Your skin has an inbuilt barrier designed to keep harmful things out and moisture in, but sometimes this system breaks down. Hydration is key for healthy skin; here are a few tips to help your complexion thrive:
Search for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides as hydrating ingredients for your complexion. Serums may also help – although they should be used alongside regular moisturizers or hydrators for best results.
Hydrating Face Masks
Hydrating face masks provide skin with an intensive dose of moisturizing ingredients in a highly concentrated form, such as cream or gel texture and contain powerful moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or tremella extract, providing intensely hydrating benefits.
Masks often contain ingredients to form an occlusive barrier on the surface of skin to prevent water loss, typically applying this type of mask once or twice weekly for 10 minutes before rinsing off and washing away with warm water.
Face masks can also contain brightening ingredients to target discoloration and dark spots – two common skin issues in dry conditions. A great example is Laneige’s overnight mask, which contains mineral-rich water and squalane to quench skin while protecting against environmental stressors, as well as niacinamide to minimize uneven skin tone and ageing signs. Of course, moisturizers or serums may also work to hydrate in their own way!
Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizers
Hyaluronic acid is one of the most popular skincare ingredients and for good reason: A quarter teaspoon can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water! That’s thanks to long chain molecules with multiple attachment points where water can attach.
Hyaluronic acid molecules come together with skin cells to form a water-attracting film that creates a water-retaining barrier and plumps and firms up the surface, giving an aged complexion a smoother look and younger complexion. Hyaluronic acid also increases skin elasticity while helping prevent fine lines and wrinkles from appearing, according to Dr. Lortscher.
As we age and become exposed to environmental threats such as UV rays, our body’s reserves of hyaluronic acid become depleted over time. However, applying products containing this ingredient (or its salt, sodium hyaluronate) may help replenish these reserves.
This moisturizer not only contains hyaluronic acid but also includes shea butter and coconut oil for additional hydration, but it can also soothe dry, sensitive skin while offering brightening benefits due to niacinamide content.
Hydrating Serums
Hydrating serums contain high concentrations of ingredients to improve skin tone and texture, working quickly to deliver results.
Hyaluronic acid is an integral ingredient found in most hydrating serums, helping skin retain moisture and plumps it up, thus making fine lines and wrinkles appear less visible.
Many hydrating serums also include Vitamin C to even out skin tone and improve dull complexions, while some even contain antioxidants to shield it against environmental damages caused by UV rays, air-conditioned rooms, stress and pollution.
Hydrating serums are fast-absorbing and lightweight moisturizers designed to boost the efficacy of any creams or lotions applied, improving their efficacy. If you have sensitive skin, choose one formulated with thermal spa water; otherwise opt for something nutrient-rich like one packed with peptides, alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin E that promote healthy and radiant complexion.
Hydrating Oils
While most face creams contain water-based texturizing ingredients, facial oils penetrate deep into the skin for long-term hydration. Containing humectants and emollients to provide long-term moisture, facial oils are vital components for healthy skin.
Face oils differ from traditional moisturizers in that they’re highly concentrated, meaning only a few drops need to be applied for maximum effectiveness. When selecting facial oils tailored specifically to your skin type, such as RENEW Cacay Oil + A to revitalize and soothe dry or tired-looking complexions.
Good Molecules offers an ultra-hydrating face oil formulated from olive-derived squalane for soft and radiant glow, along with camellia and sea buckthorn oils to promote smooth skin. Furthermore, this formula works to reduce inflammation, hyperpigmentation and aging by supporting skin regenerative processes – perfect for sensitive skin as it can even be applied directly onto lips as lip treatment!
