How to Hydrate Skin

Overview

 

Besides a healthy and clean diet, skincare is essential for glowing, healthy skin. Seeing a dermatologist and an esthetician is a great way to ensure you are taking proper care of your skin. They can also do treatments and work on your skin, with devices and products you can't get at home. From acne to wrinkles and fine lines, there are a lot of concerns people have with their skin. And whether you have "nice" skin or "bad" skin, one of the biggest issues people encounter when dealing with skin issues is learning how to properly hydrate it. Your skincare routine plays a huge role in how well you are hydrating your skin. No matter your skin type, skin hydration is essential for your overall skin health! It can help to resolve other issues, like acne, and a lack of glow. There are many products and supplements out there, but not all of them are made with quality ingredients. Some products may just not be right for your skin type. Read on to learn about how to hydrate your skin, as well as the difference between dry and dehydrated skin. 

How long does it take to rehydrate your skin?

The truth is, it depends on how diligent you are with taking care of your skin, and how your body reacts to skincare products and your diet. One of the most important things you can do is to drink more water. No one wants to hear it, but it's true! People with glowing, healthy skin mostly attribute their skin health to drinking tons of water and a clean diet. If you aren't drinking enough water, your body itself is dehydrated. It makes sense that your skin cells would then start to need more water, too. For some people, it's as simple as drinking tons of water each day. Then their skin is less dry, and produces less oil, and therefore balances itself out. However, for many people, drinking more water is only a small piece of the puzzle. Especially for people with sensitive skin, it could take much longer to rehydrate and improve your skin. Depending on how severe your skin issue is, it could take a few weeks to a couple of months for you to achieve your desired results.  

 

What is the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin?

You may not know this, but dehydrated skin and dry skin are not the same issues. They may cause similar problems with your skin, but they do not have the same root cause and typically need different products to help resolve the issue. This is why so many people have such a hard time trying to hydrate their skin, and still see problems. This may be because they are trying to treat dry skin as dehydrated skin, and vice versa. The most basic difference is this: dehydrated skin lacks water, and dry skin lacks oil. Sometimes your skin is dehydrated, sometimes it's dry, and sometimes it can be both. To hydrate something means to increase its water content. In terms of your skin, this means boosting the amount of water in your skin cells. If you are looking to hydrate your skin, humectants are key. These are topical products that bind moisture. Some humectants include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, and honey. Moisturizing has to do with oil production and our sebaceous glands. These glands are what produce sebum. If you have dry skin, your body isn't producing enough. If you have clogged pores and acne, you are producing too much. Not sure which problem your skin is suffering from? Try pinpointing exactly what's wrong with your skin. Dehydrated skin can look dull and feel tight, while dry skin is often rough and flaky. If you find that your skin has both problems, try layering a hydrating serum on before your facial oil or moisturizing lotion. 

How do you rehydrate really dry skin?

Start with the basics. Drink plenty of water daily, and use a good moisturizer. Moisturizers help to heal and protect your skin barrier while providing hydration. While some people like to use more natural products, which can be great, there are also some things you shouldn't use. A big trend right now is using coconut oil. This isn't the best idea- it can clog your pores and leave your skin feeling greasy. The same goes for olive oil. Try something less skin clogging, such as jojoba oil, if you want to use natural oils on your face. As we mentioned earlier, your diet plays a huge role in your skin health, no matter what your skin condition is. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, leafy greens, vegetables, and fruits will all help to nourish your body and skin. If you aren't vegan or vegetarian, eating organic salmon and other fish is great as well. You may also want to consider taking a supplement like collagen. Collagen is a protein that is found in the human body. It has many health benefits, but most people take it for its skin-healing properties. It can help with fine lines, wrinkles, dull and lackluster skin, and hydrating the skin. Whether you have dehydrated or dry skin, collagen may be able to help. You can take it as a powder or pill, and you can also get it by consuming our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars. Each bar contains 12 grams of hydrolyzed marine collagen, which is more bioavailable (absorbable and digestible) than land animal sources. They also contain other beauty-boosting foods like sweet potato (containing vitamin A and vitamin C), and cocoa butter (containing polyphenols and flavonoids). The formula is designed to help produce and retain collagen further and can be a great way to support your skin.  There are no added sugars or artificial sweeteners such as sugar alcohols, which is important because these things can actually deplete collagen and dull the skin. 



 @meggmichellee

What can I do for extremely dry skin?

Try utilizing the following skincare tips: use a product with ceramides, don't use hot water when washing your face, increase the amount of water you drink, use a hydrating mask once or twice a week, use SPF every single day. A buildup of dead skin cells can oftentimes lead to dry skin that results in flaking. Exfoliating is important for getting rid of dry skin, but it's also important not to exfoliate too much, as this can lead to more dryness. Start with once or twice a week, and immediately follow with a hydrating product and moisturizer. Exfoliating can help both dry skin and oily skin. Too much oil results in breakouts, so exfoliating and moisturizing can help. Most importantly, you need to be aware of what's in your skincare products and what you eat. For example, many cleansers and toners actually include alcohol or other skin-stripping ingredients. Similarly, many foods are detrimental to skin health. Processed foods can clog your skin and cause the overproduction of oil, while sugar and alcohol strip the skin and contribute to dryness and dehydration. There are a lot of foods that have a high percentage of water in them, like watermelon and cucumbers. Increasing your intake of these foods can also be beneficial, like drinking more water.



These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Sources: 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17026654
http://www.drwarmuthskin carecenter.com/dry-and-dehydrated-skin-whats-the-difference/
https://www.self.com/story/how-to-moisturize-face/amp

In a consumer study, 96% of women saw an improvement in the texture of their skin.

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