The Skincare Routine You Have To Try If You Have Dehydrated Oily Skin

The skincare market is filled with the next best thing that can promise you miracles, and often, it can be overwhelming to choose between skincare products you need versus the ones you want. You might be tempted to buy the viral skincare product on TikTok but ask yourself- does my skin need it? Jennifer David, a dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology and skin of color dermatology, told Real Simple, "Packaging and popularity are sometimes easy traps that we fall into and shouldn't hold too much weight or value into what we select for what's good for our skin." Instead of giving in to the hype, you should choose products based on your skin type because what works for your friend might not work for you.

Before taking your wallet out to buy a skincare product, it is essential to consider your skin type and your skin concerns, per the Cleveland Clinic. Your skin type could be normal, oily, dry, or a combination, and your skin concerns can be anything from fine lines to acne or puffy eyes. For example, salicylic acid can help reduce and prevent acne if you are prone to it (via Healthline), but if you don't have acne issues, would you still use it just because your favorite celebrity does? Choosing products made for your skin type to tackle your specific skin issues is the most efficient use of skincare for healthier skin. However, your skin type and concerns can also change with age, climate, and lifestyle choices.

The concept of dehydrated, oily skin might sound like an oxymoron because most people think of dry and dehydrated skin as the same thing but oily skin isn't dry, so how can it be dehydrated? While many people use the terms' dry' and dehydrated' interchangeably when it comes to skin, they are two different things. According to Healthline, dehydrated skin is a skin condition and not a skin type. Oily skin is a skin type. Dry and dehydrated skin can have similar symptoms, but dry skin has less natural oils, whereas dehydrated skin has less moisture — and all skin types can get dehydrated.

As celebrity esthetician Aida Bicaj explained to MindBodyGreen, "Oily dehydrated skin is the residue of oiliness on the surface of the skin and then dry underneath in the lower levels of the skin," meaning your skin still looks oily due to natural oils but lacks moisture or hydration. Bicaj adds that when people experience excess oil production, they tend to choose "stripping cleansers, over-exfoliation, and skipping adequate moisture," which leads to skin dehydration that affects your pores to trigger more oil production.

Some people assume oily skin is always hydrated, but "oil does not equal hydration" (via Esmi Skin). It is still important to moisturize dehydrated, oily skin with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalene, and ceramides. They are also prone to dull and irritated skin with more fine lines and the possibility of more breakouts.

Aida Bicaj values the importance of choosing a balancing routine where you can take care of excess oil production while providing adequate hydration to your skin to take care of dehydrated oily skin (via MindBodyGreen). Bicaj recommends choosing a milky cleanser to clean your face without causing additional oil production. MindBodyGreen recommends Cocokind Oil to Milk Cleanser because it removes all dirt and makeup without disturbing your skin's microbiome or stripping it. She recommends using a gentle exfoliating toner to get rid of dead skin while helping hydrating ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin to do their work. 

Meanwhile, Byrdie recommends trying Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner because it combines salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids to unclog pores to let your skin breathe while controlling excess shine.

It is essential to moisturize your skin even if it is oily, as it can help balance the oil production to give you healthy, hydrated, and beautiful skin, per Fancy Correctitude. The outlet recommends choosing an oil-free moisturizer like Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer because it takes care of your skin while "balancing the overall oil production." Not drinking enough water leads to dehydrated skin, too, and you might notice dry patches on your skin or overall dullness (via Medical News Today). To stay hydrated inside and out, make sure not to skip your daily dose of H2O.