We thought we knew everything about keeping our skin hydrated… until we asked the folks from Porcelain for advice
A large part of maintaining healthy skin is ensuring that it gets sufficient hydration – and no, we don’t mean hitting your favourite bar. Of course, it helps to have the 101 on skincare, such as the difference between dry and dehydrated skin and the right products to use. Whether you’ve got a dry complexion or can’t seem to keep your skin moisturised in sunny Singapore, Porcelain’s got the answers to some burning questions you might have.
Dry and dehydrated skin… what’s the difference?
One’s a skin type and the other’s actually a skin condition. If you have a dry complexion, it’s likely because your skin doesn’t produce much sebum (or oil). On the contrary, dehydrated skin is when your skin lacks water. That means it can be oily and dehydrated, but never oily and dry.
Let’s talk about lifesavers. Will using a richer moisturiser prevent my skin from becoming dehydrated?
Moisturisers come in various forms that can be categorised according to their oil-water ratio. This means they can have either a higher oil or water content. For example, creams have higher oil content while gels are purely water-based. Identifying whether your skin is dry or dehydrated and what it needs is key. Is your skin oily and dehydrated? You should be boosting hydration with a gel-based moisturiser instead of a cream-based one, which contains more oil. That said, cream-based moisturisers are better for dry skin types.
Exfoliating products is a huge no-no for those with dry complexions.
Exfoliants that are granular or high in acid content will aggravate dry skin that’s more sensitive than normal skin. However, dry skin also tends to accumulate dead skin cells faster, resulting in a dull and lifeless complexion. The Revive – Natural Skin Refiner (a gentle exfoliator suitable for delicate skin) uses natural plant enzymes to remove dead skin cells, while aloe extracts and natto help hydrate and soothe the skin. It can even be used as a mask for a fresher, brighter complexion.
If I’ve got an acne breakout, it just means that my skin is oily… right?
Acne can be caused by an increase in the overproduction of sebum and bacteria, a lack of moisture, or an accumulation of dead skin cells and dirt in the pores. There’s also a recent study showing that the lack of good bacteria could lead to an acne breakout as well, which is why Porcelain’s Intensive – HA+ Hydrating Serum contains probiotics. So, while they can be associated with oily skin, a handful of adult acne cases can be caused by dry skin as well. It could get worse if the skin suffers from dehydration, as it produces more oil to compensate for this lack of hydration on the skin’s surface. Don’t skip on your serums!
Don’t worry, I’ve got it! Drinking loads of water will keep my skin hydrated.
Hold up: you’ll need sufficient hyaluronic acid in your skin to retain the water “consumed”, as they act like sponges to hold the H20 in, and we lose them as we age. Boost your skin with products rich in hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate, like the Intensive – HA+ Hydrating Serum. It contains a whopping mix of super hydrating ingredients with anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-aging properties to help with cell renewal and retain moisture. Psst… we also heard that regular facials using oxygen hydration or cryo electrophoresis can improve the absorption of moisture and nutrients by up to 90%.
Also, take in high-moisture foods like cucumbers and watermelons, which are said to offer an effective way of keeping your body hydrated. According to Dr Howard Murad of the University of California, Los Angeles and author of ‘The Water Secret’, we absorb water more slowly when we eat water-rich foods, as it’s “trapped” within the structure of these foods. This helps in retaining moisture in our body, which in turn lets us reap its benefits for a longer period.
Giveaway!
Three lucky winners will be walking away with a Porcelain set comprising a Hydro Cleanser, Deep Hydrating Lotion and HA+ Hydrating Serum worth $326 each! All you have to do is fill in the form below…
The giveaway ends on 25 May 2018 and winners will be notified via email.
Check out Porcelain’s full range of products online, or pop on over to any of their outlets to find out more:
Porcelain Face Spa, 15 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089739, p. 6227 9692.
Porcelain Signatures, #01-02 Tanjong Pagar Centre, 7 Wallich Street, Singapore 078884 p. 6386 5388.
Porcelain Origins, 290 Orchard Road, The Paragon #04-48 Singapore 238859 p. 6850 5161
This article is sponsored by Porcelain