If your skin has ever felt tight, dry, flaky, oily and somehow still dull, you're not alone. A lot of people think they need a thicker moisturizer when they’re dealing with dry skin or dehydrated skin. But here’s the kicker—dry skin and dehydrated skin are two completely different skin conditions, and treating one like the other can make your skin worse.
Let’s break it down—because understanding the difference between a moisturizer and a hydrator is one of the most important steps in building a skincare routine that works with your skin, not against it.
This is especially important if you have acne-prone skin, oily skin, or combination skin.
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Skin 101: What Does “Hydrated” Actually Mean?
Your skin—aka the largest organ in your body—needs plenty of water to function properly. The water content of the skin directly affects everything from skin texture to the appearance of fine lines, dull skin, and even how often you break out.
Hydrated Skin = Water
Hydration refers to the amount of water in the deeper layers of the skin. If your skin is dehydrated, it means it lacks enough water, not oil. This condition can happen to anyone, regardless of how oily or dry your skin appears.
Dehydrated skin is a skin condition, not a skin type. You can have oily, acne-prone skin that’s also extremely dehydrated.
Moisturized Skin = Oil
Moisturizing, on the other hand, is about sealing that water in. A moisturizer contains emollient ingredients or occlusive ingredients that trap moisture on the skin's surface, creating a protective seal to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL)—the process of water evaporating from your skin.
Dry skin means your skin lacks enough lipid cells or natural oils, which are essential for maintaining your skin’s protective barrier. This is a skin type, and it’s often genetically determined.
The Key Differences: Hydrators vs. Moisturizers
Why It Matters for Acne-Prone Skin
If you're dealing with breakouts, your instinct might be to strip your skin of oils and skip moisturizers entirely. Big mistake. Oily doesn’t mean hydrated. In fact, dehydrated skin often overproduces oil, leading to more excess oil, clogged pores, and—yep—more acne.
Worse, many common ingredients in thick moisturizers like shea butter or beef tallow are too rich and pore-clogging for acne-prone skin. (Yes, even “natural” ones. Shea butter? Clogged pores waiting to happen.)
This is where picking the right product—and layering your hydrator and moisturizer properly—is crucial.
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Your Skin+ Cheat Sheet: Hydrators vs. Moisturizers in Our Line
If you’ve ever stood in front of your bathroom mirror holding two bottles, wondering which to use first (or at all), we’ve got you.
Here’s how our Skin+ skincare products break down:
Hydrators (add water to skin)
Aloe H20 Toner
This toner is a hydrator in liquid form, packed with:
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Organic Aloe Leaf Juice – hydrates, calms, and reduces redness
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Glycerin – draws in water molecules
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Orange Blossom Water – tones and refreshes the skin's surface
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White Willow Bark Extract – gentle exfoliation + calming for acne-prone skin
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Tea Tree Oil – antibacterial and soothing for breakouts
Perfect for: sensitive skin, dehydrated oily skin, or layering under your serum and moisturizer for that glass-skin effect.
HylaVera Gel Moisturizer
Don't be fooled by the word “moisturizer” in the name—this is a gel-based hydrating serum at heart:
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Sodium PCA & Sodium Lactate – next-level water-binding agents
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Sodium Hyaluronate – delivers deep hydration
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Niacinamide – supports the skin’s protective barrier and brightens
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Aloe Vera – hello again, inflammation-fighting MVP
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Xylitol Complex – helps skin retain moisture
Ideal for: combination skin, dull skin, or anyone dealing with dehydration from harsh treatments like glycolic acid.
Renew 99
This is your hydration powerhouse—a lightweight serum that feeds your skin what it’s actually begging for:
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Glycerin, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan – deep, soothing hydration
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Sodium Hyaluronate – plumps from within
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Zinc PCA – controls oil while supporting healing
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Tripeptides – boost collagen and overall skin health
Perfect for: oily or acne-prone skin, post-exfoliation recovery, or when your skin texture is feeling rough or uneven.
Moisturizer (seal it in)
Once you've hydrated your skin, you need to lock in that moisture, especially to prevent transepidermal water loss. That’s where NourishRX comes in, our acne-safe moisturizer that supports the skin’s protective barrier without clogging your pores or leaving a greasy film.
Here’s why it works:
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Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate – These skin-strengthening minerals support healthy oil production, calm inflammation, and promote healing, making NourishRX ideal for acne-prone or sensitive skin.
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Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil + Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides – Lightweight emollients that soften the skin surface and reinforce the natural lipid barrier without causing breakouts.
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Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, and Xylitol – These humectant ingredients pull water into the skin for deep hydration.
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Copper Tripeptides and Tetrapeptide-17 – Powerful active ingredients that help repair skin, improve elasticity, and even out tone and texture over time.
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Inositol, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) – Gentle, nourishing support for long-term skin health and recovery after irritation or exfoliation.
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Dimethicone – A non-comedogenic occlusive that provides a smooth finish and helps prevent moisture loss without suffocating the skin.
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Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,3-Propanediol – Gentle stabilizers and skin conditioners that enhance texture and penetration.
This product is especially effective for combination skin, or anyone struggling to find a thicker moisturizer that won’t lead to clogged pores or breakouts. It delivers optimal hydration with a perfect balance of humectants, emollients, and occlusives—all while maintaining a non-comedogenic profile.
How to Layer Hydrators and Moisturizers for Optimal Skin Hydration
To get optimal hydration—not just slather on a random cosmetic product and hope for the best—you need to understand the different functions of each product.
Here’s the best order for different skin types:
For Oily, Acne-Prone Skin:
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Cleanse (gentle cleanser, nothing stripping)
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Aloe H20 Toner – adds hydration and calms inflammation
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Renew 99 or HylaVera Gel – your skin hydrator
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NourishRX – seals it all in without triggering breakouts
For Dry or Flaky Skin:
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Cleanse gently
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Aloe H20 Toner
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HylaVera Gel Moisturizer
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NourishRX, or a thicker moisturizer if your skin can handle it (but avoid shea butter if you’re acne-prone!)
Common Skin Issues Caused by the Wrong Product
If you’re not using the right product, you may notice:
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Flaky skin that still feels oily (hello, dehydrated skin)
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Breakouts from pore-clogging moisturizers
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Dull skin due to dead skin cells and lack of proper hydration
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Increased environmental damage from a weak skin barrier
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Skin concerns that just keep recurring no matter what you try
Still Not Sure? Pay Attention to Your Skin’s Needs
Your skin changes with environmental factors, hormones, the seasons—even stress. Some days it might be screaming for water. Others, it needs that protective layer to trap moisture and restore the skin’s protective barrier. Your skincare routine should reflect that.
Some of your best friends for skin health:
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Water-based hydrators in the morning
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A proper moisturizer at night
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An exfoliant like CytoClear Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 serum 1–3x/week to slough off dead skin cells so your products can penetrate
The End Goal: Healthy Skin That’s Balanced, Not Overwhelmed
At the end of the day, the end goal isn’t just to throw more skincare products at your face—it’s to understand how your skin works and treat it with respect.
Whether you’re dealing with acne, sensitive skin, or just trying to level-up your glow, the key differences between moisturizers and hydrators can be the missing piece.
Use moisturizers and hydrators in your daily routine, and you’ll see your skin concerns start to fade—and your confidence come back.
