There is no denying it, the seasonal transitions are arguably one of the most moisture depleting factors for our skin. For most (if not all), we usually experience a dry, itchy, and less-than-luminous complexion.

Commonly mistaken as “dry skin”, dehydration can attack any skin type including dry, normal, and even oily. While somewhat similar, “dry skin” is a skin type that lacks oil and can bounce back with the right moisturizing products, while dehydrated skin is a skin condition that lacks water at the cellular level and can cause you to experience other problems like acne and irritation. It is important to differentiate between the two before treating, as one requires moisturizing and the other requires hydrating.

When skin is dehydrated, it creates more oil to make up for the missing water. This can cause extra oil, breakouts, irritation, dry patches, and skin can even feel oily and dry at the same time. When you hydrate your skin you are increasing its water content in your skin cells, which results in a healthy, flawless complexion.

To maintain healthy flawless looking skin, even through the colder seasons, follow these tried-and true tips:

1. Drink up: Drinking enough water is key to beautiful flawless skin. It not only hydrates, but also gets rid of waste and toxins, which are the main cause of dull skin. You want to make sure you are getting enough water, especially when faced with some of the most common dehydration culprits like alcohol, caffeine, salty foods, and tobacco. A couple tips and tricks to add extra hydration and delight to your water include infusing it with frozen berries or fresh cucumber slices, and mixing some fresh fruit juice in like lemon or watermelon.

2. Hydrate-Proof Your Skincare Regimen: Since you want to bind water to your skin it is important to incorporate a hydrating serum concentrate, even if you are using a moisturizer. One thing to make sure of in your hydrating serum is that it contains a humectant and lipid (facial oil). This combination creates a healthy sebum balance within the skin.

3. Turn Down The Temp: While hot baths and showers may keep you warm during the colder seasons, they can also dry you out. Hot water actually breaks down the lipid barrier in your skin and makes it easier for your skin to lose its moisture. Use lukewarm water to prevent parched skin.

4. Add hydrating ingredients: Immediately after exfoliating, bathe your skin with a hydrating mask containing hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body and is absorbed deeply. Aloe is another key ingredient that promotes skin hydration. Pick products that use aloe vera juice as a base. Saturating your skin with the extra dose of natural, organic moisturization soothes, calms and replenishes skin.

5. Do No Harm: Dehydrated skin can cause irritation and inflammation which are both bad for skin--really, really bad. To make matters even worse is if you are using ingredients such as fragrance and preservatives, which are known as the two main causes of skin irritations according to the academy of dermatology. Make it a safety rule to always check the ingredients in your skin care products. More and more doctors believe that women are suffering from highly toxic skincare, some of these poisons being directly linked to eczema, asthma, dermatitis and cancer.