Dehydrated Skin: Signs & Fixes

Every day our skin loses water. It's normal! But lose too much and hello, dehydrated skin, which can lead to irritation and sensitivity. Figure out the signs of dehydrated skin, and keep your skin feeling great with our simple guide to dehydrated skin.

What can cause dehydrated skin?

Air conditioning, the weather, lack of sleep, not drinking enough water, too hot showers, harsh skincare products, and bypassing a gentle skincare routine can all be contributors to dehydrated skin. And dehydration is a problem not just for dry skin. All skin types can become dehydrated—yes, even oily skin—because it's caused by a lack of water within the skin. If the air around is dry (or windy!), moisture evaporates from your skin. Restore the balance and hydrate skin with our products and tips, created with your dehydrated skin in mind.

“Once you realize your skin’s sensitivity is caused by lack of water, it can be easy to get it in shape!”

Dehydrated skin signs

What dehydrated skin feels like:

Itchy
Sensitive
Inflamed
Tight
Dry
Rough

Try these tips to help the signs of dehydrated skin

1. Drink lots of water

We know it! Bet we could all drink a bit more though, right? Don’t like the taste? Add a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon to spruce it up. Too cold? Fill up a flask with hot water, ginger and lemon for a tasty way to get your fix.

2. Keep humid

Air conditioning and central heating are the worst for sapping water from our skin. As a general FYI, the more moisture in the air, the less water will evaporate from your skin. Try a humidifier during winter months and pick products that boost water levels in your skin like Simple® Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream, which is light, fresh and hydrates all day.

3. Cleanse post-workout

Exercise is great for boosting circulation and giving skin a glowing appearance, but sweat, mixed with make-up and daily grime can cause skin irritation and sensitive skin. When you sweat, you’re naturally losing water and minerals from your skin. We say, cleanse before and after you exercise to get rid of dirt, make-up and sweat on your skin. Follow this up by applying a hydrating moisturizer to keep water levels replenished, and don’t forget to drink up. Stash some facial cleansing wipes in your gym bag for a super quick cleanse.

4. Moisturize damp skin

Smooth on your moisturizer within a few minutes of getting out of (a not-too-hot!) shower, to help make the most of that surface moisture on the skin before it has a chance to evaporate. Good moisturizers can act like magnets within the skin, drawing in moisture from the air and holding it there. Simple® Water Boost Skin Quench Sleeping Cream has been specially formulated for dehydrated skin.

5. Travel savvy

Dry air, low humidity levels, and air conditioning from airports and airplane cabins can really disrupt your skin’s moisture balance. Layer up on moisture-rich products before you fly, and try Simple® Water Boost Hydrating Booster before you moisturize for an added boost of instant hydration. It’s also great for targeting dehydration spots on thirsty skin, aka a great refresher mid-flight.