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Hydration Skincare
A functional skin hydrator or face lotion can help support the skin’s moisture barrier, improve the look of elasticity, and help reduce the occurence breakouts. Embrace hydration skincare to help rehydrate the skin’s water balance and promote a healthy, radiant complexion.
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Hydration skincare FAQs
What is the difference between hydration and moisturization?
The terms moisturization and hydration are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between them.
- Hydration: This refers to the water levels within the skin and the process of replenishing its moisture.
- Moisturization: This process seals in hydration with the help of lipids such as ceramides—emollients that help help reduce water loss and retain moisture
It’s worth noting that while moisturizing products can temporarily make the skin look and feel smooth, dehydrated skin may still appear dull. Knowing the difference between a moisturizer and a hydrator can help you make more informed skincare choices.
At ZO® Skin Health, clinically tested functional hydrators are used in place of traditional moisturizers to help reduce the look of redness, deliver fast-acting hydration, and help improve skin resilience to support more advanced skincare routines.
What is hydration skincare?
Hydration and healthy skin go hand in hand. When skin becomes dehydrated and lacks water, the skin barrier’s effectiveness may weaken. Without enough water, the barrier struggles to maintain its moisture balance. This can disrupt the processes that keep skin looking plump and smooth.
The skin barrier is composed of humectants and lipids. Humectants bond to water molecules, while lipids help trap them so they stay in the skin.
Hydration skincare encompasses products that are designed to replenish and maintain moisture in the skin. Whether it’s a hydrator cream or another formula, they typically feature hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides that help draw water into the skin and help lock it in. This keeps the skin looking plump and healthy.
What are the benefits of hydrating products?
Skin looks and feels healthier when moisture levels are where they need to be. This is because effective hydration can help reveal visibly smoother, softer-looking skin with improved appearance of elasticity. It can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Adding hydrating products to your regimen can be especially helpful if you have dehydrated skin, as they help support the skin barrier by attracting and retaining moisture more effectively.
Can I use a hydrator instead of a moisturizer?
This comes down to your skin’s specific needs. Typically, using both can be beneficial. A hydrator helps to attract moisture into the skin, while a moisturizer helps seal it in. If your skin is dehydrated, you may wish to prioritize hydrating products so your skin barrier receives the support it needs. For long-lasting hydration, it’s often recommended to follow with a moisturizer, as moisture can gradually evaporate.
If in doubt, it’s best to speak to your dermatologist or one of our skincare professionals.
How does the skin become dehydrated?
There are many causes of dehydrated skin. Environmental factors like changing weather, pollution, and prolonged exposure to UV rays can weaken your skin’s protective defenses. Showering in water that’s too hot and using drying ingredients in your skincare routine can also impact the level of moisture in your skin’s barrier. Some people may be overusing actives in their skincare, for instance. Internal contributors including hormonal imbalances and dehydration may also play a role.
Since some of these factors are beyond our control, hydrating skin products can help support the skin barrier when it’s under stress. Dehydrated skin isn’t just low on water. It may have difficulty retaining it. The right skincare regimen can help maintain and support the skin barrier with effective ingredients.
How can I tell if I have dehydrated skin?
Several signs may indicate your skin is dehydrated. Even those with combination or oily skin can experience dehydrated skin. It’s also important to understand the difference between dehydrated and dry skin. Dry skin is a skin type, whereas dehydrated skin is usually temporary and can affect all skin types.
If your skin feels tight, this could be a sign of dehydrated skin. You might have fine lines near your eyes or on your cheeks, or a general dullness to your complexion. Dry, flaky skin or uneven texture can also occur where the skin’s cell turnover is impaired. Irritation can be a sign of of prolonged dry skin, which is why it’s best to address it sooner rather than later.
A simple test for dehydration involves pinching your skin and seeing how quickly it goes back into place. If it returns to its original position slowly, this could be a sign that moisture levels are low. At this stage, you may want to think about making lifestyle changes or consider a skin-hydrating moisturizing lotion or other products.
What types of ingredients can be found in skin-hydrating products?
Skin hydrators typically include a selection of the following ingredients:
Humectants:
- Glycerin: Helps attract and retain moisture at the skin’s surface.
- Hyaluronic acid: Found within the skin, hyaluronic acid is a valuable addition to the skin’s barrier that helps boost hydration and leaves skin looking plumper.
Lipids:
- Fatty acids: These lipids exist in the top layer of the skin and help reduce water loss to keep skin hydrated.
- Ceramides: These molecules are major lipid components in your skin barrier.
- Squalene: Although squalene is lightweight, it’s capable of supporting the skin’s barrier and help reduce moisture loss. It’s also a natural antioxidant and helps neutralize free radicals.
Soothing, fragrance-free formulas can also help reduce the look and feel of irritation, which you may be more prone to if your skin is dehydrated.
How can I incorporate hydration into my skincare regimen?
Embracing hydration within your skincare routine primarily comes down to understanding the differences between moisturizing and hydrating the skin, as well as choosing the right ingredients and products. Look for cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, and other skincare formulas with humectants and lipids that can work together.
Using high-quality products specifically tailored to hydration can be especially helpful. Typically, fragrance-free options may be suitable, especially for sensitive skin. Consistent use can help when introducing these products into your regimen.
In the meantime, lifestyle factors can help you maintain a more hydrated-looking complexion. This includes getting enough sleep, drinking adequate water, and considering a limit on coffee or alcohol intake.
Embrace hydration skincare with ZO® Skin Health
Start your journey to better skin hydration with ZO® Skin Health. Our skin hydrators contain high-quality, clinically tested formulations designed to help the skin look plumper and more radiant by replenishing moisture.
For help selecting the right products or upgrading your skincare regimen, don’t hesitate to contact our ZO® Customer Service today.