Dehydrated skin lacks water, and dry skin lacks oil ” sebum”; they share similar symptoms but need different solutions.
Dehydrated skin is a skin condition that can affect all skin types: combination, oily, dry, or sensitive skin. Skin lacks water and doesn’t produce enough natural skin sebum to keep skin moisturized, so skin is easily irritated and can cause itchiness and flakiness.
Dry skin is a skin type that occurs because skin lacks oil: the signs dull skin, rough-looking skin, itchiness, and or flakiness. With dry skin, skin feels tight and is easily irritated, fine lines are more pronounced, and skin is sensitive to changes in the weather.
CAUSES OF DRY/DEHYDRATED SKIN
Weather: Dry air, cold winds, and air conditioning can pull moisture from the skin and strip the skin of its natural oils. Hot showers and harsh skincare can cause water to escape from the skin’s surface, causing the skin to be dry and dehydrated.
Diet: Diet plays a key role in helping skin maintain its hydration level. Alcohol, coffee, processed food, and food high in sodium expels moisture and makes the skin prone to dehydration. Skin needs moisture and hydration for optimal skin health.
MOISTURE OR HYDRATION?
Hydration is the amount of water held in the skin cells, and plump, hydrated skin has enough water. Moisture is the protective layer on the skin’s surface, “the lipid barrier” that seals in moisture and prevents water loss. Humidity and hydration are used to fight dehydration, dryness, environmental damage, and signs of premature aging. They work in different ways and have other uses. Skin needs both hydration and moisture to stay healthy and vibrant. Hydrated skin delivers water to the cells, and moisturized skin prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin.
SKIN CERAMIDES AND WATER RETENTION.
The stratum corneum (SC) is the top of the epidermis and the skin’s protective barrier. It retains water in the skin cells and prevents foreign matter from entering the body. It contains ceramide: the keratin and lipid fats that naturally occur in the skin. It plays a vital role in the skin’s health and holds the cells of the SC together. It forms a protective barrier to prevent damage from environmental stressors and prevent moisture loss.
When the SC is weakened because of environmental stressors, harsh skincare, lifestyle choices. It injures the ceramide causing water to evaporate from the skin called transepidermal water loss quickly.
Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) – This is when water makes its way from the dermis (the deepest layers of the skin) and passes to the epidermis, and evaporates through the SC into the atmosphere. Excessive water loss leads to dehydrated, dry, and rough-looking skin.
Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) – NMF is a water-soluble mix of amino acids, sugars, inorganic salts, as well as urea and lactic acid. It occurs within the top layer of the skin. The powerful humectants (water-attracting molecules) protect skin from transepidermal water loss. The skin’s natural moisturizing factor is responsible for maintaining adequate hydration on the SC. A compromised NMF can lead to dry and rough skin.
The skin contains three moisturizers: Humectants, Occlusives, and Emollients.
Humectants – attract moisture from the surrounding environment and bind it to the skin. They can draw water from the deeper lateral layers of the skin to the outer layer of the skin to maintain hydration levels.
Occlusives – Occlusives are moisturizing agents that work by forming a protective layer on the skin’s surface by creating a barrier to prevent moisture loss.
Emollients – Emollients work to strengthen the skin’s natural protective layer, which in turn helps prevent trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL – the process in which water evaporates from the skin’s surface into the air.”)
HONEY BOTANICS SOLUTIONS?
When formulating our products, skin hydration is at the forefront of our product philosophy. The skin conditions that cause hyperpigmentation “Eczema, wounds, psoriasis” can cause dry skin. The ingredients used to target hyperpigmentation can be harsh and drying to the skin. Optimal skin health is at the core of our brand. We formulated our products with humectants, emollients, and occlusives to protect the skin moisture barrier, deliver essential vitamins to support the skin mantle to keep skin hydrated, balanced and plump. Some of the ingredients in our products to boost hydration are Beta – glucan, Glycerin, Marula Oil, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Baobab Oil, and Lactic Acid.
Beta – Glucan – Beta – Glucan is a powerful humectant that provides intense hydration to the skin and prevents moisture loss. It attracts water to the top layers of the skin, boosts the skin moisture barrier, smooth skin, and is an antioxidant that prevents damage. This means not only providing intense hydration for the skin but also helping to prevent moisture loss.
Glycerin – Glycerin can be derived from plant oils, fermented sugar, or created synthetically. It is a powerful humectant that can hold its weight several times in water and helps skin maintain a healthy moisture barrier.
Marula Oil – Marula Oil is an occlusive that contains amino acid, fatty acids. It is an antioxidant that moisturizes dry skin prevents water loss for smooth, healthy, and well-nourished skin.
Squalane – Squalane is a light weight emollient that leaves skin hydrated, supple, and luminous. It is an antioxidant that softens skin texture, is non-comedogenic, helps even out skin tone, and prevents irritation.
Hyaluronic Acid – Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the body. It can be found in the skin and help the skin maintain its strength and elasticity. It declines in the body with age, and is the reason mature skin is dehydrated.
Baobab Oil – Baobab Oil is an emollient that softens, regenerates, helps soothe eczema, and moisturizes skin thanks to its antioxidants and ample amounts of vitamins. It deeply nourishes, improves skin elasticity, softness and appearance.
Lactic Acid – Lactic acid is a humectant and an exfoliator. It exfoliates dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, stimulates skin cell regeneration, fades hyperpigmentation, minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and clears up acne.
