Oily skin can be dehydrated, too.

In an interview with Howard Murad of Murad Skin Care, high moisture content is the essential characteristic of beautiful healthy skin.

If you drink 20 glasses of water a day, you will just use the bathroom 50 times or sweat out profusely. The key is retaining moisture so skin can sustain water-soluble vitamins and nutrients essential to maintaining healthy skin.

The skincare ingredients to look out for is hyaluronic acid, which holds up to 100 times its weight in water and hold with it multivitamins containing vitamins A,C, E and selenium, green tea and Omega 3. Being prone to acne breakouts, I take alpha lipoic acid instead of vitamin E with glutathione.

Advantages of well-hydrated skin: 1. Flushes out toxins so breakouts are limited and easily treated. 2. Makes skin stronger so it heals faster less prone to scarring, allergies, rashes and scratches. 3. Skin responds faster to treatments and skincare because it is healthy unlike damaged skin which either rejects skin care or concentrates on repairing damage so progress is slow. 4. Recovery whether from pimple extraction, mosquito bites and scratches—is fast. 5. Skin becomes glowing and plump. 6. Fine lines are plumped up and wrinkles become shallower.

Chapped lips

Do you have perpetually chapped lips? This is a tell tale sign of dehydrated skin. My lips were always flaking, cracking and bleeding growing up but I always had acne outbreaks growing up and I am still that girl whose forehead and nose the flash bounced off in photos. Yes, oily skin can be dehydrated too as skin moisture pertains to water content not how shiny you can get.

Obviously we cannot use the rich creams made for our drier skinned peers as it will cause breakouts

To hydrate oily skin, recommended is the three-step Murad Energizing Pomengranate line, which really gives skin that post-workout glow and improves resistance to the sun,

Also recommended is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Line (mousse cleanser, clear lotion/toner, essence, and non-greasy refreshing water gel cream SPF30).

But the most reasonably priced is the Celeteque line. Check out www.celetequedermoscience.com to see prices in pesos. Click on the skin analyzer test and take the quiz so they can customize the products specifically tailored for you.

Most of us will need products from different lines. Mine is a mix from the Hydration, Acne and Restorative line.

I guarantee everyone will require a suncare line. I use the Celeteque Matte moisturizer SPF30 for daily indoor use and their SPF15 lip balm.

Tip: If you are stuck in an air-conditioned office all day and feel the tight discomfort on skin do not slather moisturizer on top of make-up; instead, spray the Hydrolized Moisturizing Mist on hands and face and you will feel instant comfort and relief without the greasy mess and smeared make-up creams and lotions leave on your skin.

E-mail the author at kinnyski @gmail.com.