Let’s talk skin hydration.
If your skin is a sponge, then hydration is the water that keeps it soft and bouncy. Hydration preserves your skin’s elasticity, smooth texture, and overall appearance. Without it, your skin is susceptible to dehydration and dryness. And that’s a no for us.
To keep dry skin at bay, let's get into the typical causes of dehydrated skin, offer tips for effective skin hydration, and recommend the most suitable moisturizers to keep your skin nourished and healthy.
First, what causes dehydrated skin?
Water accounts for 65% of adult bodies, and 15% of that water is concentrated in the skin. Needless to say, water’s pretty damn important.
It acts as a reservoir and moves from the deepest layers of the skin to the surface. This flow of water is known as Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL), and it’s naturally regulated by a protective layer on the skin’s surface. But when TEWL and said protective layer are disrupted…well, say hello to dry, flaky skin.
Several factors, both external and internal, can cause this disruption and lead to skin dehydration. Externally, think of climate conditions, sun exposure, hot baths or showers, harsh skincare products, and inadequate hydration. And for internal, we’re talking about aging, genetic predisposition, underlying medical conditions, dietary habits, and certain medications.
These factors create an imbalance in the skin and can lead to dryness, flakiness, and roughness. Understanding and mitigating any chance for imbalance is crucial for maintaining optimal skin health and hydration. And when your skin feels good, you feel good.
Tips to treat dehydrated skin, please?
- Be Gentle: Avoid harsh exfoliating scrubs and cleansers, and steer clear of exfoliating brushes or tools. They can leave your skin feeling rough and cause dryness and redness.
- Double-check Your Routine: Your skincare routine should play nice with your skin. Go easy on products like retinol, acids, or vitamin C. Consider alternating them to see if your skin improves, and always follow the directions on the label.
- Cool Down: Hot water may feel amazing, but it does little for hydration. Avoid washing your skin with hot water and use lukewarm water instead, especially when cleansing your face.
- Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: Hydrate your skin with a moisturizer, both day and night, to lock in hydration and maintain smooth, radiant skin.
- Up Your Antioxidants: Think of antioxidants as besties for the skin. Add them to your skincare routine to protect your skin from free radicals and revitalize your complexion, combating the signs of dehydration.
- Sunscreen, ALWAYS: Protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV rays, which undo all the good work peptides, antioxidants, and your skincare do.
Our favorite OUI the People products for dry skin woes:
- FEATHERWEIGHT Hydrating Body Gloss: Available in unscented, Orange Blossom and our new Cedarwood, FEATHERWEIGHT is a lightweight body oil meets serum that delivers your most hydrated, supple skin with a lit-from-within glow.
- HEALTH FOOD Prebiotic Lotion: One of our newest products, HEALTH FOOD is a lightweight, hydrating lotion with skin-balancing prebiotics and nourishing emollients to replenish dry, distressed skin and strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier for a healthier, brighter glow.
- ALL IN ALL Melting Body Balm: Deeply nourishes and moisturizes while actively smoothing skin and boosting collagen production to reveal your softest, most radiant, and resilient skin.
Shop our full Skin Hydration Range.
