Hydration: the foundation for beautiful skin

Understanding the difference of hydrating and moisturizing your skin, and why you need both.

It is important to understand the difference between hydrated skin and moisturized skin, and what you can do to create a happy and beautiful complexion.

Hydration refers to the water content of the cells. When skin becomes dehydrated it shows signs of more redness, congestion, and inflammation. Dehydrated skin that could be more full and bouncy appears dry and lackluster. If you live in Colorado you likely are experiencing dehydration of your skin due to our environment. There’s no question that drinking adequate water is excellent for your body, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that your skin is reaping the benefits. It is best to also hydrate your skin topically with hyaluronic acid, the gold standard. Hyaluronic acid (or HA) can be thought of as containing water magnets that when applied topically, bind up to 1000 times their weight in water. Hydrating Serum by Revision Skin Care is my favorite product and I am quick to apply it immediately after taking a shower or washing my face to capture as much water as possible. When I need a real boost I use IS Clinical Hydra-Intense Cooling Mask, and sleep with it on.

Now that you’ve got the water you need in your skin cells, you need to stop it from evaporating, and this is where moisturizers come in.

Dry skin is lacking in oil, which helps to make up the lipid barrier to the skin. Signs of dry skin can be discomfort, itching, and flakiness. Moisturizers not only lock in your skin’s hydration, they work to enhance your natural lipid barrier. Even people with oily and acne prone skin need to hydrate and moisturize and thankfully moisturizers come in a variety of formulations. Lighter Versions are better for those who are acne prone, who live in a more humid environment, and often are preferred during warmer seasons. Heavier moisturizers are better for those with dryer skin, older skin, the winter months, and at night. The Neocutis Riche products, IS Clinical Youth Crème, and Epionce Medical Barrier Cream are all great moisturizers.