If we were to bet on the most common skincare advice, it’d come down to sunscreen and hydration. You cannot get enough of every beauty page, mogul, and magazine telling you never to skip the sunscreen and always keep your skin hydrated.
But does skin hydration only mean drinking designated glasses of water? Definitely not! We are here to tell you all about hydrating your skin from within.
Staying hydrated will rejuvenate your skin and make it look soft and smooth. And hydration helps the skin flush away toxins and carry nutrients to the cells of the skin. Skin hydration is not another skincare trend; it is highly backed by science. Hydrated skin is comparatively immune to germs, inflammation, and irritation.
This blog is your guide to hydration tips for dehydrated skin treatment, but first, let’s understand skin and hydration.
1. The science behind skin hydration
The outer layer of skin, known as the stratum corneum, consists of tough skin cells that are tightly bound together. This skin barrier comprises fatty acids, cholesterol, ceramides, keratin, and natural moisturizers. Without a healthy skin barrier, harmful pathogens and toxins can penetrate your skin and also cause the water inside your body to evaporate and escape, leaving your skin completely dehydrated.
But what causes the skin barrier to compromise its ability to retain moisture? Sun exposure, over-exfoliation, allergens and irritants, stress, and environmental factors (in addition to a page-long list). We cannot control these factors, but we can reverse their effects or rather protect our skin from damage by incorporating hydrating skincare.
2. How water affects your skin
Dehydration is often shrugged off as something that a glass or two of water will solve. However, the effects of dehydration on the skin consist of flakiness, redness, inflammation, and itchiness and also the exaggerated appearance of fine lines and wrinkles due to the shrinkage of skin cells.
Increasing your water intake, consuming water-based fruits, and incorporating hydrating ingredients in your skincare routine will positively impact your overall skin and health; after all, your body is 70% water!
Drinking water is extremely important as it aids circulation, digestion, and absorption and also flushes out toxins from the body. The pores and wrinkles look more visible without adequate water, and the skin appears dull. Proper hydration makes the skin look plump and increases skin elasticity, making it less likely to be irritated or have acne.
The benefits of keeping skin hydrated include:
Fewer wrinkles and fine lines
Improved complexion
Reduced inflammation and faster healing
Pore reduction
Slower skin aging
Improved elasticity and glowing skin
3. Foods that hydrate your skin
One can only consume so much water, so it is important to change things a little by consuming foods that hydrate your skin. Oranges, watermelon, carrots, and spinach are great sources of vitamins and minerals that keep the body hydrated. Moreover, fruits such as berries, lemons, and grapes rich in Vitamin C will give your natural skin a boost of hydration and antioxidants as well! Moreover, vegetables like pumpkin and broccoli have high water content; hence, spinach, pumpkin, and broccoli soup is a healthy and hydrating meal options.
Additionally, egg yolk, oats, salmon and herring, tomatoes, bananas, and walnuts can be mixed and matched into skin-hydrating recipes. Nuts and seeds are highly rich in Vitamin E, and these support the skin’s lipid layer leading to skin hydration.
While the consumption of water and water-rich foods is important, so is application.
4. Hydration tips for daily routine
The hero skincare product that can hydrate your skin is moisturizer! Moisturizer for dehydrated skin comprises humectants, occlusives, and emollients.
Humectants in the form of hyaluronic acid and glycerin pull water from the air and deep layers under your skin into the stratum corneum (skin barrier) to add moisture. In contrast, occlusives like beeswax form a barrier that prevents water from escaping. And emollients like shea butter add suppleness and softness to the skin. Some moisturizers also contain ceramides that repair the lipid barrier and prevent further water loss.
These moisturizers penetrate the skin’s barrier and infuse water into the skin cells to plump and hydrate them, making it important to choose the right moisturizer for your skin.
You must also avoid dehydrating practices like taking long hot showers, using alcohol or chemical-based skincare products, rubbing your skin harshly after a wash, and over-exfoliation. Additionally, since environmental factors play an important role in impacting skin’s ability to retain moisture, use sunscreen before stepping out at all times and always keep a bottle of water handy. Also, try to shield your skin from dirt, dust, and pollution by using a scarf to cover your face.
5. Lifestyle changes for improved skin hydration
In addition to a healthy diet, lifestyle changes such as exercise add to improved skin hydration. Exercise not only releases toxins from the skin in the form of sweat, but it also makes you feel thirsty! Moreover, limit your dose of coffee and alcohol and swap it with fresh juices and veggies like cucumber to boost hydration.
Just like internal hydration, topical hydration is important as well. When choosing products, it is important to look for skincare ingredients like aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycerin, and ceramides, as these ingredients are the key to topical hydration.
Sonnet Wellness’ Soak It In Face Cream and Dab It On Toner is the hydrating combo of your dreams! Enriched with probiotics, and hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, the hydrating light moisturizer keeps your skin moisturized and nourished. At the same time, the toner is comprised of Vitamin B3, which prevents water loss, and Witch Hazel, which acts as your skin’s natural barrier.
Conclusion
Dullness and dehydration can affect all skin types, so internal and topical hydration is the best way to hydrate skin. Make sure you have a glass of water first thing in the morning, and keep yourself hydrated via food and liquid every day.
Look for natural, chemical-free skincare products that comprise hydration-boosting ingredients, resulting in plump, healthy-looking, hydrated skin. The skincare range at Sonnet Wellness is formulated with probiotics and toxin-free ingredients that target skin concerns and make your skin ready for #nofilter selfies!
