Hydrated skin is healthy, comfortable skin. Here is our ultimate guide on how to improve skin hydration for a supple, soft, and glowing complexion. 

Understanding the Importance of Skin Hydration

No matter your skin type, it’s important to do your part to maintain your skin’s hydration levels. When the skin is dehydrated, texture can appear more uneven, and fine lines tend to look more prominent. Dehydrated skin can also look dull and lackluster, and can be more prone to irritation. Meanwhile, hydrated skin both looks and feels soft and comfortable and can have a more youthful appearance. 

Hydrating From Within: Importance of Water Intake

It’s important to focus on improving skin hydration from the inside out – and that starts with drinking water. When you are dehydrated, it shows in your complexion, resulting in dull, rough, and uncomfortably parched skin. 

Ensuring you are meeting your water intake requirements each day will benefit your skin – as well as your overall health! In general, it is recommended that men drink 15.5 cups daily, and women drink 11.5 cups. When you’re feeling bored of water, you can also increase your fluid intake through herbal teas to mix things up.  

Choosing the Right Skincare Products: Moisturizers and Serums

The ultimate way to ensure your skin is getting the hydration support that it needs is by using hydrating topical products. Hydrating serums are especially effective, as they contain potent concentrations of active ingredients that deliver much-needed hydration to the skin. 

Take for example the Radiant Glow Face & Neck Serum. The nutrient-dense formula uses plant-based oils and other ingredients to help provide extreme hydration to the skin while simultaneously diminishing signs of aging for a dewy, glowy complexion. 

There’s also the multi-tasking Gleaming Brightener serum. It’s formulated with high-performance hydrators like glycerin and aloe, as well as additional ingredients that help moisturize, soften, and nourish while lightening the appearance of discoloration. 

After you apply your serums, you’ll want to apply a moisturizer to lock in hydration and maintain plump and soft skin. The anti-aging Freedom Day & Night Moisturizer is perfect for maximizing hydration, as it’s made with collagen and nourishing plant extracts that work in tandem to help boost hydration levels. 

Incorporating Hydrating Foods into Your Diet

Another way to support your skin’s hydration from the inside out is through eating foods with high water content. Some fruits and vegetables that are loaded with water include melons, oranges, bell peppers, cucumbers, pineapples, strawberries, celery, and zucchini. Omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods like chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, mackerel, and salmon can also support your body’s hydration levels. Incorporating these types of foods into your regular diet is a great (and delicious!) way to add variety to your water intake routine. 

Limiting Hot Showers and Baths: Impact on Skin Hydration

As comforting as a super hot shower can be, it’s not doing any favors for your skin. The hot water can harm the skin’s barrier and strip away its natural oils, which can lead to dehydrated and aggravated skin. To keep your skin’s hydration levels balanced, turn down the temperature in your shower or bath, maintaining a warm (but not too hot) temperature level.  

Humidifiers: Enhancing Indoor Moisture Levels

When our environment is extra dry, our skin follows suit. This can be especially problematic in the summer and winter, particularly when we have the AC or heater (which zap moisture from the air) running 24/7. 

One of our favorite hacks for fighting a dry environment is running a humidifier. A humidifier will add moisture back to the air, which in turn can lead to hydrated, healthier skin. 

Protecting Your Skin from Harsh Weather Conditions

The natural environment can also have a major impact on our skin’s hydration levels. Exposure to strong UV rays, brutal winds, and super low temperatures can impair barrier function, making the skin more prone to losing its natural water levels. 

This means you need to implement steps during each season to maintain healthy and comfortable skin. In the summer, use sunscreen and physical methods of sun protection, and try your best to reduce your exposure to the heat. In the winter, be sure to protect your skin with rich creams that seal in hydration, and limit spending time outdoors when the weather is especially brutal. 

Developing a Consistent Skincare Routine: Hydration Tips for Morning and Night

There is no such thing as too much hydration. Hydrating formulas are typically gentle on the skin and suitable for twice daily use. Use hydrating serums and moisturizers in both your morning and nighttime routines to regularly supply your skin with water and keep your complexion supple and dewy. 

Ultimately, consistency is essential – both with your skincare routine and the maintaining skin hydration tips we’ve covered. By regularly caring for your complexion’s hydration levels, you’ll unlock a smooth, glowing, and comfortable complexion.