We’ve all heard the phrase "drink plenty of water" when it comes to maintaining healthy skin, but hydration goes far beyond just sipping water throughout the day. To truly nourish your skin, understanding how it retains moisture is a wonderful tool to have in your arsenal. The science of skin hydration involves more than just water—it’s about maintaining a delicate balance between moisture, oils, and your skin’s natural barrier.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the science behind skin hydration and explore the best ingredients to help your skin lock in moisture for a radiant, healthy glow.
How Skin Retains Moisture
The skin’s ability to retain moisture depends on the outermost layer called the stratum corneum, which acts as a protective barrier. This layer is composed of dead skin cells, lipids (fats), and proteins that help prevent water loss. When your skin is healthy and hydrated, it maintains a strong barrier that keeps moisture locked in and external pollutants out.
Several factors can affect this moisture balance, such as:
- Environmental conditions: Dry air, cold temperatures, and wind can strip moisture from the skin.
- Skin type: People with dry or sensitive skin often have weaker skin barriers and may struggle to retain moisture.
- Age: As we get older, our skin produces less oil and becomes thinner, making it harder to stay hydrated.
When the skin’s barrier is compromised or when external factors disrupt this balance, your skin can become dehydrated—leading to tightness, dullness, and even irritation.
The Role of Water in Skin Health
Water is essential for every cell in your body, and that includes your skin cells. Here’s how water supports skin health:
- Maintaining Skin Structure: Water helps maintain skin’s structure by supporting collagen production, which gives your skin its firmness and elasticity.
- Cell Regeneration: Hydrated skin cells regenerate more efficiently, helping the skin heal and repair itself.
- Nourishing the Skin: Water delivers essential nutrients to the skin and assists in detoxification by flushing out waste products through the body.
But while drinking water is important for overall hydration, topically applying hydrating ingredients directly to the skin is equally crucial for sealing moisture and ensuring long-lasting hydration.
Key Hydrating Ingredients for Healthy, Moisturised Skin
Certain ingredients are known to be powerhouses when it comes to attracting and retaining moisture. Here are some of the best ones to look for in your skincare products:
1. Hyaluronic Acid
What It Is: A naturally occurring substance in the skin, hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet, able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
What It Does: Hyaluronic acid draws moisture from the air into the skin, delivering deep hydration and helping to plump the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. It’s ideal for all skin types, especially for those with dehydrated skin.
Why It Works: Its ability to retain moisture makes it a must-have ingredient in moisturisers, serums, and masks, providing long-lasting hydration throughout the day.
Where To Find It: Hyaluronic Acid can be found in our MiracleFirm Smoothing Serum, and Hydrating Gel Toner.
2. Glycerin
What It Is: A humectant that draws water into the skin from the air.
What It Does: Glycerin works similarly to hyaluronic acid, helping to keep the skin soft and moisturised. It’s especially effective in balancing skin moisture without making the skin feel greasy.
Why It Works: Glycerin not only hydrates but also helps restore the skin’s protective barrier, making it a great ingredient for dry, sensitive skin.
Where To Find It: Glycerin can be found in many moisturisers and some serums due to how incredible it is for keeping the skin soft and hydrated. You can find it in our MiracleFirm Smoothing Serum, Brightening Face the Day Crème, Restoring Good Night Crème, and our Hydrating Gel Toner. Alternatively, these are four of the six products found in our Essential Six Bundle, to make things even easier!
3. Plant Oils (Squalane, Jojoba, Argan)
What They Are: Natural oils derived from plants, rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.
What They Do: Plant oils like squalane, jojoba, and argan oil help to lock moisture into the skin by providing a protective barrier. These oils nourish and hydrate without clogging pores, making them ideal for a wide range of skin types.
Why They Work: These oils replenish the skin’s lipid barrier, ensuring moisture stays locked in while keeping the skin soft and supple. They’re great for dry or aging skin, as they also have anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties.
Where To Find It: Plant oils can be found in every one of our products. However, the two that feature these oils most heavily are our best-selling HempTonic Face Oil, Purifying Oil Cleanser, and Nourishing Body Oil.
4. Aloe Vera
What It Is: A plant extract known for its soothing and healing properties.
What It Does: Aloe vera is rich in water and helps cool, hydrate, and soothe the skin. It’s excellent for calming irritated or inflamed skin while providing hydration.
Why It Works: Aloe vera is a gentle yet powerful ingredient that helps restore moisture without irritation, making it perfect for sensitive or sunburned skin.
Where To Find It: Aloe vera is a key ingredient in our Hydrating Gel Toner. Combined with Kiwifruit and Hyaluronic Acid, it is a hydrating powerhouse!
How to Incorporate Hydrating Ingredients into Your Routine
To maintain skin hydration, you want to use products that support the moisture barrier while helping to retain water. Here’s how you can incorporate these key ingredients into your daily skincare routine:
- Cleanse with a gentle, hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip away your skin’s natural oils.
- Tone with a hydrating toner that boosts moisture and prepares your skin to absorb serums and moisturisers.
- Serum: Use a serum containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin to deeply hydrate and deliver concentrated moisture to your skin.
- Moisturise with a nourishing cream or oil that locks in moisture and protects the skin’s barrier.
- Hydrating Masks: Once or twice a week, incorporate a hydrating mask to boost moisture levels and give your skin a rejuvenating boost.
Final Thoughts
Hydration is the foundation of healthy skin, and understanding how your skin retains moisture allows you to make better skincare choices. By using products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plant oils, and glycerin, you can keep your skin plump, radiant, and well-hydrated year-round.
Remember, hydrated skin is not just about drinking water—it’s about feeding your skin with the right ingredients to lock in moisture and maintain its health. With the right hydration routine, you can keep your skin looking and feeling its best every day.
