Staying hydrated is a hot topic (no pun intended) when the summer months start creeping closer on the horizon. Hydration is crucial not just for your body's optimum functioning, but for radiant and youthful looking skin.
UW Health reminds us that, "skin is made up of cells. And skin cells, like any other cell in the body, are made up of water. Without water, the organs will certainly not function properly or at their best. If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling" (UW Health, 2016).
When the weather gets warmer our bodies dehydrate quicker as they lose water and other fluids. If we don't replace the fluids we use, we become dehydrated (Mayoclinic, 2018). This is especially concerning as the average US individual already, with 75% of Americans being chronically dehydrated (Chicago Sun Times, 2018). Aside from drinking enough water, here are our tips for boosting hydration during the warm months.
1. Eat Your Veggies
Vegetables tend to retain a lot of water. And, odds are, you aren't eating enough of them anyway! Boosting your veggie intake this summer tackles two birds with one stone, helping you achieve your beach bod while also increasing your hydration.
2. Eat More Fruit
Going hand-in-hand with boosting your vegetable intake, fruits are another fun way to encourage hydration. Plus, who doesn't love fresh watermelon and berries during all our fun summer activities. Avoid dehydration by making fruit the highlight of your BBQs, pool days, and picnics.
Here are the fruits and veggies with the highest water content:
3. Try Naturally Flavored Water or Iced Tea
Wouldn't it be so obvious if we just told you to drink enough water? You already know that. And we could tell you to grab water flavor droplets or powders like Crystal Lite, but in all honesty the chemicals in those flavorings aren't something we want to encourage you to ingest. So let's be smart. There are ways to naturally enhance the flavor of your water with herbs, fruits, and veggies. Upscale your water with some mint, cucumber, or blackberries! The options there are actually unlimited so get creative.
And if that's still too bland, go for some fun iced teas. If you're a Starbucks lover, they have some really tasty teas -- my favorite is their Passion Fruit tea! It's got a pretty deep pink color and even prettier benefits for glowing skin. Just do yourself a favor and make sure you don't defeat the purpose by overdoing it with added sugars.
4. Skip the Salt
Are you a salt-a-holic? Try to kick that habit during the warmer months. Salt retains water and keeps it in your system, but the problem is that salt is going to hog all the water in your system... not your cells. Because of this, not only is this bad for overall hydration, it leads to puffy looking, more dull skin.
5. Put the Clay Mask Away
This one might slip your mind but it can make a big difference in your skin's hydration. During the warm months, set aside your clay mask and opt for a gel-based one. "Since gels naturally have a lower temperature, they feel very cooling on the skin. This is especially helpful for soothing all types of redness—especially during the summer. You can use a gel mask as often as every night after cleansing and before you proceed with your hydrating toner, serum, and moisturizer" (Renee Rouleau, 2018).
6. Focus on Hydrating Skincare Products
Speaking of gel-based masks, we recommend anyone who prioritizes their skincare pays extra attention to hydrating skincare product in the warm season. If you're using microcurrent machines or seeking out any microcurrent facial treatments make sure to enhance hydration as much as possible. We recommend stocking up on ReNu Conductive Treatment Gel for dry & stressed skin. The ReNu gel boosts conductivity of the microcurrent technology for maximizing lifting and toning results, but also has dual acting dry skin treatment properties. Making sure you have RePlenish Hydrating Spritzer on hand is a wise move as well, as this product locks moisture into the skin for long-lasting benefits.
