Hey man, your face is snowing.
Dry skin isn’t sexy, and if your skin is dry, it can seriously mess up your game. Skin that is dry and irritated is more than just itchy, flaky, and snowy. It can be super uncomfortable and, if left untreated, become a more serious condition that is hard to remedy.
It’s crucial to your skin (and to every black shirt you own) that you take care of your skin and keep it properly hydrated. Drinking a ton of water can definitely help keep you hydrated, but your skin needs more.
The homies at Disco know men’s skin and know what works to hydrate it well and keep it moisturized all day. Even if your skin is oily or normal, your skin needs hydration. Taking care to keep your skin properly moisturized will pay you dividends long term.
We’ll talk about signs and symptoms your skin isn’t properly hydrated, what could be causing it, and what you can do to fix it.
Is Your Skin Dehydrated?
Your skin doesn’t necessarily feel dry. In fact, you might even have a few oily patches. Does this mean your skin is properly (or even overly) hydrated? No.
Dehydration can make your skin go haywire. Here are some of the signs your skin might be more than just a little dry.
It’s Oily
If your skin is dehydrated, it can send a message to your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (the oil that lubricates your skin). Your sebaceous glands then kick it into overdrive producing more oil, which can make your skin oily and even result in pore-clogging blemishes.
You may experience oily skin all over your face or only in patches. Your go-to solution has probably been to wash your face more and/or use products to dry your skin -- big mistake. If your skin is dehydrated, that can actually make the situation worse.
It’s Irritated
Dehydration can also make your skin irritated. Your skin might not feel dry, but it can be itchy, irritated, and develop red patches that look similar to a rash. Unless you have a known skin condition, your skin is likely just begging for some hydration.
It’s important to make sure the products you use to hydrate your skin also contain an array of soothing ingredients so that your skin doesn’t become even more irritated. Some products contain harsh chemical ingredients that can make irritated, damaged skin even more inflamed.
Your Skin Looks Dull
Dark circles under your eyes, lips that are drawn and look puckered, and skin that just has an overall dull, lackluster look can all be signs of dehydration. When your skin isn’t properly hydrated, your skin cells can’t do their job properly. This means cellular turnover is happening at a much slower rate than it normally would.
Slower cellular rejuvenation equals skin that looks older, visibly dull, and can even take on a sickly pallor.
What’s Causing Your Skin to be Dehydrated?
Your skin is definitely dehydrated, but what’s causing it to be so dry and pruny? There are several reasons why your skin might not be retaining moisture properly.
YOU are Dehydrated
The most obvious reason why your skin might be lacking moisture is that your whole body is! You should be drinking enough water to keep your skin hydrated and keep your body functioning properly, or approximately 15.5 cups of water a day.
If you’re hitting the gym more, taking a sweaty hot yoga class, or if you work outdoors, you should increase that number to account for water loss through sweating.
The Season
Believe it or not, the weather makes a huge difference in how your skin retains moisture, and your skin can become dehydrated in summer just as easily as it can in the winter.
In the summer, your skin is exposed to extreme temperatures, which causes you to sweat and lose moisture. You’re also exposed to indoor air conditioning systems that leech moisture out of the air and keep your skin drier.
This exposure can make your skin feel dry and irritated. Couple it with a little too much sun exposure, and you’ve got a recipe for skin that is dry, dehydrated, and uncomfortable.
Winter is harsh on skin due to the dry conditions outdoors, and the use of heating systems indoors. Same concept as summer, but different temps. It’s more likely your skin will become dry and dehydrated during the winter, which is why you probably experience conditions like chapped lips more when it’s chilly outside.
You Aren’t Taking Care of Yourself
Not getting enough sleep, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, too much caffeine, and a crappy diet can all have a negative effect on your skin’s moisture levels.
Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, which means they work to remove water from your body. If you’re drinking a lot of either, aim to drink water in between drinks or cups of coffee to make up for the lost fluid.
Not getting enough sleep and eating a poor diet have a cumulative effect on your skin. Your skin doesn’t get the nutrients and restorative rest it needs, so your skin’s cells don’t function properly.
Smoking can expose your skin to toxins that damage it and make it less elastic and unable to retain moisture as it should.
Your SkinCare Products Are All Wrong
The skin care products you used as a child aren’t effective for you as an adult. If you’re still using drying bar soap and water, that could definitely be your issue.
Alternatively, if you’ve started using higher quality products but are still having issues, the ingredients in your products could be causing your skin to be dry. Products that contain harsh chemicals, especially anti-aging products, can leave your skin stripped of moisture (which FYI makes your skin look much older than it actually is).
The solution? You need better skin care, man.
How to Hydrate Your Skin at Home
Repeat after us: your skin needs moisture -- even if it’s oily. Every product you use on your skin should help your skin retain moisture and stay hydrated, from your cleanser to your moisturizer (and yeah, you should be using both).
Not sure where to start? We’ve got your back. Here’s how you can hydrate your skin at home in just three easy steps.
Cleanse, Don’t Strip
Your skin gets dirty. You need to clean it. What you don’t need is a harsh cleanser that completely strips your skin of its natural moisture. Disco’s Charcoal Face Cleanser Stick contains charcoal to help remove dirt and oil and hydrating coconut oil to keep your kisser super smooth and deeply hydrated.
Skin stays hydrated, and stripping remains a vague detail of your Vegas vacation.
Exfoliate
Your skin is covered with a layer of dead skin cells. Exfoliating gently removes those dead skin cells to reveal newer, healthier skin. It also prepares your skin for other products, like moisturizer.
If you apply moisturizer without regular exfoliation, you’re essentially matting down the dead skin on top of your new skin, which is useless and pretty disgusting.
Disco’s Exfoliating Face Scrub contains gentle exfoliants that remove dead skin, dirt, and oil without damage or irritation. It also contains apricot oil, which soothes and hydrates your skin to keep it quenched.
Use a Powerful Moisturizer
If you’re using the right moisturizer, you only need to apply it twice a day, and your face should feel comfortable and hydrated in between applications. If you feel the constant need to reapply, your moisturizer needs upgrading.
Disco’s Hydrating Face Moisturizer is the perfect solution. Our moisturizer contains all-natural hydrating ingredients and zero toxins or harsh chemicals which could irritate or dry out your skin. It’s the perfect way to complete your skin care routine.
Our moisturizer contains super hydrating vitamin E and macadamia nut oil, which are also great antioxidants and can help protect your skin from fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E also helps condition your skin, keeping it smooth and soft and improving your skin’s overall texture.
The Bottom Line
Your skin can be dehydrated and dry for numerous reasons, but using harsh products can make the situation worse. The best way to keep your skin hydrated is to make sure you’re taking care of yourself and use products that hydrate your skin properly.
Disco’s skin care is formulated to meet the specific needs of men’s skin. Our entire line of products has been created to work synergistically with the pH balance of a man’s skin, which means it works when other products you’ve tried don’t.
Your skin might be flaky, but Disco’s hydration products aren’t. Level up your skin care and regain your black shirt confidence.
Sources:
"Water: How much should you drink every day?” (mayoclinic.org)
