10 Ways To Maintain Hydrated Skin

Overview

If your skin is dry, scaly, red, or just irritated, your moisture barrier could be in need of some good old-fashioned TLC. Skin’s moisture barrier, made of fatty acids, ceramides, and cholesterol, is responsible for locking in the moisture and keeping your skin glowing and hydrated.

If your skin is compromised or damaged, i.e., your skin can’t hold moisture, it could cause serious skin hydration issues. For instance, look at your skin as a cement sidewalk; if the moisture barrier is broken, it could leave deep cracks running up and down the sidewalk. To our skin, these cracks expose our sensitive skin layers to the dry, causing them to dehydrate.

The moisture damage isn’t permanent luckily. You could reverse the damage and restore proper hydration to your skin with the right lifestyle changes. The best part about it, is that you could restore it quickly by starting to repair your moisture barrier and find a serious boost in hydration to the skin in a few days, while making changes for a long term for your skin takes time you could bring in tiny change to restore it. 

How to test your skin’s hydration level

Before jumping right in, it’s a good idea to test your skin’s current hydration levels. There is a simple yet effective way to test this, you could try using your thumb and index finger, pinch your skin’s fleshy part where the cheek and under the eye meet. 

When you attempt this, your skin might appear tented or stuck in the shape of your pinch. Your hydration levels are determined by how quickly the skin snaps back into place. The quicker it snaps back, the higher its hydration levels. Skin that slowly returns to its previous position often exhibits dehydration.

10 Easy Ways To Maintain Hydrated Skin

Use a humidifier

Low-humidity environments often cause dry skin. You could use a portable humidifier or have it installed in your home’s central heating unit.

Hydrate skin with lotion, ointments, or face creams

There are so many over the counter skincare products that could be used to hydrate your skin such as moisturising creams, petroleum jelly etc. Look into lotions that contains lipids ceramides, glycerin etc. to help in restoring the skin’s protective barriers. If you have an oily skin type, consider using an oil free moisturiser for a hydrated skin without contributing to illness.

Use a moisturiser with hydrating ingredients

Look for moisturisers that contain certain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, Glycerin and ceramide.

i) Hyaluronic acid

It is a naturally occurring substance primarily found in the skin, eyes and joints. It is a long chain of sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycan. It is always known for its ability of retaining water, which makes it a vital component of the skin’s extracellular matrix and helps in keeping the skin hydrated and plump. It plays a huge role in lubrication of joint and the maintenance of healthy eyes.

ii) Glycerin

It is an odourless, colourless and viscous liquid widely used in many industries, also referred to as glycerol. It has three hydroxyl groups (-OH) called as trihydroxy sugar alcohol attached to the carbon backbone.

iii) Ceramides

It is a type of fat molecule or lipid that is present naturally in the skin’s barrier. It is an essential component of the skin’s outermost layer , known as stratum corneum, acting as the barrier between the external environment and body.

Apply a facial toner

It hydrates your skin by allowing the serums and moisturisers to penetrate deeper into your pores to set the foundation for applying other makeup products over it, such as foundation, primer, concealer, etc.

Use a vitamin C serum 

Skin looses its elasticity when the skin ages dwindling collagen production. Serums and vitamin C face masks helps in brightening your skin tone. Combining topical and oral vitamin C helps boost collagen production , potentially helping in minimising fine lines and wrinkles.

Drink plenty of water

Your skin absorbs moisture when you consume water. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day and avoiding too much consumption of diuretics like coffee and alcohol can help with moisture retention.

Exfoliate a couple of times a week

A face scrub might help you in removing dead skin cells and residue buildup that could clog the skin’s pores. Also, chemical exfoliants containing glycolic acid strip away deal cells, helping your skin absorb moisturising topicals. Try using a face scrub 2 to 3 times a week and use a chemical exfoliator such as a face peel once a week. It’s essential to note that over-exfoliating could alleviate your natural skin barrier, so try to avoid exfoliating your skin if it feels dry or irritated.

 Use sunscreen 

Your skin gets dehydrated if it’s under the direct exposure of sun. Dermatologists suggest applying a sunscreen with an SPF 30 strength or higher to block out about 90% of all UVB rays. If you experience sunburn, soothe and hydrate your skin with aloe vera.

Use natural oils and gentle cleansers

To aid dehydrated skin, you could use natural moisturising oils. If you have acne-prone skin that is dry , you should consider applying jojoba oil. To avoid stripping essential oil from your skin, try washing your face daily with a fragrance-free facial cleanser customised for sensitive skin.

Skip long, hot showers and use moisturiser after a shower

Long shower with hot water encourages the moisture to leave your skin. Moisturise right after you shower, you could lock in the moisture by applying shea butter or lotion over your entire body right after you get out of the shower. Body oils applied to slightly damp skin could have a similarly hydrating effects.

Hydrated skin is able to protect itself from various external factors such as harsh weather, pollution and UV radiation. Follow the above tips for a plump, smooth and hydrated skin. 

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