How to Maintain Your Skin's Water and Oil Balance

Have you woken up to new fine lines and wrinkles, seemingly overnight? Has your skin been extra sensitive or irritated lately? If so, the culprit may be dehydrated skin. To help keep your skin looking and feeling fresh, explore how to spot signs of skin dehydration and replenish your skin barrier with scientifically proven, naturally derived, hydrating skincare from fresh. Smooth, hydrated skin is just around the corner!

Understanding the difference between dry vs. dehydrated skin

While the terms are often used interchangeably, dehydrated skin and dry skin are different. Dry skin refers to skin type and is characterized by a lack of sebum (natural oil) in the skin. This is why, if you suffer from dry skin, you may experience a rough or flaky texture that often feels tight or itchy.

Dehydration, on the other hand, can affect any skin type—even oily skin. Dehydrated skin lacks water, which can lead to dullness, more pronounced fine lines, and the same uncomfortable, tight feeling you get from dry skin. External factors, such as the weather, diet, and lifestyle choices, are common causes of dehydration. Too much time in the sun, a busy schedule, and a lack of sleep can also weaken your skin’s natural resilience, leaving it vulnerable to further skin aggressors.

In short: dry skin is a skin type classified by a lack of oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water and is a condition that can affect any skin type. Proper hydration and care can help alleviate both skincare concerns, but understanding the difference can help you find the right approach.

Hydrated skin is balanced skin

We tend to think of oil and water as incompatible, but your skin needs both to thrive. While water is seen as an essential part of skincare, oil is often perceived negatively. Many see oil as something that will clog pores or add greasiness, but when it comes to a balanced complexion, there is actually a very important reason for oil in skincare.

The natural oil your skin produces helps form a protective barrier that shields it against external pollutants and environmental stressors. It also locks in moisture and prevents your skin from drying out. Proper water levels work in tandem with these natural oils, to maintain the skin’s elasticity and plump look, which minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This balance is key to keeping your complexion youthful and vibrant.

If this balance is thrown off, your skin starts sending distress signals. Too little oil can compromise barrier function, resulting in dryness, flakiness, and increased sensitivity. Conversely, a lack of water usually results in your skin producing too much oil to compensate for the water deficiency, leading to clogged pores and breakouts. When skin’s water and oil levels are balanced, skin is more resilient, better able to protect itself and maintain that coveted glow.

The ultimate treatment routine to combat dehydration

No matter what your specific skin concerns are, it’s essential to incorporate high-quality, hydrating skincare products into your routine. Look for products that strengthen and restore the skin’s moisture barrier without causing irritation. And remember, when introducing anything new to your routine, start slowly to see how they affect your skin.

Cleanse and prep

The first staple product of every skincare routine is a good cleanser. Cleansing morning and night removes makeup, dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin that may cause irritation and lead to dehydration. Our Soy Face Wash gently washes away impurities, leaving skin clean and smooth. Enriched with soy proteins, this gentle formula goes beyond cleansing to reduce visible redness and increase hydration even after you rinse. It maintains the skin’s pH balance, ensuring skin is ready to soak up all the benefits from the rest of your skincare routine.

After cleansing, using a toner can help prepare your skin for a targeted serum treatment. Rose Deep Hydration Toner gently refines pores and removes leftover impurities after you wash your face. Powered by rose fruit extract and hyaluronic acid, it helps attract water molecules to strengthen the skin barrier while retaining moisture.

Treat with targeted serums and essences

Essences and serums are key players in your skincare routine. Start off with our Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence, a powerful prep step formulated to deeply penetrate the skin’s surface for smoother, more luminous skin. This kombucha treatment, enriched with smaller antioxidant molecules, deeply penetrates 20+ surface layers* to protect and visibly repair skin.

To further combat the effects of life stressors that lead to dehydration, follow up with the Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum. Tea Elixir boosts your skin’s resilience to everyday life stressors. It gives you the appearance of smooth, glowing skin and diminished fine lines, with results you can see both instantly and over time. Powered by fresh's proprietary APT Technology—extracted from a tea plant that has survived in harsh conditions against all odds—Tea Elixir fights current dehydration while preventing future skin imbalances.

Seal in hydration with emulsions and moisturizers

Now that your skin has received the benefits of a hydration-focused routine, one last step will seal in all those skin-loving ingredients. Emulsions and moisturizers form the last step in your barrier-strengthening routine. Our new Rose Deep Hydrating Emulsion is a fast-absorbing, milky formula proven to balance oil-water hydration perfectly. This leaves skin deeply hydrated for petal softness without feeling heavy.

If you struggle with extremely dry or dehydrated skin and want to take things even further, consider adding a moisturizer on top of your emulsion. Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream delivers 72-hour deep hydration through a duo of high and low hyaluronic acid molecules. Damask rose extract strengthens the skin’s barrier to lock in moisture and leave skin plump, soft, and hydrated.

Goodbye dehydration, hello petal-soft skin

fresh carries skincare collections for every skin type and concern—from our antioxidant-rich kombucha collection to our detoxifying umbrian clay products. Browse our selection of safe, sensorial body and skincare products to find your new favorite skincare essentials.

*instrumental test, 31 subjects