There’s no doubt that Dubai’s scorching climate and city lifestyle has an enormous impact on our skin. Daily air con, pollution and of course the sunshine can mean that your complexion here is totally unlike the one you were used to back in Britain. And for many of us that means shinier, oilier, congested skin. But before you reach for acne products, the good news is that despite these changes, your skin type probably hasn’t altered– it could actually be lacking water.

Thirsty skin

Your skin will fall into one of four categories: normal, oily, dry or combination and dehydration can affect any of these types. It is caused by a lack of water, rather than oil, and to compensate for this depletion, the skin can respond by producing more oil – resulting in excess shine and annoying breakouts. However, turning to harsh products designed to tackle acne or oily skin can only make dehydration skin worse.

So how do you know if you skin is in need of a drink? Other signs of thirsty skin include fine lines around the eyes, a lackluster appearance and blackheads. Dehydrated skin can also feel tight even when it is properly moisturised.

Drink up?  

While quaffing enough water is important in our climate, to rehydrate the skin specifically, we need to increase the amount of water in the cells through targeted skincare products.

There’s no need to switch your entire skincare line – yet. Try adding a rehydrating serum to your routine – for many this action alone will cause vast improvement. A serum should be applied before your moisturiser and you should plump for a product designed to rehydrate rather than just anti-age. Look for humectant ingredients – those that keep moisture in the skin – such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin. To help you, check out our pick of the top skin sequencing products that will plump up and rebalance your skin:

Skin Hydrating Booster from Dermalogica is a fluid concentrate to help revitalise parched skin with hyaluronic acid, panthenol, glycolipids and nutrient-rich algae extract. It is available from the Dermalogica Flagship store in Dubai Mall as well as other leading spas and salons.

Clarins Face Treatment Oil Blue Orchid is a targeted treatment for dehydrated skin that tones, revitalises and restores radiance to moisture-depleted skin. You can buy it in the Clarins Spa at Dubai Mall, Sephora and other leading outlets.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Serum is concentrated with thermal spa water and enriched with hyaluronic acid to intensely hydrate. Find it at leading pharmacies in Dubai. See Vichy-me.com

For skin that is severely dehydrated, the above brands also feature entire lines formulated to replenish the skin and you may also benefit from a weekly hydrating face mask. Unlike skin type, as a skin condition, dehydration isn’t permanent and can be easily treated with the right approach. Goodbye shine, hello sparkle!