The skin is a canvas. While makeup generally evens the skin tone and enhances one's best features, how does a person's natural skin type actually affect this "second skin"?

With the perfect canvas and a good primer, makeup can do wonders to transform someone into their most alluring selves. Unfortunately, it can also do damage to the skin if applied under trying conditions. If you struggle with naturally dry and dehydrated skin, this could prevent your makeup from layering properly, produce cakey results and reduce the long-lasting effect sought after from makeup.

Whilst natural skin dehydration already impacts makeup application, suffering from dry sensitive skin can bring an added level of complexity, due to heightened sensitivity to certain active ingredients commonly found in both makeup and skincare such as parabens and sulphates. Thus, what you feed to the skin daily plays a very crucial role when it comes to finding a beauty and makeup regime that suits your lifestyle.

Too much, or not enough?

Signs of dehydrated skin can appear in the form of itchiness, scaly skin, lack of radiance, under-eye circles or sunken eyes, and tightness or lack of elasticity. If you experience any of these symptoms, incorporating hydrating skincare products into your daily routine is essential for treating naturally dry skin.

It is observed that when skin begins to flake or peel, or fine lines become more noticeable, the common conclusion is that this is due to sun damage and ageing. As such, some people may be tempted to overcompensate by layering different hydrating or moisturising skincare products on the tender dry skin to alleviate its cry for hydration, before slathering on sunscreen and completing the routine with makeup to compensate for the appearance of irritation or dullness caused by the dehydration.

Unfortunately, trying to cover up the dehydration only makes things worse. When dry and dehydrated skin is overexposed to environmental and chemical damages, the skin further loses its ability to retain much-needed moisture, which perpetuates a never-ending cycle of frustration over dry skin, which in some cases, can evolve into developing other symptoms related to sensitive skin. With so much at stake, how should one begin finding the best products for hydration, that also translates into the best products for dry and dehydrated skin?

Identifying the Best Solution for Dry Skin

Clean Beauty

It is recommended to always look at the ingredients found in cosmetics or skincare items before adding them to your basket. While it may be time-consuming to look for a hydrating skincare range that is both effective and gentle enough for sensitive skin, the main ingredients to avoid are harsh acids (e.g. AHA/BHA), astringents and other irritants such as alcohol, fragrances, parabens, sulphates and chemical preservatives.

Hyaluronic Acid

Instead, look for skincare products that include low molecular Hyaluronic Acid as a key ingredient, which enables the product to be fully absorbed faster by the skin and maintain hydration levels, leaving no sticky residue on the surface of the skin.

Prebiotics

Hydrating serums and moisturisers consisting of Prebiotics will help the skin maintain a stable and balanced microbiome, defending your largest organ from top to toe against bad bacteria and achieve healthier looking skin, with a general reduction of redness, inflammation, wrinkles, and other signs of ageing skin.

Squalane

Sugarcane-derived Squalane is another important ingredient to look out for in moisturisers, as Squalane mimics the skin's natural oils to keep it from losing hydration. It also acts as an antioxidant and helps to protect the skin from UV rays that contribute to dry and aged-looking skin. Likewise, plant-derived Trehalose is an active ingredient which acts as a protectant against UV rays and high salinity, helping to further reduce moisture loss in parched dehydrated skin.

Hydrating Masks

Incorporating hydrating masks within your regular skincare routine can also aid to repair and restore tired skin. It is recommended to use masks with plant-derived Saccharide Isomerate, a moisture-binding ingredient proven to relieve itching on dry sensitive skin which can also easily provide up to 72 hours of deep nourishment and moisture with regular use.

When it comes to cosmetics, being diligent with cleansing and moisturising skincare products used before makeup application helps to create a smoother base, and prevents natural skin oils from breaking down the product being applied. Additionally, using a high-quality primer suited to one's skin type also helps to create a barrier layer between the skin and cosmetics applied, which helps makeup to last longer.

While selecting the right type of makeup suited to your skin type is important, the best foundation is nurturing supple healthy skin to create the perfect canvas for long-lasting makeup to sit on in the first place.

Recommended Products for Dry and Dehydrated Skin