Skin hydration is essential for keeping your complexion soft, smooth, and protected. In order to keep water in while keeping harmful elements out, you need a healthy skin barrier made up of natural occlusive and emollient ingredients.
Lekus suggests including ingredients like naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid – known for holding 1000 times its weight in water – plant-based squalane (which helps decrease trans-epidermal water loss) and shea butter in your products.
Gels
For fast hydration that leaves skin looking refreshed and moisturized, try using a gel moisturizer. Formulated mostly of water-based components, gel moisturizers absorb quickly into skin tissue for effective hydration.
A unique gel matrix formula features liquid crystal structures that mimic the assembly of skin barrier lipids with specific emulsifiers and humectants to provide deep skin hydration. Confocal Raman microscopy was employed to assess ex vivo skin treated with both this gel matrix formula and another product of its kind.
Results revealed that this gel matrix formula demonstrated superior corneometer measurements – which reflect skin hydration levels – compared with its competitors within 1 week, and continued this trend over 12 weeks of clinical evaluation.
Tonics
A toner (also referred to as lotion or skin refiner) is an indispensable treatment that refreshes and revitalises your complexion after cleansing and before moisturizer application. A toner works by gently eliminating makeup residue, sebum build-up and pollutants left from cleansing.
Based on your skin type, toners that reduce sebum production or boost hydration can be beneficial in keeping it soft and youthful looking. Hyaluronic acid-infused toners in particular can absorb water deeply into your barrier skin layer for healthy-looking complexion.
When looking for toner for combination skin, look for one with ingredients like green tea, licorice root and rosewater to control oil in the T-zone and soothe dry spots in other parts of your face. Or try this nourishing formula infused with K-beauty favourite radish leaf extract and brightening niacinamide.
Serums
Face serums are lightweight formulas with concentrated doses of active ingredients. Common ingredients found in face serums include exfoliants like glycolic acid or beta-hydroxy acids like salicylic acid to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells and prevent breakouts, while others such as kojic acid or arbutin may even skin tone and help minimize hyperpigmentation.
Many popular face serums contain ingredients like retinol to target fine lines and wrinkles, while others provide intense hydration through ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid attracts and retains water without leaving behind greasy buildup; making it an excellent solution for dry skin types looking to increase natural moisture levels.
Milks
If you suffer from dry skin, finding an effective cleanser that doesn’t strip away natural oils is key to combatting moisture loss and allowing your moisturizer to do its work. Other habits which promote adequate hydration include drinking enough water, eating healthily, sleeping properly and practicing stress management techniques.
Look for products with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid (the darling of skincare), glycerin, dimethicone and shea butter to replenish moisture loss in your environment and deliver it back into your skin, according to Dr. Feely. These substances act like magnets to attract water vapor from outside and deliver it directly onto skin tissue, as Dr. Feely explains.
This milky face oil boasts an effective blend of non-comedogenic jojoba and sesame seed oils, along with carrot root extract, beetroot extract and kale extract to soften and revitalize. Plus, ceramides – skin-protective lipids which work to diminish dryness.
Lotions
Skin that has been adequately hydrated and nourished is smooth, resilient, and beautiful. With proper skincare practices in place and daily applications of moisturizing products, maintaining vibrant health in one’s complexion becomes an attainable daily goal.
Lotions are designed to quickly deliver water into the outer layers of skin quickly and efficiently, without leaving an oily or greasy finish behind. They feature low viscosity formulations for quick absorption with non-greasy finishes that allow rapid absorption rates.
Lotions often contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid that help plump and firm the appearance of skin, as well as other hydrating agents. Some formulas also feature oil-control ingredients to minimize excessive shine and help prevent breakouts for people with oily skin.
Moisturizers come in many forms: lotions or creams; while ointments contain thicker formulas with thickeners like petroleum jelly, shea butter or castor oil to form a barrier on your skin and keep moisture out. When selecting products labeled as non-comedogenic to avoid clogging pores or worsening acne breakouts.
