Understanding how to hydrate your skin helps you maintain a healthy, radiant complexion. This is because your skin works best, looks best, and feels best when it has the ideal amount of water in it. But what happens if this hydration equilibrium is thrown off? It can make your skin appear dull, lacklustre, and flaking.
In this detailed step-to-step guide, we’ll go over the science of properly hydrated skin, the causes of skin dehydration, and ten vital practices you can use to keep your skin hydrated.
What Is Hydrated Skin?
Let’s first define hydrated skin so that we can better grasp how to achieve it. When your skin maintains an ideal quantity of water and has a regulated moisture level, it is characterised as hydrated. As a result, your skin appears supple, full, and beautiful.
What Causes Dehydrated Skin?
Plenty of people mix up dehydrated skin with dry skin. Dry skin is not a skin problem, but rather a skin type. It is caused by a lack of natural oils or lipids, which causes flakiness, stiffness, and discomfort. Dry skin is generally rough and prone to redness and irritability, although this isn’t necessarily due to dehydration.
Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a temporary issue that can affect any skin type, including oily skin. It happens when your skin needs water, not oil. This can result in a weakened skin barrier, leaving your skin more vulnerable to external stresses and resulting in several problems, including increased sensitivity, fine wrinkles, and that dreaded dullness.
Are you wondering how to identify whether your skin is dehydrated? Keep an eye out for these indicators:
- Skin feels tight: If your skin feels tight, especially after cleaning, it might be due to dehydration.
- Skin lacks glow: Dehydrated skin frequently appears dull and may lack a healthy sheen.
- Skin is sensitive: Dehydrated skin might become more sensitive and more prone to irritation and redness.
- Prominent fine lines: Dehydration, particularly in the area around the lips and eyes, can make fine lines and wrinkles look more prominent.
Understanding the causes of dehydrated skin is critical to properly resolving the condition. Skin dehydration can be caused by several things:
- Lack of hydration: When you don’t get enough water in your system, your skin may get dehydrated as a result.
- Environmental factors: Air conditioning, dry heat, and exposure to extreme weather can dehydrate your skin.
- Abrasive skincare products: Using abrasive cleansers or excessive exfoliants might damage your skin’s barrier, causing water loss.
- Ageing: Our skin naturally generates fewer fluids and loses its capacity to hold dampness as we get older.
- Diet: A bad diet might affect how hydrated your skin is. Foods high in antioxidants, healthy fats, and water content can help hydrate your skin.
How To Hydrate Your Skin?
Some natural hydrating products specifically target dehydrated skin and make your skin glow from within / Image credit: Freepik
Stay hydrated internally.
The first and most important step to having hydrated skin is to make sure your body is properly hydrated. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day. Additionally, include hydrating fruits like watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges in your diet.
Choose Appropriate Cleanser
Choose a mild, hydrating cleanser that will not deplete your skin’s natural oils. Look for cleansers that contain glycerin or hyaluronic acid, which assist in sealing in moisture.
Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
When it comes to hydrating your skin, hyaluronic acid is a superstar. Before using a moisturiser, apply a hyaluronic acid serum to assist your skin in holding water, making it supple and plump.
Moisturise Regularly
Apply moisturiser every day, choosing one that is right for your skin type. To add additional moisture to your skin at night, consider using a cream that is thicker and more emollient. Let’s look at some products for hydrated skin that you can incorporate into your skincare routine.
For Acne Prone Skin
The Mom Co.’s Natural Vitamin C Oil-Free Moisturiser is an oil-free and lightweight moisturiser that provides adequate hydration. At the same time, it benefits acne-prone skin as it is also enriched with niacinamide and green tea.
For Dry Skin
The Moms Co.’s Natural Green Tea Face Cream is a thick yet non-greasy formula that helps keep your skin hydrated. It is formulated with squalene, niacinamide and cucumber that deeply nourish and hydrate your skin while also providing a matte finish.
For Oily Skin
In case you’re worried about your night cream being too heavy for your skin type, you should consider gel-based products like The Moms Co.’s Natural Green Tea Night Gel.
This gel has an ultra-light texture which provides adequate hydration for the face to prevent dehydrated and flaky skin and at the same time, it controls excess sebum production and soothes your skin. It is a non-comedogenic product that will keep your skin soft and supple.
For Pigmented Skin
Your hydration creams don’t have to have only one purpose. Many hydrating creams are formulated with multiple ingredients that target multiple skin concerns.
If you’re looking for something to help with both hyperpigmentation and hydration, you should try The Moms Co.’s Natural Brightening Vitamin C Face Cream. It is formulated with squalene and Canadian willow herbs that soothe and hydrate your skin. It also contains vitamin C and ferulic acid that prevent UV damage and lighten pigmented spots.
For Normal Skin
A multivitamin face cream is an optimal option if you’re looking for something mild and effective. The Moms Co.’s Natural Vita Rich Face Cream is an all-in-one water-based face cream which will ensure your skin stays hydrated for long hours. It is enriched with chia seed oil, vitamin C, Kakadu plum and hyaluronic acid that makes skin look smooth and radiant.
For Damaged Skin Barrier
If your skin barrier is damaged or you spend long hours outside, you need a face cream that is rich in ceramides to heal and prevent environmental damage. As the name suggests, The Moms Co.’s Natural Ceramide Face Cream is enriched with natural ceramides that build a protective skin barrier. It also contains cica, rice water, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid that improve skin elasticity, repair skin, and retain hydration.
Avoid Using Hot Water
The natural oils in your skin can be removed by hot showers and prolonged contact with hot water. To keep the moisture balance of your skin, use lukewarm water when cleansing and taking showers.
Use Gentle Exfoliants
Exfoliation helps your skincare products absorb better by removing dead skin cells. Exfoliating too much, on the other hand, will contribute to dehydration. Use a mild exfoliant twice a week.
Use a Humidifier
If you live in a dry area or often use heating/cooling systems, a humidifier may provide moisture to the air, allowing your skin to stay hydrated.
Keep Your Skin Protected
Sunscreen should be worn every day regardless of skin issues. Moreover, if you have dehydrated skin, wearing sunscreen will protect your skin from UV rays, which cause dehydration and premature ageing.
Apply a Hydrating Face Mask
When your skin needs an additional boost of water, hydrating face masks, particularly ones with components like aloe vera or honey, can help.
Take Care of Your Diet
A well-balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats supplies your skin with the nutrients it requires to be hydrated and healthy. Make sure to eat vegetables and fruits that are high in water content. Avoid too much junk.
Achieving and maintaining hydrated skin is a multifaceted process that includes both internal and exterior care. By following these tips to hydrate your skin, you can achieve a complexion that radiates health and energy. Keep in mind that consistency is essential, and with a suitable regimen, you can maintain healthy skin for the rest of your life.
Also Read:
Reasons to use face oil: Face oil is generally neglected thinking it’s for dry skin but that’s a myth. Find out more about how face oil can benefit your skin type in this article.
Reasons to use moisturising cream: There are a lot of misconceptions about moisturisers and why they shouldn’t be used. Read this article as we debunk these common misconceptions.
Skincare tips to get healthy and glowing skin: Skincare is not as easy as it looks if you want to get glowing skin. Find out how you can seamlessly achieve glowing skin in this article.
Top ingredients to include in your CTM routine: Discover the key ingredients for an efficient CTM routine based on your skin type.
Benefits of ceramides for skin: Learn the six exceptional benefits of ceramides for your skincare routine, which can help to promote healthier and more resilient skin.
Face serum vs moisturiser: Understand the differences between face serums and moisturisers to select the best product for your specific skin requirements and issues.
how to use vitamin C serum on face at night: Learn how to include vitamin C serum into your overnight skincare regimen and maximise its potential for renewed and glowing skin.
Cover Image Credit: Freepik.com