This article is a translation of the original French article “Peau sèche ou peau déshydratée en hiver : comprenez enfin vos tiraillements” and is intended for the French market. Treatments, availability and prices may differ at our London clinic.
Skin type or temporary condition: the real distinction
Confusing dry skin with dehydrated skin remains one of the most common mistakes in skincare. Dry skin is a skin type, a permanent genetic characteristic. It structurally produces too little sebum and therefore lacks the essential fatty acids needed to fulfil its protective barrier function.
Dehydration, on the other hand, is a temporary skin condition that concerns water, not oil. It can affect every skin type without exception, including combination and oily skin. Skin can therefore shine on the T-zone while feeling tight on the cheeks due to a lack of water.
Why winter disrupts the balance of your skin
The arrival of the first cold spells considerably weakens our outer barrier. Constant temperature contrasts between icy outdoor air and overheated interiors accelerate what experts call transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Faced with wind and frost, skin microcirculation slows down to preserve heat at the body’s core. The sebaceous glands secrete fewer lipids, making the intercellular cement more porous. Water then evaporates faster than it can be retained, creating a vicious circle of discomfort and sensitivity.
How to recognise what your face really needs
To adjust your routine wisely, it is worth closely observing how your skin behaves over the course of the day. The signals your skin sends never lie, as long as you know how to read them.
The signs of skin lacking water
Dehydrated skin readily shows expression lines. Fine lines appear on the forehead or around the eyes when you smile, and the face visibly lacks bounce. Make-up tends to slide or be “drunk up” by the skin by midday. Tightness usually occurs just after cleansing with hard water, then fades if your skincare brings freshness.
The markers of skin lacking lipids
Dry skin feels rough to the touch and shows visible flaky patches, particularly around the nose and on the cheekbones. Tightness is constant from morning to night, accompanied by an overall feeling of tautness. Pores are particularly tight and the skin never shines naturally, even at the end of the day.
In clinic: restoring deep hydration with Hydrafacial
When the skin’s defences are compromised, creams applied at home sometimes stay on the surface. To restore skin receptiveness, the Hydrafacial method offered in Innerskin centres provides an ideal all-round reset at the change of season.
This gentle technology combines mechanical exfoliation by suction with the simultaneous infusion of highly concentrated active complexes. By removing the dead cells that dull the complexion without ever aggressing the skin, it deeply quenches the tissues with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. The result is immediate: the skin regains its plumped-up appearance, its natural glow and lasting suppleness.
At home: a tailored pairing to repair and quench
The key to a serene winter lies in a smart synergy: bringing water where it is lacking, then rebuilding the lipid shield to seal in this precious reserve.
Hydrating HA Complex Serum to replenish water reserves
First and foremost, the skin’s thirst needs quenching. The Hydrating HA Complex Serum contains different sizes of hyaluronic acid to target both the surface and the deeper layers of the epidermis simultaneously. Applied morning and evening to slightly damp skin, it floods the cells with water, smooths dehydration lines and recreates the plump cushion characteristic of healthy skin.
Mesotides Age Recovery Cream to seal in and regenerate
To stop this water from evaporating in the winter wind, it is essential to strengthen the skin barrier. The Mesotides Age Recovery Cream provides the repairing lipids and biomimetic peptides needed to restore the hydrolipidic film. It nourishes without weighing down, stimulates the natural processes of cell regeneration and shields the skin from harsh weather throughout the day.
