Hydrator vs Moisturizer: What’s the Difference? How to Choose the Best Product for Your Skin Type

Hello Beautiful! In the skincare world, there are many different products to choose from. Each one is used to treat a myriad of skin concerns, from producing too much oil to preventing wrinkles or even helping to enhance your natural glow.

Every product has a different function and name, for example, a cleanser is meant to remove dirt, makeup, excess oil, and other impurities from the face.

So, when it comes to products with names so similar, like hydrators and moisturizers, is there really a difference?

There definitely is!

Although moisturizers and hydrators are often used interchangeably, they are meant for separate skin concerns.

Moisturizers aid in treating dry skin, while hydrators can help dehydrated skin. Though this sounds like the same thing, they are very different.

Let’s talk about how these products treat these skin concerns and how to tell if your skin is dry, dehydrated, or both dry and dehydrated – yes that’s a thing.

We will also get into the real difference between hydrators and moisturizers, so the advertisers will no longer fool you with their misleading language.

Bonus, I have included my favorite moisturizers and hydrators to get you started on your search. Are you ready to dive in?

Is Your Skin Dry or Dehydrated?

You probably came to this article because you noticed that your skin was feeling and looking dry/dehydrated.

Well, the initial step in choosing the correct product is investigating if you have dry or dehydrated skin. It is like being Sherlock Holmes for your face.

First, let’s quickly talk about what is dry skin and dehydrated skin.

What is Dry Skin?

Dry skin is a skin type that is caused by a lack of sebum, also known as oil. The skin becomes dry if it is unable to produce an adequate amount of natural oils that are necessary to retain moisture on the skin.

This can occur due to genetics, hormones, environmental factors, or age. It is common for elderly people to develop dry skin. As we grow older, our skin is unable to hold as much moisture.

You may notice that you have dry skin on other areas of your body, not just on your face, such as your scalp, legs, and hands.

Those with dry skin are more susceptible to early signs of aging. Sensitivity is also more common for those with dry skin. This is because the natural oils that our body produces help to act as a natural barrier against environmental stressors.

The natural barrier that protects skin is known as the lipid barrier.

Lipid Barrier

The lipid barrier is essential to your skin’s health. It is what keeps the moisture and other good stuff in, and the bad stuff out.

Lipids are a chemical molecule or compound that is not soluble in water. There are various types of lipids, such as fatty acids.

Lipids are an essential component of skin cell communication. They create the barrier that binds the skin cells together.

Lipids make up a large percent of the skin cell membrane, making them essential to protect against external stressors, such as sun damage.

The lipid barrier is the outermost layer of the skin that provides further protection against environmental stressors and other external irritants that could potentially cause irritation, sensitivity, or damage. The lipid barrier also aids in helping your skin hold water and moisture.

When the lipid barrier is strong and working properly, it keeps the skin feeling soft, balanced, and healthy. You can tell if your lipid barrier is intact because your skin will feel smooth, and look refreshed.

When a lipid barrier is damaged small cracks are created on the skin that are not visible to the naked eye. These cracks allow moisture to escape and make it easier for irritants to enter.

Signs of a damaged lipid barrier include skin sensitivity, tightness, dryness, redness, dehydration, and flaking. Water loss is more likely when the lipid barrier is damaged, which can lead to dehydrated skin.

Lipid damage can occur if you have dry skin or dehydrated skin.

What is Dehydrated Skin?

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition that is caused by a lack of water content in the skin. The technical term for dehydrated skin is transdermal water loss.

Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin is considered a skin condition and not a skin type.

Dehydrated skin isn’t always consistent. Someone with dehydrated skin may have symptoms of dehydrated skin one day and then have their skin feel normal the next. This is because of the many factors that can cause dehydrated skin. These factors include your diet, environment, skincare, makeup, lack of sleep, caffeine, and other factors that could damage your skin’s moisture barrier.

Although dehydrated skin lacks water and may seem dry, the skin can still produce oil. That means that dehydrated skin may occur with any skin type.

It is possible to feel oily and dehydrated at the same time. Sometimes the body will overproduce oil to attempt to balance the lack of hydration in your skin.

Dehydrated skin is more common than dry skin since there are many different reasons for it to occur.

Using a hydrator replenishes water and hydration to the skin.

To maintain water in the skin and keep it hydrated you need lipids. This means that your skin needs to be producing enough natural oils on its own or replenishing oils from moisturizers. This means that if you have dry skin, you are more susceptible to having dehydrated skin as well.

Do You Have Dry or Dehydrated Skin?

The confusion between dry and dehydrated skin still stems from their similar appearances. At first glance, both skin issues seem to be the same. They both may feel uncomfortable, itchy, tight, and you may notice your complexion is dull. Both usually result in flaking of the skin as well.

Although there are some things that are similar about dry and dehydrated skin, they do each have their own unique characteristics.

TIP: Exfoliation once a week is great for both dry and dehydrated skin. When the dead skin begins to build up on your face, it not only dulls your complexion but also prevents skincare products from doing their job! If you want to get the most out of your products and the skin-nourishing ingredients they are filled with, be sure to exfoliate once a week. Just be sure not to over-exfoliate and irritate or dry out your skin. Here is a video about how to exfoliate correctly.

Do I Have Dry Skin?

There are a few clear signs that you have dry skin. One is the way that your skin feels. Dry skin can feel very uncomfortable and taut. Although both skin issues are prone to flakes, dry skin usually has more noticeable flaking.

Also, if you have dry skin, you will typically have medium to small pores, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Due to the lack of oil production, the follicles do not have a chance to stretch out the pores.

Minimal breakouts are also common for those with dry skin. Oil is one of the fundamental causes of acne. Even if you have had acne when you were younger, your skin type may have changed as you have become older.

Having the occasional hormonal breakout is normal, even for those with dry skin, as that is a different type of blemish that can occur at any age for any skin type.

There is another way to tell if you have dry skin for those that have medium to deep skin tones. Dry skin can make these darker complexions appear ashy due to the lack of oil.

You may also see that your makeup will stick to very dry patches. Your foundations may appear flat and cakey, due to the lack of natural oils on your skin.

TIP: When purchasing foundations look for the words moisturizing, hydrating, glowing, and illuminating. These foundations will not be as drying and will give you a dewy finish.

The lack of oil also makes those with dry skin more prone to sensitive skin. Sensitivity may lead to inflammation that could cause a biochemical reaction. This reaction may lead to collagen and elastin breakdown in your skin, which takes a toll on your youthful appearance.

This is because the natural oils that your skin produces act as a natural barrier to protect your skin from environmental stressors.

Dry skin produces little to no oil and does not retain water or moisture easily. Without oil or lipids, the applied water will evaporate and take any existing moisture in the skin with it.

Remember, dry skin is a skin type and occurs due to environmental changes, hormones, or genetics. This means there is no “quick fix” to dry skin. Don’t let that frustrate you. There are still plenty of moisturizers that are meant to aid in repairing your skin and helping you to look refreshed and healthy.

Do I Have Dehydrated Skin?

Figuring out if you have dehydrated skin is as easy as noticing some tell-tale signs. Dehydrated skin can happen to any skin type, making it possible to have dehydrated oily, combination, dry, sensitive, or normal skin.

For example, if you notice your skin is oily and flaky, this is because your skin is dehydrated. Your body is trying to hydrate your skin by producing more sebum/oil since it is not retaining enough water.

It is also common for those with acne-prone skin to have dehydrated skin, due to the harsh products used to fight acne. This is why it is important to treat your skin with care and choose products with ingredients that won’t strip your skin of its protective barrier.

Tight skin that is shiny without any noticeable oil present is another sign of dehydrated skin.

A few other characteristics of dehydrated skin include scaly texture, exaggerated fine lines, pronounced wrinkles, amplified dark circles, and you may even notice new temporary “wrinkles” appearing.

A good test to tell if your skin is dehydrated is to look in the mirror and pinch your cheeks. If you notice that your skin gently wrinkles as you let it go, your skin is probably dehydrated and it is time to treat it with a high-quality hydrator.

TIP: Adding a hydrating mask to your weekly routine can help to balance your dehydrated skin.

(If you are having trouble determining your skin type or condition on your own, you may want to consider seeing a dermatologist.)

How to Treat Dry and Dehydrated Skin

Now that you know how to decipher what your skin is going through, you may be wondering how to treat it.

Well, that is where moisturizers and hydrators come in. Each of these products is meant to treat or aid in treating these skin concerns. But what exactly does each one do?

What Does A Moisturizer Do?

These products work more topically, unlike hydrators that work deep within the skin. 

A moisturizer will help to “trap” your skin’s natural oils and maintain a healthy balance. The ingredients will stay on top of the skin to form a protective layer that dry skin cannot naturally produce, as it does not create enough lipids to form a barrier on its own.

Products meant for dry skin are made with emollient ingredients. Emollients are moisturizing components that soften and smooth the skin. Just keep in mind, emollients do not penetrate as deep when compared to humectants.

Moisturizers are typically formulated with at least 25% of various oils, to help maintain a healthy barrier on the skin. They are also usually oil or cream-based and filled with additional nutrient-rich oils.

TIP: Have dry skin? Try adding healthy fats into your diet. Foods like salmon, avocado, coconut oil, and olive oil can help your skin become more moisturized.

What Does a Hydrator Do?