When it comes to skincare secrets, countless celebrities and models will say that drinking water is the key to a clear, hydrated complexion—but in reality, it’s not that simple. As it turns out, you can be consuming a copious amount of H2O and still struggle with dehydrated, lackluster-looking skin. As Youth To The People’s Director of Education, Laura Cline, explains, dehydration occurs when the skin itself is lacking water, which unlike sebum, it can’t create on its own. A few of the most common external factors that affect skin hydration are weather, diet, and caffeine consumption, as they all contribute to minimizing the water content within the skin.
While your skin can’t make its own water, the good news is topical skincare gets the job done for you. Ahead, find four telltale signs your skin is dehydrated—along with a few moisture-boosting products that can make a major difference.
Your skin is oily—and tight.
Just because you have oily skin doesn’t mean it can’t get dehydrated. Case in point: If it’s lacking water, your complexion will likely still look shiny, but feel tight and uncomfortable, too. Cline says your skin produces sebum naturally, but in order to amp the hydration, you have to add a water-containing serum or facial mist into the mix. You can’t go wrong with Youth To The People’s Superfood Firm + Brighten Serum or the Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist, both of which are lightweight and packed with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid.
Your makeup looks… off.
A surefire way to tell that your skin is dehydrated is if your makeup isn’t wearing well. For instance, if your foundation isn’t going on smoothly or your concealer is caking off before lunchtime, then it’s likely that your skin is begging for water. An easy solution is adding more water-packed products to your daily routine. Two fan-favorite Youth To The People products that not only boost moisture but also look beautiful under makeup are the weightless Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream and the rich Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream. Additionally, for a quick fix, Cline recommends applying the Adaptogen Activated Mist before moisturizer, as well as throughout the day.
Your skin is greasier than usual.
When your skin is dehydrated, sebum jumps in and overcompensates for the lack of water and winds up producing too much oil, which is why you might find yourself looking shinier than normal. The solution? A lightweight product like Superfood Firm + Brighten Serum, which provides the skin with the water it craves—without introducing extra oil.
You’re unexpectedly red.
If your skin is randomly looking ruddy, blotchy, and inflamed, and that’s not the norm for you, then it more than likely it means it’s desperate for H2O, as water is what helps it maintain a happy balance. Without it, the skin becomes easily irritated and prone to redness and adverse reactions. To get your skin back on track, try using the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask, which features a powerful blend of moisture-boosting ingredients like prickly pear and squalane, as well as antioxidant-rich goji berry. Cline recommends using it overnight to achieve the best results.
