The Best Way to Keep Your Skin Hydrated

The difference between dry and hydrated skin is hard to miss. Much like you need to take purposeful measures to keep your body hydrated during hot weather, you also need to strategically keep your skin hydrated year round. Hot and cold weather can both work against your skin, so it’s important to know which techniques can help you embrace naturally hydrated skin anytime of the year.

Drink Water, But…

Water is absolutely essential to life, and it significantly impacts everything from your energy level and digestive system to body temperature and brain function. A dehydrated body experiences a number of unpleasant health issues that all root from a lack of water, but unfortunately the skin does not always directly benefit from water intake. When you drink water, it goes through the intestines to be absorbed into the bloodstream and filtered by the kidneys. Once that process is completed, water hydrates the countless cells in the body. Water can definitely support skin hydration, but it cannot be the only determining factor.

Add and Subtract Certain Habits

If you want hydrated skin, you will want to avoid long, steamy showers in favor of shorter, cooler washes. This is because burning hot showers actually strip moisture from the skin and even wash away protective oils. The body might respond by creating more oil to compensate, leading to oily skin, not hydrated skin. In place of the steamy showers, you can run a humidifier every night to prevent the air in your bedroom from becoming dry and damaging. It’s even helpful to use a high-quality moisturizing cream on your hands and feet and then wear socks and gloves while sleeping.

Eat Fatty Acids

Healthy fats, like those found in walnuts, flaxseed, salmon, and olive oil are essential for helping skin cells stay hydrated. You can even support your diet by using an omega-3 supplement. There are many products out there that offer fish oil that actually tastes good, so you can enjoy helping your skin stay radiant.