Individuals with a dry skin type (a skin type that produces less sebum, or “skin oil”, than normal) are highly prone to experiencing dehydrated skin. The skin's oils help keep water in and on the skin. Dry skin is lacking in natural skin oils, and this means skin can no longer protect itself against transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A simple test experts recommend is to pinch your cheek. Healthy skin will quickly bounce back once you let go. However, if even gentle pressure causes the skin to wrinkle instead of holding its shape, it’s a good sign that your cells are begging for water.
When the epidermis is depleted and dehydrated, it isn’t able to properly perform at its full potential. It becomes sluggish and struggles to complete important processes, including the production of new cells and other hydrating substances within the tissue, which are necessary for optimal skin health.
So, you’ve just started a new skin care product or routine, and suddenly, your skin seems to be breaking out like crazy. Does that mean the product isn’t working? Is something wrong? No. Not necessarily. It might just be that your skin is going through the purging process.
It’s no secret that exfoliating is a key component for creating smoother, softer and overall more radiant youthful skin. But did you know that the real trick to reaping all the benefits is striking the right frequency for your skin’s unique needs? It’s true.
Exfoliation helps the process along by removing the top layer of dead, dry or damaged skin cells, thus encouraging the skin to keep producing new healthy cells to replace them.