Surface dehydration on melanin-rich skin
Tight, dull, rough skin that can still be oily underneath — the one most often mistaken for dryness and treated with the wrong thing.
What it looks like
Dullness, visible dryness and roughness, fine dehydration lines, and a surface that drinks in a moisturiser and asks for more an hour later.
Why it happens in the tropics
Water leaves the surface faster than the barrier can hold it — sun, air conditioning, hard water and harsh cleansing all pull in the same direction. Oily skin dehydrates too, which is why the shine and the tightness can arrive together.
What actually helps
Repair the barrier rather than coating it: humectants to hold water, and a conditioning layer so it stays held.