We’ve all heard that staying hydrated is essential for your overall health, but did you know it’s just as important for your skin? No matter your age, gender, or skin type, hydrating your skin at least twice a day is a must for achieving a healthy complexion. But, why? What are the benefits of hydrating your skin? We’ll break it down for you in this blog post!
Check out 5 reasons why you should hydrate your skin daily below.
1. Protects and repairs the skin microbiome
As we explained in our “skin microbiome 101: everything you need to know” blog post, the skin microbiome is the ecosystem of billions of microscopic organisms that make up the skin’s barrier. Most skin issues, including dehydration, surface from an imbalanced skin microbiome. In order to reach optimal skin health, you must have a healthy, balanced skin barrier that can effectively retain moisture and keep irritants out.
According to Web MD, one way you can protect and repair the delicate skin microbiome is by moisturizing daily with your favorite skin hydrator. “Moisturizers hold water in your skin barrier. Most are water-based and contain ingredients such as glycerin and lactic acid that pull water into the skin.” In fact, both of our moisturizers — the glowburst intense hydration boosting cream and probiotics + murumuru hydra surge moisturizer — are formulated with glycerin, as well as the milkdew pH balancing moisture milk toner and glowshot supercharged hydrating serum. These products all lock in moisture, so your skin stays hydrated around the clock.
2. Helps control oil production
It’s a common misconception that oily skin doesn’t need hydration. But, the truth is hydration is actually the key to reducing oil production. Esthetician Taylor Worden says that “most oily skin types have dehydrated skin, and that’s because people will use very harsh products to dry out their skin, but their skin will produce more oil and break out to make up for the lack of moisture.” In other words, if someone with oily skin doesn’t hydrate, the oil glands in the skin may overcompensate by producing excess oils and sebum. Using a day time and night time moisturizer for oily skin can help control this excess oil and prevent pesky breakouts.
3. Improves the skin’s elasticity
Want to know how to improve skin elasticity? It’s easy, add hydration into your routine. Mayo Clinic explains that the “skin is made up of three layers — the outer layer (epidermis), the underlying skin (dermis), and the subcutaneous tissue. If the outermost layer of the epidermis doesn’t contain enough water, skin will lose elasticity and feel rough.” We know it can be easy to forget to hydrate the skin regularly, especially at night, but this step is crucial for helping your skin thrive. Hydrating a few times throughout the day enhances the skin’s ability to stretch and bounce back for a firmer, more supple look and feel.
4. Shields against environmental damage
As we learned earlier in reason #1, when the skin is dehydrated, it can negatively affect how the skin barrier functions. A compromised or damaged skin barrier is less resilient to environmental irritants like UV rays and pollutants. New York dermatologist Shereene Idriss, M.D. states, “your skin barrier can very easily become damaged, and those bricks become unglued. This leads to water loss . . . and your skin can become dehydrated and irritated.” When you hydrate, you’re replacing that water loss. This allows the skin barrier to better function so that you’re protected from stressors for healthy skin.
5. Helps minimize the visible signs of aging
If you’re looking for the perfect pro-aging skincare routine, make sure to include a hydrator. Not only does a simple boost of hydration improve the skin’s elasticity for a firmer, more supple appearance, but it also helps minimize the visible signs of aging. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman explains “many of the features that we associate with aging skin (lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and texture) appear more prevalent when skin is dehydrated. Dehydrated skin is often mistaken for aging skin because it refers to skin that lacks moisture, which is what gives skin the bounciness, plumpness, and even texture that we associate with youthful skin.” With hydration, the skin can look and feel its healthiest at every age.
Shop our assortment of hydrating skincare products
Now that you know a handful of the incredible skin benefits of hydration, it’s time to stock up on our hydrating skincare products! Whether you need a hydrating moisturizer for dry skin or a face toner for oily skin, we offer a wide range of ultra-hydrating products for everyone that will leave the skin looking and feeling healthy.
Shop our collection of hydrators here.