Why Does Skin Need Hydration?
A lack of water leads to dehydrated skin that feels itchy and tight; with water loss skin can become rough or dull, with emphasised fine lines. Maintaining hydration is a delicate balance, as everyday elements can have an impact. Showering (especially in hard water), cold or windy weather, pollution and smoking can play havoc with your skin, so knowing how to hydrate skin to replace lost moisture is key.
Skin care products can help boost hydration, or lock in moisture. Hydrating products like creams, masks and serums restore balance by providing additional moisture where it has been lost and add an occlusive layer to avoid further moisture loss. Creams rich in hydrating ingredients enhance your skin's natural water-retention process, preventing dehydration and dryness. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is one of these ingredients that helps skin attain hydrated and youthful skin.
Known as a modern day 'Skincare Hero', Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has quickly become one of the most talked about ingredients when it comes to attaining smooth, hydrated, and youthful skin. If you are wanting to know more about this must-have active ingredient and how to incorporate it into your daily beauty routine then read on.
How does Hyaluronic Acid hydrate skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a natural agent found in the epidermis layer of the skin. It plays a vital role in preserving the skin's tone and elasticity, but also maintaining this famous hydration: it's the main reason why younger skin is naturally plump, full and smooth. As time ticks on, starting in your twenties, its presence in the body gradually decreases, notably because of the free radicals (sunlight, pollution) that we're exposed to. Beauty products are definitely on the right track by introducing hyaluronic acid as one of their properties, since, thanks to its unique structure, it can hold on to water molecules, helping to hydrate the skin. It works a bit like a sponge, soaking up to 1000 times its weight in water! As it's neither fatty nor occlusive, it is also a great alternative for problematic younger skin that needs hydration but without the side-effect of spots. Hyaluronic acid is, therefore, great for facial moisturising and is perfect for any dehydrated or lacklustre skin that wants to get ready to take on winter.
How To Add Hydration To Face With Skincare
The one step in your skincare routine that you should never skip is moisturiser. Not all skin types are dry, which is characterised by a lack of sebum or natural oils, but all skin types can become dehydrated when they lose moisture. Replacing lost hydration by applying moisturiser as part of your daily skincare routine is the best way to keep yourself looking young, but every skin type needs to be watered in its own way.
Choosing a formula that is too rich or heavy for your skin type may result in clogged pores and breakouts. Choosing a lightweight moisturiser that doesn't provide enough hydration may lead to dehydrated skin that shows signs of ageing earlier. Skincare Serums are also an important product to be incorporated into your skincare routine. Serums are formulated to target skin concerns such as dry skin, there they are are crucial in boosting hydration. Look for our Hyaluronic Acid Serums such as our Revitalift Filler Serum With Hyaluronic Acid.
Find the right skincare product for your skin type and learn how to hydrate your skin with our easy guide.
How to hydrate your skin if you have a normal skin type
If you have a normal skin type, you’re in luck. Normal skin appears smooth, with a matt appearance and an even texture, thanks to perfectly balanced water/lipid levels in the epidermis. Your skin generally feels comfortable, but still needs hydration to address any moisture loss as a result of environmental factors such as cold weather, or hot showers.
Use a moisturiser that is neither too rich nor too light - we love our
Classic Day Cream.How to hydrate your skin if you have a oily skin type
You may be concerned that using moisturiser on an oily complexion will make it appear shinier. Prone to imperfections, oily skin is unbalanced and still needs appropriate hydration. It may seem counterintuitive to moisturise oily skin; however, oily skin has an excess of sebum, not water, and can easily become dehydrated. Without appropriate hydration, skin will produce more oil to compensate for the loss of moisture making your complexion even shinier.
When choosing a day moisturiser for oily skin, look for a lightweight formula with non-comedogenic ingredients like our Revitalift Filler Plumping Water Cream to hydrate without clogging pores. In the evening, use a hydrating night cream like our Hyaluronic Acid Night Cream that fills lines and re-plumps the skin.
How to hydrate your skin if you have a combination skin type
Combination skin is the most difficult to treat. As different areas of the skin have different requirements. Generally, the T-zone has an excess of sebum, causing an even skin and dilated pores, while the cheeks more align with normal skin. A light, fluid cream will provide hydration during the day, and a hydrating, mattifying night cream will balance sebum levels overnight in oilier areas.
How to hydrate your skin if you have a dry skin type
Dry skin is lacking in sebum and desperate for nourishment. It can feel tight and look lack lustre, and may become sensitised as it loses moisture, especially during colder months. Opt for a hydrating, protective moisturiser in the morning to ease discomfort and a rich cream at night, such as our Intense Nutrition Rich Repairing Night Cream.
How to hydrate your skin if you have a mature skin type
As you age, your skin changes. Mature skin is often thin, and prone to pigmentation and liver spots, and is less resistant to external factors. It lacks the suppleness, firmness, and radiance of younger skin, and requires active hydration. Go for a protective, rich day cream in the morning that is rich with anti-ageing ingredients. In the evening, apply a regenerative anti-ageing treatment such as our Revitalift Laser X3 Serum. Ageing is not only visible on your face, so ensure to extend your skincare application down onto your neck and décolletage.
Add an eye cream
While you may assume that eye creams are only for mature skin types, think again. The skin around the eye is thinner than on the rest of the face, and is more prone to losing moisture and become dry. Adding a dedicated eye cream into your skin care routine allows for targeted hydration of this delicate skin.
Our favourite hydrating eye creams are the Revitalift Classic Eye Cream for all skin types at any age, or the Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Replumping Eye Cream for mature skin.
Look for other hydrating ingredients
Not all ingredients are created equally. Hydrating ingredients add water back into the skin, where moisturising ingredients work by preventing the natural process in which water evaporates from your skin. A combination of both is essential to maintaining proper skin hydration. When skin is dehydrated, seek out hydration heavy-hitters such as ceramides and Glycerin.
Use a Hyaluronic Acid face mask for a hydration boost
Face masks are the easiest way to get a quick boost of moisture, and hydrate skin fast. Infused with targeted ingredients like hydration powerhouse Hyaluronic Acid, you can pamper your way to more moisturised skin by choosing the right mask. Hydrating face masks are often cream, gel or serum based; to avoid any additional dehydration, avoid detoxifying ingredients such as clay.
Discover our Filler Eye Serum Cooling Tissue Mask that visibly plumps, hydrates and smoothes skin.
Turn down the temperature
The temptation for scalding hot showers in the middle of winter is hard to resist, but will actually strip your skin of hydration. To avoid stripping natural moisture, avoid putting your face directly under the spray of hot water in the shower. Rinse off in lukewarm water and add hydration back into skin by applying moisturiser while still damp post-shower.
Discover our range of hydrating day moisturisers & night creams to incorporate into your skin care routine.
