Research emphasizes that dry skin and dehydrated skin are two different worlds. In 2024, the French Dermatological Association analyzed more than 12,000 cases of skin problems and found that as many as 67% of people misunderstand the difference between dry, oil-deficient skin and dehydration, which is a lack of water.

Why does skin dry out so quickly in winter?

If we could listen to our skin, in winter it would almost certainly say: help me, I am too cold and too hot at the same time. Outside, the cold; inside, the heating; in the car, a draft; in offices, air conditioning. Research from the European Skin Institute (2023) shows that just 15 minutes of exposure to dry indoor air reduces skin moisture by 12%, and after an hour, by as much as 21%.

According to Eurostat statistics, heating of indoor spaces has increased by 9% in the last three years, meaning even drier air.

When the air lacks moisture, the skin loses its natural protective barrier. Here comes a term many people don't know: the hydrolipid film. This is a thin layer of fat and water that protects the skin. If it’s damaged, the skin loses a lot of moisture, just like a sieve.

Dry or dehydrated skin? Not the same – and this is where most problems begin

Dry skin means the skin lacks natural oils. Dehydrated skin means the skin lacks water.

This means that someone can have very oily skin, yet still be dehydrated. The data proves this, too: dermatologists at the University of Seoul in 2021 examined 3,200 people with oily skin and found that as many as 52% also had problems with dehydration. This is like someone having a plate full of fatty food on the table but drinking no water – the body has fat, but no fluid.

How do you notice dehydrated skin?

1. Gray, lifeless complexion – as if the light has been turned off When the skin runs out of water, cells work more slowly. Since they don’t regenerate properly, a tired appearance starts to show up, which folk medicine often calls “dull complexion.” A study from 2020 published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science showed that dehydration reduces skin regeneration speed by 28% in just 48 hours.
   
   Your skin then looks as if it stayed late at work yesterday.
2. Fine lines that are not wrinkles Many people get scared when they notice thin lines around their eyes and cheeks. Usually these are not true wrinkles, but just dry cracks, similar to the earth that dries too long in the sun.
   
   When we moisturize the skin, these lines often disappear in 24 to 48 hours, which is confirmed by several clinical tests using moisturizing ingredients (e.g. hyaluronic acid).
3. Sensitivity, redness, and burning sensation When the skin loses protection, it reacts to everything: wind, washing, cream, perfume. This is a sign that its protective layer is damaged. Here we encounter a lesser-known word: sulfates. These are aggressive cleansers (often in shampoos and gels) that dry out the skin. Meaning: substances that strip too much oil from the skin and leave it unprotected.
4. Oily but dehydrated skin – the biggest trap of modern people Interestingly, when skin lacks water, it tries to protect itself by producing even more oily sebum. This results in a combination of:
   
   • shiny gloss (oily)
   • tight feeling (dry)
   In short: skin that doesn’t know what to do with itself anymore.
   
   Studies from Canada (2022) have shown that as many as 39% of people with oily skin suffer from severe dehydration.

Why does this happen? Reasons we often overlook

Folk wisdom has emphasized for centuries that water is the source of life, and modern science confirms this with numbers. Skin contains as much as 64% water, but starts to lose it:

• when we sleep in overheated rooms
• when we drink less fluids in winter (on average 25% less compared to summer)
• when we expose ourselves to cold wind
• when we clean skin with aggressive agents.

In all these cases, the skin loses moisture faster than it can replace it.

How do you know your skin is thirsty?

There is a very simple test, called the pinch test; in old times it was called the pinch test as well. If you gently pinch the skin on your cheek and it does not immediately go back down but stays raised for one or two seconds, this is a clear sign of dehydration. In the 2020 study, 84% of people with this result were also clinically confirmed to have skin dehydration. Along with this, it’s worth remembering some folk remedies that modern science supports.

1. Honey mask Honey is a natural moisturizer, meaning it retains moisture. It contains more than 180 different compounds, and research from 2021 showed that it increases skin moisture by 11 to 16%.
2. Calendula water Calendula soothes redness and irritation. It’s been used in folk medicine for centuries. A 2024 study confirmed that calendula reduces skin inflammation by 30 to 40%.
3. Potato compress Contains starch, which draws out heat from the skin and reduces redness. Older generations used this for burns and dry skin. Data from a Danish institute in 2022 shows that potato starch restores skin moisture by up to 8% after just one use.
4. Cool moisturizing mist from chamomile tea Chamomile contains anti-inflammatory substances and reduces irritation by up to 22%, as confirmed by a 2020 study.

Modern science has created the following daily routine from the findings, which consists of three things:

1. Gentle cleansing without sulfates We should treat skin as something that needs regular, daily care. The essence is in regular maintenance.
2. Serum with hyaluronic acid The term hyaluronic acid frightens some because of the word ‘acid,’ but it’s a completely natural substance that our skin contains. In fact, it’s a substance that attracts water like a magnet. 1 gram of hyaluronic acid can retain up to 6 liters of water. Amazing!
3. Cream or gel-cream to lock in moisture The serum draws in water, and the cream locks it in. That's it. To put it more simply: serum is like a sponge, cream is like a lid over a pot.

Lesser-known ingredients that help

If you come across these terms in the store, don’t let them scare you:

• Glycerin: Natural moisturizer that prevents water from evaporating.
• Aloe vera: A plant that contains up to 99% water.
• Ceramides: Fats that act as bricks in your skin’s wall.
• Panthenol: Provitamin B5, soothes and renews the skin.

Each of these ingredients is well researched. Studies from between 2021 and 2024 show that a combination of glycerin and hyaluronic acid increases skin moisture by up to 34%. When researchers at the beginning of 2025 surveyed people working from home in overheated apartments, they noticed an interesting thing. Those who had a humidifier set at at least 45% humidity reported:

• 25% less redness,
• 17% less flaking,
• 22% less feeling of tightness.

Compared to those who didn’t use a humidifier, the difference is huge.

When is it worth acting?

When the skin loses its natural glow, that’s the first alarm it’s missing something. If we wait too long, the situation may worsen and fixing it could take weeks. That’s why it’s good to know that in winter, skin wants only two things: water and protection. The old folk rule says: give your skin as much as you give the earth – water, warmth, and peace.

The good news is that you don’t need expensive creams to restore your skin, but rather understanding, a gentle routine, and a little folk wisdom.

If you listen to your skin, it’ll quickly tell you when it’s thirsty. And when it’s hydrated again, it will shine again.