The ups and downs of this year’s weather have certainly made it seem like Mother Nature is having some major mood swings. And it isn’t just your wardrobe that’s having a hard time adjusting to 50 degrees one day, 80 degrees the next. Your poor skin just isn’t itself: dry, dehydrated and everything in between. But what is the distinction between dry vs. dehydrated skin?

“It’s important to change skin products based on climate, weather or seasonal changes, so that the skin has a chance to adjust to the temperatures and what they bring with them,” says Tina West, a dermatologist in Chevy Chase, Maryland. “But when the swings are from one day to the next, it’s difficult to prepare the skin by giving it the time it needs to prep for the change.” The result? Skin that’s dry or dehydrated… and yes, there is a difference. Here's what you need to know about the difference between dry vs. dehydrated skin - so you can battle both, and keep skin optimally hydrated no matter what the forecast brings.

When Your Skin Feels Dry, That Means It’s Dry, Right?

Not exactly. "Skin type and skin condition are two different things,” explains West. Your type is how your skin is genetically programmed to be--think oily or dry, and can't be remedied with an over-the-counter skincare product. The condition is the result of climate, environment, habits—and can be temporary or permanent depending upon whether the cause is long-term or not. Skin condition can benefit tremendously from the right skincare products that can tackle the climate-induced issues, like only Pour Moi Skincare products can.

The Condition is What Can Cause Dehydration.

For example, a sudden switch to colder, drier air sucks moisture right out of your skin, so you're more likely to experience dryness and flakiness ( especially if you're prone to eczema or other dry skin issues). While dry skin is lacking in oil, dehydrated skin is lacking in water. Someone with dry skin likely has it everywhere—on their scalp, face, and allover their body. They simply don’t have the oil production to keep skin moist and supple. But someone with dehydrated skin may have the natural ability to produce oil; they may even have naturally oily skin. But, their climate, environment, makeup, wrong skincare product ingredients, or not drinking enough water can make their skin look blah with more prominent wrinkles, while it feels scaly and flaky. Think of how a grape looks when its dehydrated—it’s a raisin. For someone with naturally oily skin, dehydration may even send their oil production into overdrive, causing breakouts.

Weather Swings, and Travel, Can Send Skin into Shock.

Under normal circumstances, transitioning from winter to spring to summer is a gradual process. But crazy weather swings and travel can cause skin to go from one extreme to another in a matter of hours, leaving your complexion scrambling to adjust. Pour Moi climate smart skincare makes up for this lost time by keeping skin balanced in all climate conditions, and easily transitions between the temperature and humidity shifts. A switch to colder weather calls for the Climate Energized Beautifiers (P-CEBs) like Shea Butter and Squalane Oil in the Polar Day Cream, which takes the extremely cold, dry conditions into account to best care for skin. If you are traveling from a temperate or cooler climate to one that is hot and humid, you will likely find yourself sweating a lot more and need to switch from the Temperate Day Cream to the Tropical Day Cream. Excessive humidity in this climate can result in excessive oil production, leading to clogged pores and breakouts - which is why CEBs like Coconut Acid are vital to keeping pores clear and helping excess moisture evaporate off of skin. Even with humidity, high temperatures and sun exposure can leave skin dehydrated, which amps up the oil even more. A lighter moisturizer is needed in this humid environment so skin doesn’t feel overwhelmed by the moisture from the atmosphere, the increased oiliness in the skin, and the hydration from skincare. This is why the Tropical Day Cream gives the skin exactly what it needs to restore balance.

Layering on Hydration Helps to Balance Both Dry, and Dehydrated Skin.

Both skin type, and skin condition, need a multi-layered skincare approach. That's why a 3-step ritual like Pour Moi's is so important to the health of skin and its barrier. Key ingredients like Hyaluronic acid, Glycerin, vitamin A, C and E help to boost hydration and nutrients to skin to keep it radiant, protected and moisturized in all weather elements. Start with using the Hydrating Balancer twice a day to prep skin, balance pH levels, and add a first layer of hydration. Second, nourish and hydrate with a concentrated Serum that delivers high levels of premium ingredients quickly into skin. Finally, select your Day Cream in the morning, or apply your Night Cream before bed, to deliver restorative ingredients to skin as it rests overnight.