Dry vs. Dehydrated: Why Your Moisturiser Isn't Fixing Your "Tired" Look
Time to read 1 min
It is the most common conversation we have with clients at Skinmart:
"My skin feels tight, so I bought the heaviest cream I could find. But I still look tired, and now I'm congested."
The problem usually isn't the product. It’s the diagnosis.
Most people confuse Dry Skin with Dehydrated Skin. They treat one, while suffering from the other.
If you feel like your skin has lost its "snap" or looks grey by 3:00pm, you need to understand the difference. Here is the breakdown—and the new "Liquid Fix" that targets both.
The Diagnosis: Which one are you?
1. Dry Skin (Lipid Poor)
The Feeling: Rough, flaky, itchy, "sandpaper" texture.
The Cause: Your skin lacks Oil (Lipids). You have a damaged barrier that lets moisture escape.
The Visual: Dull, matte, no reflection.
The Struggle: You apply moisturiser, but it just "sits on top" because a crust of dead cells is blocking it from sinking in.
2. Dehydrated Skin (Water Poor)
The Feeling: Tight, "plastic-wrap" sensation, especially after cleansing.
The Cause: Your skin lacks Water. You might still be oily (yes, oily skin can be dehydrated!), but your cells are thirsty.
The Visual: Grey undertone, fine horizontal lines (dehydration lines) when you smile, "tired" look.
The Struggle: Your skin drinks up makeup and looks patchy by lunch.
The Solution: One Liquid, Two Mechanisms
Dermalogica’s new Phyto Nature E2 is unique because it addresses both conditions simultaneously, but through different biological pathways.
For the Dry Skin Client: "The Gatekeeper"
If you are dry, your biggest issue is absorption. You have a barrier of dead cells blocking your products.
The Fix: Pumpkin Enzymes.
How it works: Instead of scrubbing (which hurts dry skin), these enzymes gently digest the "glue" holding dead cells together.
The Result: It removes the blockade. Suddenly, your rich moisturizer can actually penetrate and do its job.
For the Dehydrated Client: "The Water Magnet"
If you are dehydrated, your issue is retention. You are losing water faster than you can keep it.
The Fix: Phyto Glycogen & Prickly Pear.
How it works: These ingredients act as biological sponges. They grab moisture from the air and your other products, locking it into the upper layers of the epidermis.
The Result: Instant "Glass Skin."
The water pressure in your cells increases, plumping out those fine dehydration lines instantly.
The Verdict
If you are fighting the "3pm Slump," stop buying heavier creams. Start prepping your skin with a Regenerative Liquid. By fixing the absorption pathway, you fix the result.
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