soften the appearance of fine lines.
- Supports the moisture barrier with a hydrating blend of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5.
3. Break Your Habit of Taking Long, Hot Showers
A long, hot shower feels like heaven on Earth after a long day, but it’s actually terrible for your skin.
Though you don’t realize it, you sweat quite a bit while you’re taking a hot shower. Every drop of sweat you produce is a drop of water you lose, and all those drops add up fast.
What you’re left with is skin that contains even less water than it did before your shower.
Cool or lukewarm showers are much better for your skin, but if you must take a hot shower, try to keep it as short as possible. Remember: the less you sweat, the better!
4. Use a Hydrating Face Mask or Sheet Mask for an Extra Boost
Pampering yourself with a face mask is a great way to relax and practice self-care. But it’s also one of the easiest, most fun ways to rehydrate your skin — as long as you use the right mask.
A good hydrating mask can help your skin hold onto water and slow moisture loss. Think of it as an optional treat: if your everyday moisturizer already keeps your skin comfortable, you don’t need to add a mask.
Always check the ingredients list to make sure you’re actually getting a hydrating mask. Look for a mask that contains hyaluronic acid, aloe or alpha hydroxy acids (like lactic acid or citric acid) to ensure optimal hydration.
5. Switch to Water-Based Skincare Products
The skincare products you use every day may be contributing to your skin’s dehydration problem.
A cream can be just as hydrating as a lightweight gel. If your skin stays dry, look at the ingredients and how well the formula helps you retain moisture.
A gel may feel nicer on oily areas, while a richer cream may suit dry patches. Choose the texture that leaves your skin comfortable.
6. Run a Humidifier in Your Most-Used Rooms
If you live in a dry area, or if you spend a lot of time in air-conditioned rooms, chances are that your skin is suffering for it.
Low humidity is one of the biggest enemies of hydration. Dry air draws the moisture out of your skin in its attempts to equalize its water content, leaving you parched.
Adding humidity to the air with a humidifier will help you keep your skin’s water content at a healthy level. If you can’t run a whole-room humidifier, consider using a mini personal humidifier that runs on USB power and humidifies your immediate area.
7. Never Skip Sunscreen
As nice as the sun feels on our skin, it’s surprisingly bad for it. Not only does the sun damage your skin cells and cause cancer, it also dries out the oils that lock moisture into your skin.
The result: sunburned skin with damaged DNA that’s also completely parched.
A quality sunscreen protects you from cancer-causing UV rays, but it also stops those rays from sapping the moisture out of your skin. Applied alongside a lightweight moisturizer, it’ll ensure that your skin stays radiant, healthy, and hydrated.
Finish your morning routine with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin. Reapply about every two hours outdoors, and after swimming, sweating or towel drying. Look for sunscreens that contain aloe vera or other hydrating ingredients for a double dose of skin benefits.
- Pairs moisture with broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection when used as directed.
- Helps skin feel softer and fine lines look less noticeable through hydration.
- Works alone or under makeup, making daily sun protection easier to fit in.
8. Eat Foods with a High Water Content
Not sure if you can make yourself drink eight glasses of water every day? Don’t worry — you can supplement your water intake (and make your skin happy) by eating foods that are rich in water.
The most obvious option: fresh fruits and vegetables. These can be as much as 96% water, plus they’re packed with vitamins and minerals that strengthen your skin’s water-retention abilities.
Other water-rich foods include skim milk, cottage cheese, plain yogurt and soup.
You should still try to drink as much water as you can, as it’s the most straightforward way to get hydrated. But these foods offer a tasty way to satiate your hunger and quench your thirst at the same time.
9. Incorporate a Hydrating Eye Cream into Your Routine
Your eyes reveal a lot about you, including how hydrated you are. If your skin is dehydrated, it’ll become apparent in the form of dark undereye circles, bags, fine lines and general dullness around the eyes.
That’s because the skin around the eyes is very thin and lacks sebum glands, so it’s more likely to lose moisture and become damaged.
But you can rehydrate and renew the skin around your eyes with a hydrating eye cream.
Look for a gentle formula with ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid or ceramides. Keep it out of your eyes, and stop if it stings.
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