Oil and water. We know that they don’t mix, but did you know they are your skin’s two main constituents? It may have crossed your mind before, perhaps if your skin has ever felt like an oil slick in the middle of the day, or if you can’t help but noticing your face is feeling dehydrated.

When your skin is dry, it lacks oil. When it’s dehydrated, it lacks water. We naturally produce oil, but we don’t produce water. Our skin needs water, however. But water on its own isn’t enough--we need oil to lock in that water.

Think of the grade school science demonstration of oil and water in a beaker. The oil sits on top of the water, preventing evaporation. Evaporation is what happens to the water in your skin if you do not seal it in with an oil. This leads to dehydration, or flaky, rough-feeling skin.

You may drink eight glasses of water a day but your skin can still be dehydrated. Our bodies are made of about 60% water though, so it takes time for that water intake to be reflected in glowing skin. Improper product use, environmental exposure, and lifestyle can all contribute to (or detract from) your skin’s hydration level. Keep up the water drinking, but consider adding products to restore a healthy balance.