Simple Tips for Hydrating Your Skin
Throughout our many years in the skincare industry, we’ve come into contact with every skin condition imaginable. Although they vary in causes, severity and solutions, it seems that most cases have one thing in common – a lack of hydration.
There is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin; dry skin is caused by low levels of sebum and typically requires a deeper analysis to find the right solution, whereas dehydrated skin simply means the epidermis is having difficulties retaining moisture.
The Symptoms of Dehydrated Skin
It may seem like a contradiction, but dry skin and oily skin are often caused by the same problem. If you’re experiencing an oily T-zone and dry cheeks at the same time, it can be confusing to know where to start. Both of these problems are a sign that your skin isn’t hydrated enough and your moisturiser may not be cutting it as a solution.
What you need to fight these symptoms is a way to effectively hydrate your skin and prevent the water from evaporating quickly.
Avoid Food and Drinks that Flush Your System
Of course, the best way to hydrate your skin is to drink more water. Drinking water is the simplest way to combat a huge range of health issues, but we aren’t here to preach what you already know. Some fruits and beverages have diuretic qualities, meaning they will make you need to go to the toilet more.
Tea is a sneaky one in this case, so limit how many cups of tea you drink a day in order to retain hydration. Another problem comes down to diuretic fruits, such as watermelon, that will increase your need to visit the bathroom and cause you to lose water that could have gone to your epidermis.
Use Lukewarm or Cold Water when Cleansing
That hot morning shower may be one of the most relaxing parts of your day, but hot water has an adverse effect on your skin. Stick to lukewarm or cold water on your face to prevent the epidermis from drying out and, over time, you’ll notice plumper, bouncier skin on your face and neck.
When mixed with hot water, some cleansers may dry your skin out further. Read the label to see if your cleanser contains Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, or Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate. These are some of the culprits that don’t react well to hot water. You’re much better off choosing a cleanser that is free of harsh detergents. See: Are you covering yourself with harmful chemicals every day?
Don’t Dry Your Skin before Applying Moisturiser
We’ve discovered fantastic results by applying our natural day moisturiser while the skin is still damp (not saturated). Moisturiser is designed to prevent water from leaving the skin, so it makes sense that a bit of extra moisture will help this process along. If you use a natural and hydrating toner, apply your moisturiser immediately afterwards to seal in the benefits.
Reconsider Your Beauty Products
Similar to our discussion before about cleansers that dry out your skin, you should be taking a look at what you put on your face. If you suffer from dry skin, hydrating facial products, such as a lotion or serum, will assist your moisturiser in achieving its goals. Increase the water levels in your epidermis from inside and out to get the best possible results.
If you are adamant about only using one product, pick a natural water-based moisturiser that has binding ingredients such as oil and hyaluronic acid. This will increase the amount of water in your skin and stop it from drying out so quickly. Those with oily skin conditions will also notice a decrease in sebum production when their skin stops trying so hard to balance moisture levels.
Find a Hydrating Mask that Works for You
There are far too many beauty products available on the market these days, and they all claim to do something different. We can simplify this for you by saying, “find one hydrating mask and stick with it”. Use your hydrating mask twice a week before you go to bed for the best results. Overnight, our skin dries out due to trans-epidermal water loss, so it’s logical to focus on hydration before you sleep.
Enjoy Bouncy, Youthful Skin Sooner
The benefits of hydrated skin include reduced acne breakouts, combatting oily skin, and a bouncier, suppler appearance. You’ll also find that your make up goes on easier and doesn’t darken throughout the day when your skin is hydrated. If your skin is dull due to dehydration, this problem will only worsen with age so the best time to focus on hydration is right now.
As we’ve explained here, you don’t need expensive skin treatments and intensive dermatology sessions to solve problems that are caused by dehydration. You can start solving the problem at home with natural products that work for most skin conditions!
