Difference Between Hydrating vs Moisturizing | #SkinHacks by Porcelain

These two words mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably, but they actually each mean something different. They also serve different purposes when it comes to your skin. So… What’s hydrating vs moisturizing?

Before we talk about that, lets’ talk about the largest organ on your body: the skin. It holds in all our bodily fluids, thus preventing dehydration. Keeping the skin nourished is vital for its health and to fight damage caused by dryness, skin conditions, or environmental damage.

Dry skin affects males and females equally and is even more prevalent in older individuals as they are prone to the condition. Our skins tends to produce less amounts of natural skin oils and lubricants with age. On that, the amount of water vapor in the surrounding air or ‘humidity’ is another cause of dry skin.

With all these said and done, when do moisturizers work best? When should you use a hydrator? Let’s dive right in.

Hydrating vs Moisturizing

Don’t get it wrong, you haven’t been living a lie: Both moisturizers and hydrators work to ensure that our skin receives moisture. The natural lipid barrier of our skin protects itself from damage and loss of water, but if you’re someone who suffers from dry, flaky skin, then you may need some extra reinforcements. Enter moisturizers.

Having dry skin means your skin probably isn’t producing enough lipid cells on its own, so moisturizers can help lock in moisture. Hydrators, on the other hand, usually contain humectants.

These work to catch moisture from the air and saturate it through the layers of your skin. So what does the difference boil down to?

The difference is:

Dehydrated skin needs hydration.

Dry skin needs oil and moisturization.

Let’s identify the differences between the two.

Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin

Hydrators alleviate dehydrated skin, while moisturizers help the effects of dry skin. Dry skin is classified as a skin type, which means your skin’s inadequate production of natural oils can be attributed to a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. The results of dry skin are usually flaky, itchy, and an overall dull, rough, or lackluster appearance. 

 

Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is caused by a lack of water. This means that even oily skin types can suffer from dehydration. As the water content of your skin is depleted, the results become visible on your skin, leaving it less supple and elastic.

Just remember: Dehydrated skin lacks water and needs to be hydrated with hydrating products, while dry skin lacks oil and needs to be moisturized with moisturizing products. Dry skin is actually a skin type while dehydrated skin is something that anyone, no matter their skin type is, can experience.

 

The Bottom Line

The interchangeable use of hydrating and moisturizing of can be confusing to some but when it comes down to it, these terms actually refer to very different skin conditions. Before you purchase your products for your skin it’s best to analyze your skin to determine your current skin condition, dry or dehydrated, so you’re using the right products and the right ingredients.

#StayHAdrated,