In winter and summer – really, any time of the year, adequate hydration is of utmost importance both internally and externally for your body and skin. “Drink more water” has become a phrase you’ve probably heard a million times. Our bodies, being made of 60% water, need enough of it to keep all systems running. Water intake is just as important for your skin as it is for overall body function. Dehydration on the skin makes us look older; wrinkles are accentuated and the skin lacks vitality and plumpness. Our skin needs water both internally and externally to thrive, so here are 3 hydration tips to help you improve your skin from the inside out and outside in.
Add collagen to your beauty regimen
Women spend a lot of money on beauty products, especially products which contain collagen. You might ask, what’s wrong with that? Well, it’s a big misconception that collagen needs to be applied to the skin topically. Many skin care products claim anti-aging benefits by including collagen in their ingredient lists and marketing. However, this cannot be further from the truth! Collagen molecules are too big to penetrate the top layer of the skin (epidermis) and although a skincare product with collagen will feel nice and moisturize the skin, it offers no other benefits.
You might be thinking, why do I need collagen in the first place? Good question! Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, but as we get older production declines (about 1% every year after the age of 21). Collagen is found in the dermis – the second layer of our skin. Its function is to give the skin strength, elasticity while replacing dead cells. These traits are important for flexible, firm, and plump skin.
The importance of Vitamin C
Just because collagen itself doesn’t work topically, it doesn’t mean other topical ingredients don’t help with collagen along. One of my hydration tips to help improve your skin, is to add Vitamin C to your skincare regimen. Vitamin C, which is found in a number of beauty products – from serums to moisturizers – can boost collagen production. Reliv Organics Kakadu Plum Vitamin C serum and Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Day Cream contain vitamin C from the Kakadu plum, a small Australian fruit, with an incredibly high concentration of vitamin C (100 times more than the equivalent quantity of orange). Vitamin C plays an important role in collagen and elastin production, which is what maintains the elasticity of our skin, giving it the plumpness you’re after.
Other ways to bring Collagen in
Adding a supplement to your smoothies, fresh juices, or water. This collagen lemonade recipe shared by Helena Lane, creator of Helena Lane Organic Skincare is perfect for hot weather! Sproos is a collagen supplement that I’ve been using for about a year now and I definitely notice the improvement on my skin, nails, and hair when I take it consistently. If you’re not vegetarian or vegan, drinking your bone broth is an easy and cost-efficient way to get your collagen fix, too!
Seek out products with hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring sugar in the body which helps maintain water levels within tissues. A coveted ingredient in the beauty industry, its production also declines with age leading to dull skin, loss of resilience, and deepening of wrinkles. Sigh. Our skin doesn’t seem to get a break when it comes to the depletion of substances in the body. Hyaluronic Acid attracts water because of its specific structure – 1000 times its weight in water to be exact. Along with collagen and elastin, hyaluronic acid provides structure and function to the skin, one of its main being to maintain skin elasticity.
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which means it draws moisture from the deepest layers of the skin to the surface. Since hyaluronic acid production declines internally, we need to give it to our skin externally in serum form. This is one of the best hydration tips I can give you because all skin type can benefit from this ingredient! Helena Lane’s Chamomile and Rose Geranium Hyaluronic Serum is a light-weight serum that contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and plant hydrosols to give a mega hydration boost to the skin. Chamomile, Rose Geranium and Rock Rose create a synergistic blend that calming and reducing inflammation and redness. Another powerful blend of hyaluronic acid, plant retinol, plant collagen, vitamin C, and oligopeptides is Graydon Skincare’s Fullmoon Serum. Its aqua blue hue comes from the essential oil Blue Tansy which helps soothe redness and irritation.
Hyaluronic Acid must be applied to slightly damp skin in order to maximize its benefits. You should also apply a moisturizer on top of it in order to seal in the moisture. Hyaluronic acid is safe around the eyes, so don’t neglect this area.
Mist, mist, and mist again
Dehydrated Skin, is just that – skin that hasn’t been properly nourished. Insufficient nutrients and water can cause the skin to look unhealthy, and add more fine lines. Skincare products work more efficiently when applied to damp skin. They absorb better and their benefits are then maximized. Applying products on damp skin also makes them spread more easily and go further. Less product used equals you save money in the long run.
There are a couple of ways to dampen the skin:
1) don’t dry your skin after cleansing; just flick excess water off
2) add a facial mist to further add hydration and nutrients
Adding a facial mist is my favourite of the two, although I don’t fully dry my skin after washing either. There are many facial mists with fantastic beneficial ingredients like tea extracts, minerals, plant hydrosols, all of which can further help drive hydration onto your skin. I find mists to be a personal preference depending on which scents (plant hydrosols) you prefer; however, the sensation of the fine mist landing on your skin is pleasant all around.
You can spray your face with your favourite facial mist after cleansing, and proceed with your serum. You can mist again after your serum and before your moisturizer. This is a hydration tip I got while digging around into K-Beauty trends. Korean women mist their faces throughout their beauty regimen, adding more water and nutrients with every step. Plump, dewy and refreshed skin is the focus here, so grab a facial mist and get misting! These are two of my personal favourites: Helena Lane Nourishing Rose and Frankincense Mist with rose, blood orange, and frankincense hydrosols. Graydon Skincare Face Food Mineral Mist contains silver, magnesium, copper, and zinc which help protect the skin against environmental stressors and absorb vital nutrients from your other skincare products.
Extra skin hydration tips:
- Don’t take hot showers – this is one of the worst things you can do and it will further dry out your skin
- Do reduce your time in the sun – sunscreen and hats also protect your skin from the sun’s rays
- Don’t use a cleanser in the am; simply mist with your facial mist and use a cotton round to freshen the skin and remove the evening skincare products
- Do leave a water bottle (or glass) in every room of the house to be reminded to keep up your water intake
The importance of hydrating your skin, both inside and out, is essential to the care and improvement of your skin over time. What routine have you found has worked best for you? Any new methods? Would love to hear them in the comments below!
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