A question about dehydrated skin, water intake and make up that disappears

[dudsville]

Context to my question: I have always been dry, even dentists comment. I've always had a lot of water, nothing else quenches my thirst. A few years ago I hit a new bracket, peri dried me up further and had to source new products for skin and hair and I'm constantly researching new products. I recently started using The Ordinary (I know this has been talked about a lot on here but I've only just started using it myself!) and in reading about their products I finally read Caroline Hirron stuff. She said that make up that disappears from the face during the day tends to be a side effect from dehydrated skin and that the skin is taking in the water from the makeup - hence the disappearing.

So, I just googled how much water I should drink and found a site that recommended an ounce for every pound you weigh. I easily drink 2 litres, probably more, but I don't measure it. According to this site I should be drinking 4 to 5. I'm going to measure my intake today.

Has anyone had dehydrated skin and drunk the ounce per pound and found this helped their makeup last?

Water definitely helps. I like juice, coconut water, low sugar cordial all sorts so it doesn't need to be plain. What has made a massive difference is hyrolonic acid. I bring a small bottle with me everywhere and it's great before makeup makeup primer. I use Korean skin care ranges which is less sticky, thinner consistency more hydrating and I use it as a base makeup primer as it also includes SPF in it too.

Please do not drink 5L, that is verging on water intoxication, you will kill yourself.

Have you tried using face oils instead of creams? Maybe that would suit your skin better? I have dry skin and find oils are better for me.

I don’t reckon that drinking much more water will have an impact on your skin if you already drink plenty. 4 to 5 litres a day is excessive (unless you are exercising a lot and it’s very, very hot) you could end up messing up your electrolyte balance and causing other problems. If your pee is light yellow or lighter then you’re drinking enough.

For dehydrated skin I would focus on getting more water into the skin with hyaluronic acid serums (though I actually don’t rate The Ordinary’s one), PHA, and facial mists. Then to prevent water loss during the day use a decent moisturiser, and maybe a facial oil.

Thanks, I've just started using hyaluronic acid, amongst other things. My skin is better but still eating makeup.

My diet is great for treating dry skin and I use balm cleansers and mousitisers, and blue tub nivea, oils, etc.

Has anyone ever taken in water by their weight? It makes sense to me that someone who is 8 stone would have different water needs to that of an 11 stone person.

The top layers of your skin are dead. It doesn't matter how much water you drink, the water isn't going to reach them as they are dead and there is no facility for the water to get pumped into dead skin.

And no, under your system an 8 st person would be drinking 2-3 litres of water - how many litres would a 20 st person be drinking? They would be dead of water intoxication.

You just need a healthy amount of water - 2-3l a day, bearing in mind there is also water in food.

A decent moisturiser and if you like, an acid exfoliator to help get exfoliate all those dead cells.

Obviously fluid requirements do vary by body weight, but what that website is suggesting is far too much. For comparison, the guidelines for prescribing fluids to people in hospital are generally 25-30ml per kg a day (for normal day to day maintenance, in patients who are not obese) and so if my maths is right for you that would be around 1700ml a day. I really wouldn’t aim to drink more than 3 litres a day.

Your skin is probably dry (lack of oil) and dehydrated (lack of water). You should drink a normal amount of water but 5 litres is crazy and will be terrible for your kidneys.

Look into the 7 Skin method. After you cleanse your face you apply 7 thin coats of a hydrating toner, letting them soak in a little in between, then put your serums, creams and oils on top to lock in the moisture.

Try to eat a lot of healthy fat too, so avocados, salmon and other oily fish; they are great for your skin.

Yes, I second PP. Do make sure you have enough omegas in your diet, and not just omega 3 but the correct ratio of 3s, 6s and 9s.

It does sound like your moisture barrier of your skin is damaged. Do you use an occlusive as a final skincare step at night? Something like Vaseline?

And yes, don't drink 5 litres of water, you'll mess up your electrolyte balance and risk seriously harming yourself. An eight stone person doesn't necessarily need less than a twenty stone person. You need water for your body's processes, not its fat stores!

Should have added, what I meant is that water need isn't as simple as just weight, its far, far more complex than that.

Thanks again everyone, yes my diet is good, as suggested above, and I use an occlusive (although I'd only learned that term for it on here a month or back!). I agree it's dry and dehydrated, but my diet and regime counters the dryness.

And use sheet masks. I sleep with them on. I use twice a week and means I don't need to moisurise too much.

I drink litres of water a day, constantly. But without hyalouronic acid my skin gets very dehydrated

You need to apply hyaluronic acid to a damp face and, since your skin is so dehydrated, add another layer of water / hydration over the top before continuing with heavier creams. Hyaluronic acid carries water deep into the skin, but if there's no water there it won't do anything, and can actually dry your skin out more. Use it alongside a Korean style hydrating toner, or a water misting spray.

I read that water goes to your skin last in order of uptake to your organs, so i’m not sure that increasing your water intake drastically will help that much.