The Skin-Quenching Routine for Good Glaze Ahead
February 19 | 4 minute read
Words by Kaylah Joelle Baker
First, it helps to know if your skin is dry or dehydrated (and yes, there’s a difference). Simply put, dry skin lacks oil and is related to your skin type, whereas dehydrated skin lacks moisture (aka, water) because of environmental factors and habits (air-conditioner blasting, too many hot showers, etcetera). The good news: the latter is reversible.
In the case of dehydrated skin, you'll want to pair up with both water-absorbing humectants (such as hyaluronic acid, glycerine, niacinamide and panthenol) and moisture-sealing emollients (such as ceramides and squalane) for dewy, glowy skin that's locked in.
Below, our pick of mists, milks, serums and toners to help you go from dehydrated to glazed.
Mist Opportunity
Packed with Centella asiatica for anti-inflammatory, calming results and our favourites (see above) of niacinamide, panthenol and squalane, this spritz-on-the-go mist is an all-in-one, skin-brightening saviour that knows how to provide hydration – and sustain it.
Also making the list is Summer Fridays Jet Lag Skin Soothing Hydration Mist. Designed for skin that’s giving ‘long-haul flight’ energy, this sheer mist not only leaves your complexion glowing, but also works harder to protect against dehydrating environmental stressors.
Milk It Up
Just as a dry sponge doesn’t pick up water as well as a wet one, the same goes for your skin. If there’s one lesson you should take from this guide, it’s that damp skin allows for better product absorption.
That’s where toners, essences and milks come in. This simple step bestows endless glow and makes your subsequent products absorb even better (read: work harder).
Needing no introduction, Hailey Rhode Bieber’s renowned rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial Essence combines a trio of ceramide ingredients to plump, smooth and calm irritated skin – be it dehydrated or overly sensitive. It’s also multipurpose and can be mixed into your foundation for an added ‘all dew, no shine’ effect.
Set the Right Tone
True to the brand’s innovative ethos, the Ceramidin™ Skin Barrier Serum Toner takes toning into more manageable territory, blending it into a toner-serum hybrid. Infused with Ceramide NP, a skin-identical lipid, it helps strengthen the skin’s natural barrier and improve moisture retention, freeing up time so you can go straight to the moisturising step of your routine.
Seal the Deal
If you identify as an oily skin type with dehydrated skin, you might be hesitant to rely on heavyweight products. Thankfully, Tatcha’s The Dewy Milk Moisturiser is formulated with a dual-action zinc hyaluronate complex to balance excess oil while getting to the root of your initial concern: replenishing hydration for plump, bouncy, glazed-looking skin. It’s a win-win if we’ve ever heard one.
Next, cue a classic: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops™. It's a serum, a finishing step and a foundation mix-in all at once. Packed with niacinamide to support the skin barrier and hyaluronic acid to bind moisture to the skin, the instant gratification is undeniable. Consider it your shortcut to glass skin, in one step.
