Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Is Your Skin Dehydrated? Here's An Easy Trick To Find Out

Hannah Frye
Author:
August 19, 2024
Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
By Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
Skin Care
Image by Milles Studio / Stocksy
August 19, 2024
We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.

Contrary to how it may appear on the outside, dry skin is not the same as dehydrated skin—the latter is more of a temporary skin situation, whereas dry skin is classified as a continuous skin type.

So if dryness (read: flaking, tightness, dullness) is an occasional occurrence, you might be experiencing skin dehydration, though it can be pretty confusing to determine which one is which—here's one way to tell.

A trick to identify dehydrated skin

"The best way to determine whether your skin is dehydrated is to gently pinch the skin on the cheek," celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas once told mbg. "If it looks like you have fine lines, you are dehydrated." On the flip side, if your skin is ultra-hydrated from the inside out (more on that next), then your skin should appear supple and firm, holding its shape after it's pinched.

Now, let's say your pinch reveals fine lines (aka, dehydration). What can you do besides drink enough water? Here are a few rapid-fire tips:

Let's pause on that last tip: A lack of bounce and skin elasticity may also be a result of decreased collagen production in the skin. This naturally occurs as you age (starting in your mid-20s) and continues at an average of 1% decline each year1.

Plus, people who experience menopause see a dramatic drop (about 30%) in collagen production during that time, so it's even more important to consider collagen supplementation as you (and your skin) begin to age.

To tend to your collagen production, you may consider adding a hydrolyzed collagen supplement to your routine—here's a curated list of A+ options, straight from a nutrition Ph.D.

The takeaway

One quick way to tell if your skin is dehydrated is the pinch test—pinch your cheek and evaluate whether or not fine lines stick around afterward. To remedy skin dehydration, prioritize replenishing moisture both topically and internally. Add a collagen supplement to your routine for an extra skin-plumping boost—here's why it works, if you want to dive deeper.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Lifestyle
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.