A well moisturized, glowing skin is perhaps the most important aspect of facial beauty. However, not many people understand the difference between moisturization and skin hydration. And that’s exactly where skin nourishment using appropriate hydrating products becomes an essential part of the daily skincare routine.
Different skin types have different needs in terms of daily care rituals. Asian skin is prone to quick dehydration, sensitivity and scarring. Following a good moisturizing as well as skin hydration practice is hence, important to maintain skin purity and health in a highly polluted world.
This article talks about important aspects of skin hydration, the difference between moisturization and ten amazing tips to keep your skin hydrated.
Skin hydration is defined as maintaining the necessary water balance of your skin tissues.
People often relate hydration to something that is only relevant for dry skin types. However, just like water is a necessary life source for everyone, irrespective of thirst, hydration is important for all skin types.
Having adequate quantities of water within the skin cells adds to their health and longevity. Low skin hydration levels can contribute to other skin issues like wrinkles, premature ageing, itching, eczema, scarring, psoriasis, etc.
The intense Asian Sun adds to the woes of women in these regions. Lack of hydration is an issue that most Asian women recognize.
Additionally, ageing adds to the loss of skin moisture causing increased dryness.
But how do you go about hydrating your skin? Does an adequate application of a moisturizer work?
Well, the answer is “NO”
There is a clear line of difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin.
Read on to understand the distinction between the two.
Moisturizers are oil-based products that include emollients (fats and oils), humectants, occlusives (like mineral oil, plant oils, etc), or squalene (oil). Moisturizers create an oily seal in the skin surface which works by preventing water loss. Additionally, the oil base helps keep the smooth soft and smooth.
Skin hydrators are products that work by absorbing water from the atmosphere or even from the skin surface and keeping it intact within the skin cells. These include ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid (commonly known as humectants).
While the ultimate goal for both, moisturizers and skin hydrators, is to keep the skin supple and hydrated, the need to incorporate both as a part of skin health regime is important.
Interestingly, human skin also has a natural lipid barrier to prevent water loss. However, different conditions like the environment, age, skin type, etc can stop the lipid layer to work efficiently.
Dehydration effects that result in dry, flaky skin are particularly common in Asian skin.
While a moisturizer may substitute the functions of the natural lipid layer to help prevent water loss, a hydrator will help to trap extra moisture from the atmosphere to keep the skin supple.
Products including hyaluronic acid, aloe, honey, glycerin, lactic acid, and citric acid are good hydrators whereas products with plant oils, shea butter, coconut oil, mineral oils etc work as moisturizers.
It is hence clear that irrespective of the skin type, skin hydration is a healthy routine that needs to be followed.
So how do you start a skin hydration plan and what are the key essentials to be followed when choosing your products?
Read on for top skin hydration tips – Secrets revealed!
No amount of makeup is enough to hide a dull complexion. A dehydrated skin s easy to spot, even under thick layers of makeup. On the other hand, a well-hydrated and moisturized skin has that “lit-from-within” glow that we all want.
Following are some super easy ways to keep your skin hydrated and choose the skin hydration products that are right for you.
Go for hydrating or water-based skincare products. Adding a thick layer of rich oily cream will not serve the purpose when the skin tissue underneath is thirsty for some water. Choosing products that are water based and rich in water attracting ingredients like hyaluronic acid is the best way out.
Additionally, products that have natural occlusives like plant oils help in keeping the water levels of the skin intact, especially when you have prolonged durations in the sun.
Various plant extracts like Prunus Persica(Peach)Flower Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extractare natural skin hydration agents. Products using such ingredients boost skin hydration levels without causing additional side effects.
A humidifier is always a good investment when you’re really trying to help your skin catch some extra moisture from the air. This can be especially beneficial in winters when the air is extremely cold and dry. The low to a negligible moisture content of the winter air is the main reason for skin getting dry and scaly. A humidifier that works while you sleep can do wonders for your skin.
As mentioned above, choosing skin hydration products that are plant based helps the skin to renew and restore its original purity levels. Plant extracts like Prunus Persica(Peach)Flower Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extractare, and various other plant based oils have active ingredients that rehydrate the skin and give it a rejuvenated and re-energized effect.
Plant-based skin hydration products that are free from artificial fragrances, colors, silicones, etc are recommended.
As mentioned above, while choosing your products, ensure that the products are 100% alcohol-free and fragrance-free. Alcohol and artificial fragrances not just disturb the skin’s natural microbiome but also lead to dry, parched skin with long term usage.
Ensure that your skin hydrating masks help maintain the purity of the skin while hydrating and nourishing it.
Human skin has a unique set of bacteria that constitute its ecosystem. This includes both good and bad bacteria. Various factors like the environment, diet, age, etc have an impact on the skin’s microbiome.
While removal of bad bacteria is required for healthy and clear skin, indiscriminate removal of the skin bacteria may do more harm than good. It is hence important to choose products that understand the difference between the two and help in nurturing the good bacteria while removing the bad ones.
Different skin types have different hydration and moisturization needs. The needs of oily skin may differ completely from a dry or a sensitive skin type. Choosing products that are suitable for your skin is hence recommended.
Additionally, understanding the cause of dehydration on your skin is the best approach for finding the right treatments.
Very dry skin or skin that is extremely low on its tissue water levels may crave a little more hydration and some extra efforts to rejuvenate it to its original level.
Hydrating serums or hydration masks are a great addition to your skin care routine. Serums applied after cleansing will replenish the skin cells of their lost moisture content. Similarly, skin hydration masks can be used a few times a week.
More often than not, women ignore this crucial step during their skincare regime. Exfoliation or the removal of dead top layer of the skin cells is absolutely necessary for your skin hydration products and moisturizers to do their job.
Exfoliation helps the facial surface to be rid of dead and dehydrated skin cells. However, exfoliation is a very sensitive procedure and should be carried out carefully, limiting to once or twice a week.
As mentioned earlier, moisturizers work by creating an artificial lipid barrier on the skin which helps prevent water loss from the tissues underneath. Choosing water based moisturizers is a good start to getting a hydrated skin.
Additionally, ensuring that the skin is moist before applying the moisturizer layer is crucial. Using hydrating facial sprays or patting a little water on your face before you go for a moisturizer is recommended.
For those having long hours in the sun, a mid-day facial spray is not just a wonderful skin hydration technique but super refreshing too!
Did you know that 60% of your body weight is made out of water?
Or more interestingly, your skin contains 64% water?
The figures alone speak out about the necessity of water for a healthy living. Depleted water content within the skin cells makes them less elastic and the results are clearly visible as dry, parched skin.
While skin hydration products are great additions to your daily skincare routine, they only work when they receive adequate support from the body. Including sufficient quantities of water as a part of your lifestyle is the best way to go about.
After all, you can’t always control the environmental factors that you’re exposed to. Controlling the internal factors with sufficient water intake is hence an important factor for a well hydrated supple skin.
Ensure that you drink the right amount of water for your body weight. Include water-rich fruits and vegetables as a part of your daily diet.
Final thoughts:
The skin is the largest human organ. It stores significant quantities of water which prevents the internal organs from suffering dehydration. Skin health is hence not just necessary for great external looks but crucial for the internal well being too.
While fighting the external factors like environment, pollution, age, lifestyle, etc is not always possible, appropriate changes in the skincare routine can do wonders to rejuvenate the skin to its original purity. Understanding the use of skin hydration masks, moisturizers and picking out the best ones in the market is the key!
Co-founder and Head of Research
Ms Ong has more than 25 years of extensive experiences in research and development, conceptualization, formulation, and production process development. She is currently the Head of Research and Development at aspurely skincare.
She has authored 2 best-selling Beauty and Wellness books with Marshall Cavendish, Nature’s Spa: DIY Beauty Treatments and Nature’s Treats: Recipes for Wellness, which are currently available in the Singapore National Library collection.
Ms Ong was also a Beauty columnist for Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore's largest Chinese-language newspaper publication, with huge regional presence. As its weekly expert contributor, she shared the latest research and technologies from the Beauty industry, and addressed many readers’ skincare issues and concerns, offered beauty tips, quick fixes and insider knowledge.
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