HYDRATING AND MOISTURIZING AREN’T THE SAME FOR YOUR SKIN — HERE’S WHY
IF YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO WANTS YOUR SKIN TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY, YOU WILL NO DOUBT HAVE HEARD HOW IMPORTANT HYDRATION IS. BUT KNOWING EXACTLY HOW TO ACHIEVE IDEAL LEVELS OF HYDRATION FOR YOUR SKIN CAN BE CONFUSING. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE A MILLION PRODUCTS OUR THERE TELLING YOU THEY ARE THE MAGIC ELIXIR YOU NEED, THAT YOU’RE ON SIMPLE CREAM OR OIL AWAY FROM THE PERFECTLY HEALTHY AND HYDRATED SKIN YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED. BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT CHOICE IS FOR YOU WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OUT THERE OFFERING THE SAME SOLUTION?
HYDRATOR VS. MOISTURISER: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Technically speaking, ‘moisturiser’ is an umbrella term used to refer to a wide array of products. However, when it comes to the marketing and branding of products, ‘hydrator’ and ‘moisturiser’ are used interchangeably and often oversimplify the function of a product in a way that is unhelpful. Because of this it is important to be familiar with the specific purpose of ingredients in order to find what best suits the needs of your skin.
Breaking it down into two camps, ‘occlusives’ help prevent dehydration by creating barriers on the skin, while ‘humectants’ are the actual hydrators that help saturate the skin properly. Most products are a combination of the two: simultaneously helping to increase the hydration of your skin and prevent dehydration. These products can be well suited for many, however learning about yourself and your skin is the only way to properly address what is best for you personally.
Going a bit more in depth, occlusives are moisturisers that consist of oil-based ingredients that work to create a seal on the surface of the skin, preventing water from escaping. An additional benefit of using occlusives can be smoother, less dry skin. Humectants are hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid that absorb water and hold it in place on your skin, meaning they address the actual problem of hydration, but not retention. While both of these products have the same end goal - healthy skin - it's important to know which are more suitable for an individual’s specific skincare needs.
THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION: WHICH IS BEST FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE?
The true difference in products is not whether it is a cream, balm, oil, gel or ointment - that is simply a question of preference in application. The difference lies in the ingredients: are they emollients, humectants or a mix of both? Most products on the market are, to varying degrees, a combination of both ingredients. The perfect product for you lies at the intersection of what your skin needs (hydration, moisturising or a balance of both) and a medium that you enjoy the experience of using, such as a hydrating balm or hydrating oil.
IF YOU HAVE DEHYDRATED SKIN, TRY A HYDRATING SERUM
Itchy skin, bags under your eyes or dull skin tone can all be indicators of dehydrated skin, meaning you'll need to work to introduce more hydration. If that's the case, try a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid - this compound retains its weight in water 1,000 times over, which helps to promote healthier, more hydrated skin.
IF YOU HAVE A DRY SKIN, TRY A THICK MOISTURIZER
Take note of the natural state of your skin - is it naturally dry, regardless of the season or weather? It could very well be that you have skin that simply struggles to retain moisture. In order to address this issue, you would likely be best suited to prioritise a moisturiser in order to create a barrier on the surface of your skin with the aim of helping your skin retain hydration more effectively.
By finding the right moisturiser for your skin, you not only create that seal, you can also introduce much-needed nutrients that will keep your skin happy and healthy regardless of whether it's hot or cold, dry or humid. For those dealing with particularly dry skin, the best solution is often the simplest - petrolatum, aka petroleum jelly - but other products like Shea Butter or soybean oil can also be effective.
IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN, TRY WATER-BASED HYDRATORS
Excessively oily skin can often be attributed to a lack of hydration. It can be that when those prone to oily skin allow their skin to become dehydrated, the existing oil issues can spin out of control, causing more oil to be generated as moisture levels decrease. Because of a potentially compromised barrier function, it can be the case that the skin has a hard time retaining moisture in the first place. To address this you should try some water-based, non-comedogenic hydrators and moisturisers. These options will feel lighter on your skin and won't generate the extra oils that can cause your pores to clog. Don't be afraid to use both moisturisers and hydrators – first make sure that you tackle the hydration issue, then seal in the hydration with a moisturiser like petroleum jelly or Shea Butter, as is your preference. If you're looking to take care of yourself in one fell swoop, consider finding a face mask that will take care of both your hydration and moisturising needs simultaneously.
SO ULTIMATELY, THE KEY TO GOOD, HEALTHY SKIN IS LEARNING WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR PARTICULAR TYPE OF SKIN AND WHAT PRODUCT HELPS YOU BUILD A ROUTINE YOU WILL MAINTAIN. IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT VARIABLES OUTSIDE OF YOUR CONTROL, LIKE THE DIFFERENT SEASONS AND WEATHER, WILL PLAY A PART IN WHAT YOUR SKIN NEEDS TO BE AT IT’S BEST, BUT WITH SOME RESEARCH AND A LITTLE EXPERIMENTATION YOU CAN HAVE THE LUXURIOUS SKIN OF YOUR DREAMS.
RECOVERY FACE SERUM
POTENT AND COMPLEX CONCENTRATED SERUM
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT
Recovery Face Serum is a superior antioxidant concentrated serum to make your skin hydrated, softer and younger-looking. This high-performance, silky-smooth serum contains vitamin-derived antioxidants, soothing anti-aging plant extracts and Peptides, the ideal assortment of beneficial ingredients for your skin.
WHAT DOES IT DO
Delivers potent antioxidants and superior replenishing and hydrating ingredients to the skin in a silky-smooth transparent serum fluid. This unique combination addresses the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone,improves the feel of firmness, and leaves skin looking perfectly radiant. Recovery Serum will help to balance and revitalize skin, leading to a healthier, radiant appearance.
Taking care of your skin is so much more than just a face cream you put on your face. We love to share our knowledge with you. The Read is our way of showing you we care about your skin, body and mind.