If there is one constant when it comes to my skin, it’s dehydration. The dryness comes and goes, as do the spots, and there is even a brief period in the beginning of august when my skin actually looks alive. But I am always dehydrated, no matter the season or the state of my hormones.

Just to recap: dryness is the lack of oil, dehydration is the lack of water in the skin. Sali Hughes explains it all beautifully here and gives some pointers on how to understand what your issue is. The best things for dehydrated skin – which can be oily at the same time, to confuse things further – are hyaluronic acid and glycerin and some oils (like jojoba). If you share my water scarcity issue, you can address it at different points of your routine, and I’ve picked one favourite in every category.

1. Facial mist: The Mist by La Mer. A hydrating mist is the most temporary fix, but sometimes (for example at work), it’s also the most pragmatic option. You can apply it on top of your make-up and it’ll give instant relief. My tragedy is that La Mer’s version is by far my favourite, as it hydrates noticeably and doesn’t leave my skin tacky. In the name of science and reduction of costs, however, I’m going to try some Japanese and Korean brands and make an effort to be a bit more reasonable.

2. Serum: Aqualia Thermal Serum by Vichy. When it comes to serums, I am pretty reasonable already, as the Vichy costs under 30 euros – similar products tend to be at least twice the price. I like that it’s very light and absorbs quickly, but is still seriously effective (hyaluronic acid alert!). It never irritates, never clogs pores, never makes anything worse. It’s also OK-d by both Sali Hughes and Caroline Hirons, so you should be safe with this. A more up-market option would be the legendary Advanced Night Repair from Estee Lauder that works beautifully for day as well.

3. Oil: Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil by Clarins. Oils are everywhere recently, because people have discovered that they can be very effective. Oils also suit the natural/organic trend, so there seem to be hundreds of new rustically stylish brands offering handblended oils with unicorn tears. For dehydration, however, my favourite is the classic Clarins blue orchid oil. When my skin is in a really bad state, I cleanse it and massage this in. The effect is immediate and long lasting, skin feels comfortable and soft. It takes some time for the oil to fully absorb, so I prefer it at night or during the weekend.

4. Day cream: Hydraluron Moisture Jelly by Indeed Laboratories. Another sane option, this is a no-nonsense moisturizer with, yes, hyaluronic acid. It’s a refreshing gel, something I personally would use mostly in spring-summer, but I imagine oilier skins could benefit from most of the year. It’s not fancy and focuses on one thing, so if your skin is also dry, I don’t think it would be enough. But as a rehydrating everyday cream, it works. The serum from the same series is seriously cult, so you might want to try that first.

5. Night cream: Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Mask by Bioessence (and this is not even the full name). This one is actually a mask, but I mostly use it as a night cream, on top of my serum or oil. Then again, I use such a generous amount that it’s basically the same as using it as a mask… My skin being what it is, everything is usually soaked up in 30 minutes. Asian brands (this one is from Singapore) were way ahead of the West with hyaluronic acid and many other tricks and this mask works a treat, too: I invariably wake up with hydrated, supple skin. The consistency is watery and very light, almost whipped. The only downside for me is the synthetic smell, but I can live with that.

6. Mask: Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Mask by Rodial. I like the sculpting gel in this series even better, but it’s advertised as anti-ageing and costs too much for the simple everyday moisturizer category. The mask is a pretty straightforward option for hydrating and plumping, but a bit more interesting – and luxurious – than your standard moisture mask. It feels nice and soothing on the skin and does the job. It’s great for planes, good for overnight, excellent as prep before going out. Rodial’s kits are often good value and worth checking out.

7. And you really have to drink more water.