Now, I'm pretty sure we are all tired of hearing that drinking water will solve all our problems, but there is some truth to this for our skincare.
Imagine buying a new hydrating face cream only to find out that water is the fifth ingredient on the list, we've all been there. But really, why is it that water is one of the best things you could put on your face? Being human means that we are mostly made up of water; it helps with our digestion, absorption and circulation. Our skin is the largest organ in our body, meaning that it is made up of loads of cells that all require water. However, we lose a lot of water everyday due to physical activity, perspiration, respiration and the list just goes on. Being able to combat this water loss is critical to maintaining good skin health.
“But really, why is it that water is one of the best things you could put on your face? ”
Now, I'm pretty sure we are all tired of hearing that drinking water will solve all our problems, but there is some truth to this for our skincare. When you drink water, it enters your digestive system and is absorbed by the cells in your small intestine. The water then travels through the bloodstream and will finally end up to your skin. Because the water you drink does not directly end up in your skin cells, it's really important to use water in your skincare, so it gets the hydration it needs.
This is where you have to be careful! Products that claim to hydrate are different than products that claim to moisturize. Products that hydrate should contain water in the ingredients (hopefully the first one!). However, products that claim to moisturize act as a barrier, preventing water loss from the skin. This is a very important difference to understand. Moisturizers should be applied at the end of your skincare routine to act like a seal, locking in all of the serums and water you have put on your face. If you put a moisturizer on first, none of your other products will seep into your skin, making them useless.
"Products that claim to hydrate are different than products that claim to moisturize. Products that hydrate should contain water in the ingredients (hopefully the first one!). "
So how can you incorporate more water into your skincare? One of my favourite steps is keeping distilled water in a spray bottle and spraying my face at the start of my skincare routine and after each step. Another favourite serum is hyaluronic acid; this acid can hold 1000x times its weight in water and is best applied on a damp face so it can lock that water in. Finally the tried and true method; DRINK YOUR WATER. While there are many opposing studies on whether or not drinking water is actually beneficial to your skin, it still helps with removing toxins from your body and promoting overall hydration!
Written by Darsh Kaur instagram: @darshkaur