The words hydrate and moisturise are often used interchangeably in the skin care industry even though they are not the same thing! Both are essential for adequate skin care, provide your skin with nourishment work and work to combat dryness and dehydration. Knowing the difference between the two will help you determine what products are the best for your skin needs.
SKIN MOISTURE
If you have dry skin, that means your skin is lacking oil and it needs to be moisturised. This can happen due to many reasons including frequent bathing, use of harsh soaps, aging, or even certain medical conditions. Moisturising your skin is about trapping and locking in the moisture to build your skin's natural protective barrier.
Symptoms of dryness include being prone to dry, flaky skin, meaning your skin barrier may not be locking in moisture. This is why we invest in good moisturisers. Moisturisers restore your skin’s plump and bouncy appearance. They are particularly useful during the winter when your skin is prone to dryness.
The best way to moisturise your skin would first-and-foremost be to invest in a deeply moisturising product that works for your particular skin type. These should be applied to clean skin after you cleansing, as they prevent skin from drying out post-wash. They're also most effective when applied to slightly damp skin, as they seal in moisture. Other things you can do to keep your skin moisturised is:
1.Use a humidifier when your skin feels particularly dry
2.Keep showers short to avoid stripping away the skin's oily layer that is needed to lock in moisture
3.Use natural, fragrance-free and alcohol-free products in your skin care routine
4.Be gentle on your skin. Over exfoliation of the skin strips it’s natural protective barrier
5.Check your wardrobe and avoid wearing materials like wool, acrylics, or other fabrics irritates your skin
SKIN HYDRATION
If you have dehydrated skin, your skin lacks water and it needs to be rehydrated and has a compromised skin barrier function. Hydration is the absorption of moisture from the air and then infusing your cells with water to improve your skin's ability to absorb moisture and nutrients.
An example of dehydrated skin is dullness and fine lines and wrinkles that are becoming noticeable. Also experiencing chronically dry, inflammation-prone skin is a dead giveaway that you suffer from a compromised skin barrier and skin dehydration. Other than getting in your daily 2 litres of water daily, here are a few tips to keeping your skin hydrated:
- Get 8 to 9 hours sleep
- Limit coffee and alcohol
- Limit or avoid smoking
- Eat a varied diet that's rich in essential fatty acids
- Use a natural, hydrating toner
Unlike the old-school, alcohol-based toners that could be quite drying to the skin, there are now next-generation hydrating formulations like SkinSpring R3 Hypochlorous (HOCl) Formulation which is purifying without stripping the skin of it’s natural oils (which causes loss of moisture and skin dehydration). This dermatological solution assists in preserving and promoting the skin's moisture levels.
Because Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a substance that our bodies naturally produce within our white blood cells, it is extremely effective at combating inflammation-prone and dehydrated skin and speeding up the body’s natural healing processes. Even those with extremely sensitive skin can enjoy using SkinSpring’s IP protected Hypochlorous Formulation.
SHOP SKINSPRING FOR DEEP SKIN HYDRATION
Now that you understand the difference between skin moisturisation and skin hydration, you can make informed decisions when it comes to investing in skin care for your skin type. Ultimately, your skin is healthy and beaming when it is properly hydrated, has balanced natural oils and its lipid barrier is uncompromised.