Photo by Fernando @cferdophotography on Unsplash
Hi lovelies,
Our faces go through a lot! They get whipped by the wind, baked by the sunshine, and maybe even splattered with wind or rain.
Our facial skin is at the mercy of the weather, pollution, blue light from our devices, and more. The skin on your face needs a lot of care and support to make sure it stays soft and supple.
Our skin is a natural barrier, and when it is not properly hydrated, it won’t be able to perform this basic task.
Is my skin hydrated?
Dry skin and dehydrated skin aren’t the same thing, even though we most often think they are. Dehydrated skin will present by slowly spinning back if pinched, while dry skin looks flaky and patchy.
You can have both together or one or the other too.
How can I hydrate my skin?
Temperature
We often think that soaking in a bath can be hydrating for the skin, but if your water is hot, you’ll come out of the bath feeling tight and dry. The heat encourages water to flow from the skin, leaving you dehydrated. The same goes for your face.
Lukewarm water is the best way to go, and when your face is damp, use hyaluronic acid to lock in the moisture - always use it on damp skin!
Hydrating Ingredients
You don’t need a 42-step skincare routine to keep your skin hydrated; instead, you need the right ingredients. Hyaluronic acid is a big thing and is a humectant - which means it binds the water onto the outer layer of the skin.
But there are other humectants like glycerin that are great to use.
There are also occlusives and emollients too. Emollients support the skin barrier function and help with texture and appearance; fatty acids, squalane, and ceramides are great ingredients.
Occlusives perform a different function and physically stop water from evaporating from the skin, mineral oils, beeswax, and things like Vaseline. Slugging has been a trend that really used this method on the face.
A combination of these is the best way to get supple and hydrated facial skin.
Reset
You might need a total skincare reset, and instead of trying to get that fresh base at home, you can look for hydrafacial services. A hydrafacial cleanses, exfoliates, and peels away dead skin cells and imperfections. Leaving you with a fresh base ready to be infused with hydration.
Night cream
Day cream and night care have different consistencies. The night cream is designed to be thicker and lock in the hydration. Look for night creams with ceramides and squalene.
A heavier night cream will prevent the skin from losing moisture while you sleep.
Drink More Water
No matter how many products you are putting on your skin, if you aren’t drinking plenty of water, too, you’ll never be as hydrated as you’d like. Although drinking more water alone won’t do it, increasing your intake to the recommended daily amount is going to help significantly.
Here are a couple of extra ways to take care of your skin: Ways to Enhance Your Skincare Routine.
