Did you know that anyone can have dehydrated skin?
The symptoms look a lot like those of dry skin: tightness, dullness, an uncomfortable feeling… (especially after cleansing). But while dry skin lacks oil, dehydrated skin lacks moisture.
Dry skin is often dehydrated because, without oil to lock it in, moisture evaporates out of thin air. But oily skin isn’t immune to it.
If you’ve ever felt like you have a greasy layer of oil sitting on top of dry, sandpaper-like skin, you’ve likely got oily AND dehydrated skin.
It doesn’t matter what skin type you have, there’s only one way to fix dehydrated skin: add that moisture back in, pronto.
One serum that does this particularly well is Bioderma Hydrabio Serum. Here’s why:
What’s In Bioderma Hydrabio Serum?
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
Hyaluronic acid is a godsend for dry skin. It attracts and binds to the skin up to 1000 times its weight in water.
The extra moisture hydrates the skin, keeping it softer and plumper. And when skin is all plumped up, wrinkles look smaller, too.
And did I mention, hydration gives the complexion a healthy, dewy glow?
P.S. Hyaluronic Acid isn’t the only moisture magnet here. Glycerin does the same thing, but on a smaller scale.
Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type
NIACINAMIDE TO HYDRATE, SOOTHE, AND TREAT ACNE
If it were up to me, I’d put Niacinamide in every moisturiser. Why? It’s a multitasker:
- It hydrates skin: It’s more effective than petrolatum at preventing water loss.
- It soothes skin: It alleviates the symptoms of rosacea and irritations.
- It lightens skin: It reduces dark spots, blotchiness (redness) and sallowness (yellowing).
- It helps treat wrinkles: Preliminary research shows it can boost the production of skin-firming collagen.
- It treats acne: Its effects are similar to those of 1% clindamycin gel.
Who knew it could do so much?
Related: The Complete Guide To Niacinamide: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
DIMETHICONE TO MINIMISE FINE LINES
Dimethicone is a heavy silicone. No, it doesn’t suffocate skin or clog pores.
What it does is make wrinkles look smaller. Dimethicone fills every nook and cranny in your skin, a trick that blurs out pores and makes fine lines look less obvious – for a while. As soon as you wash it off, they’re still there.
While it’s at it, Dimethicone also gives slip to a product and makes the texture silky smooth.
Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?
Texture
Thick, yet fast-absorbing, gel.
Fragrance
Clean and subtle.
How To Use It
Morning and night, in between cleanser and moisturiser. If you’re using an antioxidant serum, apply that first.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Bioderma Hydrabio Serum has a thicker texture than most hydrating serums I’ve tried. It’s not sticky or anything like that, but still, it may be a tad off-putting for oilier skin type.
If you like this kind of texture, you’re in for a treat. The serum does a wonderful job at hydrating skin. I use it every night, right after my retinol serum. Retinol needs to penetrate deeper into the skin to work, so it makes sense to use that first.
When I wake up in the morning, my skin is incredibly soft. It looks smoother too. The fine lines around my eyes are plumped up, so they look a little smaller. My skin just looks healthy.
During the colder winter months, I used it in the mornings too. The extra hydration helped to keep my skin soft and supple even as the freezing temperatures were trying their best to suck all the moisture out of it. They didn’t succeed.
If you have oily skin, this serum’ll likely give you all the hydration you need. Dry skin needs to lock it in with a moisturiser (that’s what I do).
Related: If Your Skin Is Perfectly Hydrated, Do You Still Need To Worry About Anti-Aging?
Who Is This For?
It’s suitable for all skin types, especially dehydrated.
Who Is This NOT For?
Fragrance may irritate sensitive skin.
Packaging
A sleek white and blue bottle that instantly makes you think of hydration. The pump applicator is practical and releases just the right amount of product you need.
Does Bioderma Hydrabio Serum Lives Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| The concentrate that generates instant and lasting hydration. | True. |
| Moisturises instantly and lastingly. | True. |
| Smoothes the skin and restores radiance. | True again. |
Price & Availability
£18.50 at Dermstore, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, and Revolve
Do You Need It?
If you have dehydrated skin, or are simply looking for a hydrating serum to up your moisturising game, this is definitely worth checking out.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
- La Roche Posay Heal B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£27.75): available at Feel Unique and Look Fantastic
- Paula’s Choice Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster ($34.00): available at Dermstore, Paula’s Choice and Selfridges
Ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Xylitol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Fructooligosaccharides, Manitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexyldecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rhamnose, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Seed Extract, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum)
