Hydrate or Diedrate - Hydration and Moisture are the not same thing

A common misconception we come across as licensed skin care professionals is the confusion between moisture and hydration. In the simplest terms, hydration is about water content while moisture is about oil and lipids. Our bodies are well over 50% water meaning hydration is literally essential to life and nowhere is this more obvious than in our skin.

Like it or not, hot summers aren’t going anywhere. And summer months are notorious for more easily dehydrating your skin and exacerbating certain skin conditions. 

Just last week, I had a client who was concerned about bumps and uneven texture that had popped up on her cheeks. Her immediate reaction to the rougher texture, redness and a couple of blemishes was to scrub her face and exfoliate. This actually made her skin look and feel worse leading her to believe she was having an allergic reaction to her products. In actuality her skin was simply super dehydrated, NOT under exfoliated, dirty or experiencing an allergic reaction. 

Proper hydration is a critical component of having a strong, healthy skin barrier which equates to a plump, smooth, blemish and wrinkle-free appearance.

Imagine a sponge that has been left in the hot summer sun. Not only will it be rough in texture, but it will likely have a harder time absorbing water versus a slightly damp sponge. If your skin is dehydrated it may be challenging for it to retain moisture which will negatively impact your appearance and health. This is true for all of your vital organs, not only your skin.

Pro Tip: Fill a water bottle and leave it by your bed at night. First thing when you wake up-- before coffee, before scrolling your phone, before making your daily to-do list -- drink the entire bottle of water. Imagine all of your vital organs, connective tissue, blood and skin as sponges and start your day by gifting your body the essential hydration it needs.

It goes without saying that it is important to hydrate from the inside out, but since your body will prioritize hydrating your vital organs first, it is equally important to boost your skin’s hydration topically.

HYDRATING SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS:

Increase youthful plumpness and improve your skin's natural barrier function

Hyaluronic acid

Did you know that hyaluronic acid holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water? This is excellent for plumping your skin and your body naturally makes hyaluronic acid, which means it has a low risk for reactions and can be used even if you have sensitive skin.

Lactic acid

Lactic acid is another ingredient that naturally occurs in our skin. It attracts water from the environment and locks that hydration into your skin.

Glycerin

Glycerin works as a humectant meaning it attracts moisture from the air. And due to its low molecular weight, it will draw that moisture into the deep layers of your skin. 

Niacinamide

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a humectant. It draws water into your skin, strengthening its natural moisture barrier and increasing hydration. It also helps your skin resist water loss.

This month:

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Perrin Chipouras