Hydration is the Key to Healthy Skin

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A couple of post ago, I mentioned that my skin was looking a little dull and feeling a little drier than usual. I wasn't sure if the cause is due to the seasonal changes or not. What I know is I have to amp up the hydration level of my skin before it gets worse. I started to bring back my lotion mask into my night routine and use my Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion as my toner in the day. Just tweaking my regime by using products containing humectants worked.

Why Hydration is Important?

The skin can be damaged easily by a variety of things. The sun, stress, hormones, and diet can all damage the skin, especially over a period of time. Since damaged skin tends to look older, hydration alone can make skin look much younger. Therefore, hydration is important to those who desire healthy skin which ultimately leads to better looking skin. Hydration is beneficial to:

Dry Skin- Proper hydrating will cause dryness to go away and makes dry patches, flakes or redness to disappear.


Aging Skin-Dry skin in need of hydration often makes people look older than they really are. Dry skin makes skin to damage easily, which further ages the skin. When cells move outward and age, skin's protective barrier becomes compromised, making water retention difficult. With a weakened barrier, dry skin becomes increasingly prone to environmental damage, free radicals, bacterial infection and other problems. So hydration will guard against skin damage and will give the skin a more youthful, healthy look.

Others-With age, skin is prone to sagging, brown age spots and wrinkles. Using hydrating products can help with skin's firmness to fight sagging skin.

Hydration Options

Water

When the body is not getting enough water, it begins to pull water from the skin. To ensure your body doesn't pull much-needed water from the skin, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. However, drinking water does not hydrate the skin. It simply makes the body has enough so it doesn't steal water from the body's skin. Not only hydration make the skin look better, it improves the actual skin itself. ( Source: 212 articles )

Humectants

Humectants direct moisture from the air into your skin. But in order for this to occur, the air's humidity must be at least 70 percent-humectants can't draw moisture from the air into your skin if the air doesn't have enough moisture in it.

Examples: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, butylene glycol, lactic acid ( yoghurt ).

Hyaluronic acid is a good humectant as it prevents skin's moisture from evaporating. This substance found in skin cells traps in moisture for smooth, firm, plump looking skin and reduces the look of wrinkles.

Products which I am using:
Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion
Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster-hydrating fluid containing high percentage of hyaluronic acid.
MVO Moisture Serum-contains vegetable glycerin

Occlusives

They work by slowing the evaporation of the water from the surface of the skin. They form a thick barrier film over skin's outer layer to prevent moisture from evaporating. Occlusives works best when they are applied on damp skin. However, occlusives ingredients can be greasy or sticky and they can clog pores, contributing to acne. So this is for consideration only for dry skin people with rare break outs. Alternately, you may use these ingredients for body only.

Examples: Vegetable oils, like avocado or olive oil.


Products which I am using:
DIY Neroli Body Oil- contains avocado oil.
MVO Anti-Aging Body Oil

Emollients

They strengthen skin's protective barrier, especially skin's lower layers, allowing better moisture retention. They also lubricate. Emollients fills the spaces between rough, dead cells to achieve a soft, smooth look and feel.

Examples: Lactic acid, shea butter, plant oils.


Products which I am using:
Yoghurt Mask
GoW Eye Majik Cream-contains shea butter
MVO Anti-Aging Oil Plus-plant oils
MVO Moisture Serum

Antioxidants

These protect skin from harmful free radicals, produced by sun exposure, pollution, chemicals and other environmental assaults. Free radicals can cause dryness, skin damage, pigment changes and other signs of aging. Some antioxidants are included in moisturisers because of their hydrating effects. Because dry skin is more vulnerable to environmental damage, antioxidants are important for dry skin considering their free radical fighting powers. ( Source: skincare-news.com )

Examples: Soy, grapeseed extracts, vitamins A,C,E, CQ10.


Products which I am using:
MVO Anti Aging Oil Plus
GoW Rosehip Oil
Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil