Could drinking more water make a difference in your skincare routine?
While experts emphasize that internal hydration is only one piece of the puzzle, it’s hard to deny that water is one of the fundamental building blocks of the skin.
As a living organ that is made up of nearly 70% H2O, the epidermis requires consistent hydration in order to perform at its best. Without it, your skin can quickly become sluggish, and struggle to complete its many critical functions including protecting itself from the outside environment and completing cellular turnover. It’s also what keeps the skin looking supple, smooth, glowy, and youthful.
Although hydration is essential all day, every day, it is especially important to practice good hydration habits during the warmer months of the year. In the summer in particular, the skin tends to have a harder time maintaining optimal hydration levels due to excess heat, more frequent sun exposure, moisture sapped from the skin through air conditioning, and water loss from sweating.
To help you out, here are a few of our favorite tips:
Tips for Staying on Top of Hydration
- Hydrate first thing in the morning - One of the most important times to replenish your system is immediately upon waking. Because we spend an average of 6-8 hours asleep, and our bodies use and lose a lot of fluid during this time, most of us wake up naturally a bit dehydrated. To restore balance, a good habit is to keep a glass of water on your nightstand and drink up as part of your A.M. routine.
- Set a daily goal for drinking water - Another good practice that can help you consume enough H2O is to think of it as a challenge or a goal, and stay determined to meet your required daily intake. A few ways to do this include investing in a water bottle with a built-in tracker or with an app on your phone. You could also opt to keep a simple tally on your to-do list, calendar, or day planner.
- Refresh on the regular - The more consistently you are able to keep hydrated, the better off you (and your skin) will feel. So, an easy way to do this is to keep some water nearby at all times and stay sipping throughout the day. You may even want to stash an extra water bottle in your gym bag, car, or anywhere you’re likely to work up a sweat, so that you can avoid becoming dehydrated and keep energy levels at their peak.
- Look for products that support hydrated skin - Of course, in addition to staying hydrated internally, another important daily essential is topical hydration. Choosing skincare products that promote moisture retention is still the fastest way to prevent thirsty skin. We like water-based formulas with ingredients like glycerin, or hyaluronic acid, which bind with moisture in the skin, keeping your complexion happy, healthy, and hydrated for the long haul.
We recommend our Hydrating Replenish Spritzer which contains hyaluronic acid (water based) that will keep your skin moist!
