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Do you have dry skin or is your skin dehydrated? Yes, there’s a difference and each condition has its own underlying causes.
Dry skin is a skin type, but dehydrated skin is a condition anyone can experience regardless of skin type.
The main difference between the two conditions is that dry skin lacks oil while dehydrated skin lacks water.
Symptoms of dry skin include inflammation and itchiness as well as patchy skin that feels rough.
Dehydrated skin on the other hand starts to look dull and feel tight. Other dehydrated skin symptoms include roughness to touch, the appearance of fine lines and in mature skin, the accelerated signs of aging such as sagging and deep wrinkles.
It’s important to know that not all dehydrated skin is dry, although the loss of moisture can lead to loss of oil, making the skin dry.
The two conditions share some visible characteristics so treating dehydrated skin symptoms can also be a dry skin treatment.
This is what the new REN EverHydrate promises to address. It is here to fix dehydrated skin fast.
REN EverHydrate launched online at the end of March but we were lucky to receive it 6 weeks prior for a try. Here’s what you need to know.
Skincare experts generally agree the best way to treat dehydrated skin is to ‘flood’ it with hydration and to support its natural barrier so it can retain moisture.
In this quest, the REN EverHydrate duo vows to be the dehydrated skin products thirsty skin has been waiting for.
The two-product collection – REN EverHydrate Marine Moisture Restore Serum and Marine Moisture Replenish Cream is formulated with water retention technology and algae extracts that penetrate deep into the layers of the skin to tackle the root causes of skin dehydration, leaving it soft and radiant for longer.
Trial period: 6 weeks
Tested for: Ability to hydrate skin, restore moisture after loss of water and ability to keep skin smooth, soft, and plump.
These two products were tested on a combination skin that gets dehydrated occasionally due to long periods in the pool or rough and patchy skin caused by sleeping with the central heating on.
REN EverHydrate Marine Moisture Replenish Cream
Powered by algae extracts to infuse skin with moisture, this cream contains freshwater microalgae that improves the skin’s barrier so it can protect itself against dehydration.
It also contains Hyaluronic acid and Polyglutamic acid, both of which penetrate deep into the layers of the skin to hydrate and lock in moisture, and finally Freshwater plant that also hydrates skin and targets the visible signs of aging caused by dehydration.
According to REN’s own clinical trials, this moisture cream instantly repairs the skin’s barrier and hydrates up to 48hrs after each use. Based on the ingredients – all hydration powerhouses in skincare, one may be tempted to think this cream is an overkill but there’s no such thing as over-hydrated skin so we love it. In fact, we think the more moisture the better, if glowing skin is the end result. Texture wise, it’s slightly thicker than the Moisture Restore Serum and takes a few minutes to penetrate the skin.
It feels cool when applied and has a faint marine smell. It’s noticeable but not strong enough to bother people who prefer fragrance-free skincare products.
REN EverHydrate Marine Moisture Restore Serum
This is a serum for dehydrated skin and the key ingredients bear this out. Freshwater algae and Hyaluronic acid work together to hydrate and plump skin, Green caviar algae continuously replenish loss of moisture and hydrates skin so it looks healthy and Wild Rosella targets the root cause of dehydration while infusing skin layers with moisture for up to 72hrs.
The serum is gel-like in texture and lightweight which means it gets absorbed very easily and quickly. Usually, a few pumps are enough to cover the entire face and neck.
It was used right after cleansing but it works well after toning too.
It leaves skin matte dry after application which is good evidence of how quickly it seeps into the skin’s layers. It’s also fragrance-free.
Based on how both products are formulated they work in tandem to keep skin hydrated round the clock. The serum hydrates and holds moisture deep within skin cells whilst the moisture cream also hydrates but holds moisture on the skin’s surface so every inch is protected.
Verdict
Both products are easy to use and slide easily into any skincare routine. It was used daily and it did a good job of keeping skin hydrated. It was soft and supple the entire time which is proof that the skin barrier is healthy and had all the moisture it needed.
The proof of the potency of REN EverHydrate was obvious especially after every swim session (3 times a week). Where dry patches disappeared almost immediately after applying both serum and moisture cream.
As dehydrated skin products go, REN EverHydrate can be added to the holy grail. Although we’d argue it’s not just for dehydrated skin, all skin types will benefit from the barrier protection and hydration it provides.
It gets 5 stars because it does exactly what it says on the bottle.
REN EverHydrate is available now on the REN website and will be available at all beauty retailers from 13th April.
