What do I do about dehydrated skin?

How Can My Skin Be Dehydrated When It’s So Humid Outside?

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror mid-summer and wondered, “Why does my skin feel dry and tight when the air is thick with humidity?”—you’re not alone. It’s a common (and frustrating) experience. On the surface, humidity seems like it should be your skin’s best friend, but the truth is: hydrated skin starts from within, and summer comes with sneaky dehydrators you may not even realize are affecting you.

Let’s break it all down.

First: What Is Dehydrated Skin?

Dehydrated skin is lacking water, not oil. So even if you’re oily and it's humid outside, your skin can still be thirsty. Dehydrated skin looks like a dull sheen on your skin, it can flake, and when you pinch it, it appears like parchment paper. Dehydrated skin feels like tightness. Dehydrated skin can even cause acne. Once skin is dehydrated it will try to protect itself by producing more oil, but since it is dehydrated, the oil will not be as viscous, which means it will get trapped in your pores much easier.

What’s Drying You Out in the Middle of Summer

1. Air Conditioning

Sweet, sweet relief… and one of the worst culprits for your skin. AC units pull moisture from the air and your skin, drying you out while you sleep or work. You may not feel it immediately, but it adds up.

2. Sun Exposure

That golden glow might feel good in the moment, but UV exposure weakens the skin barrier, increases transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and leaves skin more vulnerable to dehydration—even if you’re sweating.

3. Sweat + Humidity

Ironically, sweat isn’t hydrating—it’s a loss of water and electrolytes. High humidity makes you sweat more, and if you’re not replenishing what you’re losing (especially potassium), your skin can pay the price.

4. Medications

Antihistamines, allergy meds, antidepressants, and even some acne medications can reduce internal moisture levels. They dry up sinuses—and your skin.

Hydration Starts from the Inside Out

True hydration doesn’t come from a bottle—it can only come from your bloodstream. Your skin receives water after your essential organs are taken care of, so if you’re low on fluids or electrolytes, your skin will absolutely feel it.

What Helps:

Water-Rich Foods: Think cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries, celery, leafy greens, and zucchini. These provide hydration in a bioavailable, slow-release way your body loves.

Electrolyte Balance: Your body needs the right ratio of potassium to sodium to hold onto water. Coconut water (unsweetened), mineral-rich broths, and lightly salted steamed veggies help restore that balance.

Beyond Just Water: Herbal iced teas (like hibiscus, rooibos, or nettle), electrolyte powders without added sugars, and yes—good old-fashioned filtered water—are all allies.

So What Role Do Skincare Products Play?

While products can't put hydration into your skin, they can help you keep it.

Protecting Against TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss)

TEWL is what happens when water escapes from the deeper layers of your skin through a compromised skin barrier. Your job? Help your skin hold the line.

🌼 Botanical Allies in Our Apothecary

Your skin doesn’t need more trends. It needs plant allies that know how to restore and protect.

🌱 Dandelion & Senna Serum

Light and breathable, this serum delivers hydration using glycerin and aloe while jojoba oil mimics the skin’s own sebum—balancing and softening without clogging.

🌿 Leaf & Petal Mask

A deeply nourishing blend of aloe, shea butter, and sodium hyaluronate—plus mineral-rich nettle and barrier-supporting gotu kola—for skin that feels plumped, soothed, and protected.

🍯 Flowering Honey Mask

A sensory, restorative mask rich in humectants like honey, aloe, and glycerin. Think: moisture magnet meets botanical infusion.

🌺 Ashwagandha & Sesame Oil

A grounding facial oil rich in essential fatty acids from sesame and antioxidant-rich pomegranate oil. Ideal for locking in moisture post-mist or serum, especially after sun or sweat exposure.

These formulas were handcrafted to honor the wisdom of plants and the needs of your skin—each one supporting hydration through whole ingredients, not synthetic shortcuts.

Word of Caution: Use Hyaluronic Acid Wisely

Hyaluronic acid attracts water—but here’s the catch: if the air is dry, it may pull water from the lower layers of your skin up to the surface (where it can evaporate). So it’s best used on damp skin, sealed in with a mist and moisturizer or oil. Think of it as a sponge—don’t leave it sitting dry. Especially if you live in a dry area where there isn't much moisture in the air to begin with, make sure you are giving your skin something to latch onto so you don't run into the misfortune of pulling the desperately needed water from the lower layers of your skin to the upper layers where it doesn't need as much.

A Rooted Ritual to Hydrate Holistically

1. Morning:

Drink a glass of lukewarm water with a pinch of sea salt and a splash of coconut water.

Apply a hydrating mist to clean skin, follow with a hyaluronic serum, then seal in with a moisturizer containing ceramides or a light facial oil. Some of my favorite hydrating hydrosols to spray are coconut and chamomile.

2. Midday:

Refill with herbal iced tea or coconut water.

Mist your face if you're in AC or out in the sun.

3. Evening:

Focus on water-rich veggies in your dinner.

End with a nourishing nighttime routine that supports barrier repair.

The Takeaway

Just because it’s humid doesn’t mean your skin is hydrated. Between the AC, sweating, sun, and medications, your skin might be doing its best just to stay balanced. By supporting it from the inside with hydrating foods and fluids—and using topical products that protect your hydration—you create long-lasting radiance, the kind that doesn’t melt away with the weather.