Hydration is the most reliable thing skincare does. It is also the most misunderstood, because it involves two separate jobs.

The two jobs

Attracting water into the upper layers — humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Holding it there — emollients and occlusives that slow water loss from the surface.

A product doing only the first evaporates. A product doing only the second seals in nothing. A well-formulated moisturiser does both, which is why "a serum instead of a cream" often disappoints on skin that needs the sealing half.

Where the range fits

The oxygen series covers the full texture spectrum — light fluids through to rich night creams — so the practical question is matching texture to your skin rather than choosing between products at random.

  • Oily / combination → light gel-cream, twice daily
  • Dry → richer, especially at night
  • Normal → day-and-night pair
  • Dehydrated but oily → light gel-cream, and gentler cleansing

Textures for the current line-up are in the Faberlic catalogue.

The habit worth more than the product

Apply within a minute of cleansing, to skin that is still damp.

Humectants bind whatever water is available. On damp skin that is the water on the surface; on bone-dry skin in a dry room, they can draw from deeper layers instead — the opposite of the goal.

Pat the face, do not dry it fully, then moisturise. This single change does more than upgrading your cream.

Fix the cause before adding product

Most dehydration is caused by the routine, not by a missing product:

  • Over-cleansing, especially foaming cleansers
  • Over-exfoliating
  • Hot water and long showers
  • Central heating or air conditioning

Stopping the cause usually resolves it within two weeks. A humidifier in the bedroom frequently outperforms any cream in winter.

Distinguishing dry from dehydrated

Dry lacks oil — a permanent trait, flaky and rough. Dehydrated lacks water — temporary, dull and tight, and possible on oily skin.

Shiny and tight means oily and dehydrated, which is the most commonly mistreated combination.

Assessing it

Two weeks is enough for hydration, faster than most skincare claims. If nothing has changed in a month, the problem is more likely dryness or damage.

For the full picture, see the skincare section.