Is your skin dry AND oily? Try this…

What an unfair and confusing contradiction to suffer from both dry and oily skin but it’s a very common skin issue. If your skin wavers high on both the greasy and rough scale you probably blame this harsh reality on genetics — or just bad luck. Using the wrong products for your skin type can cause imbalance, resulting in dehydrated (not dry) skin and revved up oil glands. Not sure how to bring comfort to your moody skin? I’ve got the solution here… 

Stop calling your skin dry.

Dry skin lacks the ability to produce oil so if your skin feels dry but looks oily, your skin is actually dehydrated. When our skin is dehydrated it can feel tight and itchy but will appear oily. This unfortunate phenomenon occurs because when skin isn’t properly moisturized oil glands will start pumping out sebum to protect the skin’s barrier. The result is a shiny complexion that still feels parched.

Check your face wash.

A common culprit of dehydrated skin is face wash. Harsh cleansers formulated to fight oil and acne can be too aggressive for many of us and can actually cause more harm than good. Sulfates (a standard ingredient in many soaps and cleansers) are added to suck up oil on the skin but also strip skin of moisture. Switch your current cleanser with a gentle but deep cleansing wash like Yon-Ka’s Gel Nettoyant. Formulated without Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, this gel cleanser purifies skin and removes makeup without dehydrating.

Be conscious when cleansing.

Cleansing with the right wash is important, and so are the steps you take immediately after. When dealing with dehydrated skin it’s imperative to tone and moisturize right after you wash your face. When you wait too long, you miss the perfect window for delivering hydration to skin. Letting skin “breathe” can actually cause dehydration so reach for your toner as soon as you finish cleansing and immediately follow with a moisturizer.

Moisturize with the right ingredients.

Like dry skin, dehydrated skin requires moisture but not the same kind. Dry skin benefits from emollients like beeswax and olive oil found in Yon-Ka’s Creme PS, but dehydrated skin needs humectants like hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid helps to treat dehydration, and when used in a light formula like Yon-Ka’s HYDRA N°1 Fluide it’s an ideal solution for oily skin.

Address seasonal dehydration.

If cold weather causes your skin to start acting strange it could be due to the drop in moisture. Prevent this seasonal skin woe by using a humidifier while you sleep. Rather than the dry air pulling moisture from your skin, the humidifier will encourage moisture to stay put. During the night your skin is also the most permeable so applying a moisturizer and cuddling up with your humidifier will allow your skin to restore and replenish. Beauty rest at its finest!