Winter Skin Care: Hydration vs. Moisturizing and the importance of both!
Winter Skin Care: Hydration vs. Moisturizing and the importance of both!
Winter is coming! And while winter is a wonderful time for the most part, many of the things that make winter fun can wreak havoc on your skin. In the winter months, as the weather turns cold and humidity levels drop, It then steals moisture away from the skin making it dry, itchy and irritated. Though taking a hot shower might seem like a good way to warm up, hot water dries out your skin by stripping it of its natural oils. So at this time of the year, your skin requires some extra TLC (tender loving care)!
When looking into winter skin care, you will often hear the terms “Hydration” and “Moisturization” – while they may sound the same, they are in fact quite different.
Hydration vs. Moisturizing
Hydration is required to increase the water content in your body and/or your skin, ultimately resulting in a plumper and healthier appearance. Moisturizing is used to help prevent skin’s water content from evaporating into the air.
Your winter skincare routine requires both. Your skin needs proper hydration just as much as your body. Why? Well, just like any other part of your body, your skin is an organ – in fact, it is the largest organ of your body. It requires adequate hydration to perform at its best. Hydration can not only help give your skin a healthy and plump appearance, it has also been proven to slow the ageing process, rid your skin of toxins, and fight excess oil and acne.
Moisturizers help trap the natural oils and lipids on the surface of your skin, prevent water from evaporating, and maintain a healthy moisture balance. So they help to protect your skin from the drying effects of the weather and external environments.
Simple things you can do
So how do you hydrate? Quite simply – drink lots of water! Even a little hydration goes a long way – so just adopting a routine of drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day is one of the best things you can do for your skin, your body and your overall health! Remember though that while packaged juices and beverages might seem appealing, they are loaded with sugar which undercuts any hydration benefits. There are also skincare products focused on hydrating the skin, called ‘hydrators’. Hydrators are formulated with ingredients called humectants to increase water content by catching moisture from the air and delivering it down to the skin’s layers.
Moisturizers help keep the water content in your skin intact. Apply a good moisturizer that suits your skin type, morning and evening on clean skin. Moisturizers with some SPF are great, because while you may not “feel” the sun in the winter, the harmful UV rays that damage your skin are still present.
So, besides maintaining a healthy diet, choosing the right skin care products are important. Always wash your skin with gentle cleansers meant to suit your skin type, and ones that don’t contain harsh chemicals that strip away the skin’s natural oils. Simple skincare routines can help you keep your skin healthy and glowing all winter long !
