You might have confused the terms moisturizing vs. hydrating in your skincare routine. However, you need to understand the difference between them to make sure that you give your skin the care and protection it needs.

So, let us dive into the differences between skin moisturizing and hydrating, as well as some tips that you can do.

What is Skin Dehydration?

The skin is made up of microscopic cells. Each cell contains water as it is necessary to keep the skin vital and functioning. When each cell contains a healthy amount of water inside, the skin looks plump and glowing on the outside.

However, the water content of these cells is dynamic. They can flow in and out, depending on the circumstances. When too much water gets out, the cells dry up and shrivel. On the outside, this translates as dry and dehydrated-looking skin.

A common skin problem to look out for is skin dehydration. The lack of water content in the skin leads to dehydration. And this is not just an issue that you can ignore. Dehydrated skin can lead to inflammation, more visible wrinkles, and poorer complexion.

What causes this dehydration? First, not drinking enough glasses of water a day deprives your skin of the hydration it needs. Aside from these, usual dehydration culprits are dry weather, lack of sleep, intensely hot baths, and use of harsh skin care products.

If you are exposed to many of these culprits, you might already manifest symptoms of dehydrated skin such as:

  • Sunken and dark under eyes.

  • Itchiness.

  • Hyperpigmentation and dark shadows.

  • Wrinkles and fine lines.

Sometimes, skin dehydration can be a medical concern. Extensive dehydration of the skin and body can lead to weakness, dizziness, dry mouth, and lightheadedness. In these cases, seeking medical attention would help alleviate these symptoms.

Moisturizing vs. Hydrating the Skin

Skin dehydration may be common, but it is preventable and manageable. To address this skin problem, you need to understand the difference between moisturizing vs. hydrating skin.

Products that moisturize and hydrate the skin both aim to provide your skin with the water it needs to combat dehydration and dryness. Hence, the skin will be less susceptible to environmental damage and premature aging. Plus, you will look fresh and youthful!

But here is where the difference between the two lies – moisturizers and hydrators have different mechanisms of action to achieve their goal.

Moisturizing the skin is all about keeping moisture locked onto the skin and preventing excess fluid loss. Because of this action, the skin can remain smoother and supple. Moreover, moisturizers lessen the evaporation of water from the skin.

On the other hand, hydration infuses the skin cells with water. This way, the skin can better absorb moisture and nutrients.

Different skincare products have various ingredients that may help moisturize or hydrate the skin. But how would you know which of the two is your skin’s needs?

If your skin is a lot more on the dry side where you feel scaling and rough patches on your face, you might want to reach for an effective moisturizer. These will lock in moisture back on your skin to eliminate dryness and be plumper.

But if your skin is more dehydrated, you need hydrators to introduce water into your skin. Dehydrated skin cells are starved of their water content. This is why the skin would look dull with more noticeable wrinkles and fine lines. Here, you would also need to incorporate healthy changes in your lifestyle to further boost the hydration of your skin.

Some people would need a moisturizing or hydrating regimen for their troubled skin. However, the need for both also exists as dryness and dehydration can manifest concurrently.

Tips for Moisturizing Your Skin

Moisturizing your skin will alleviate signs of dry skin, as well as keep you looking fresh and youthful. You need to be careful when dealing with dry skin because it can escalate to breakouts and further skin damage.

Skin moisturizers are not difficult to find in the market. But you need to find the right one for you. So here are some skin moisturizing tips if you are dealing with dry skin:

  • Choose skincare emollients that can lock moisture in. Ceramides and Pentavitin are powerful emollients that are tested for various skin conditions like dry skin, eczema, and scaly skin disease. You can try using Humeda, with its Pentavitin content, to lock in moisture and give long-lasting supple skin.

  • Use moisturizing products with occlusive agents. Occlusives like panthenol and jojoba oil prevent dry skin by putting a protective barrier over the skin. Nourishing Night Oil is a moisturizer with jojoba oil and is perfect for moisturizing dry skin.

  • Apply moisturizers at the right time. It is highly recommended to apply these products after washing your face. Cleansing can naturally strip off the oils and hydration of the skin, so you need the active ingredients from the moisturizer to lock in moisture.

  • Use sunscreen every day. Being exposed to sunlight can lead to harsh sunburns and dryness. If you cannot escape sun exposure, a minimum of SPF30 can help do the trick.

  • Exfoliate weekly. Using exfoliators like a face scrub removes dead skin cells and flaky skin. This improves overall skin texture. Plus, it keeps your pores free from buildup that can lead to acne.

Tips for Hydrating Your Skin

You can check your skin if it is dehydrated with a simple pinch test. Gently squeeze a portion of your skin on your cheeks. If it does not immediately go back to its original configuration, it may indicate skin dehydration. Of course, you can also seek the help of a dermatologist to accurately determine your skin needs.

Check out these tips for hydrating the skin:

  • Look for skincare products with humectants. Humectants can boost skin hydration by drawing water into the skin. Examples of these ingredients are gelatin, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, and alpha hydroxyl acids.

  • Drink plenty of water. To hydrate the skin, you need to have sufficient water circulating in the body! Moreover, do not forget to replenish lost fluids after you exercise or workout.

  • Eat a balanced diet. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet as these are inherently fluid-rich foods.

  • Avoid drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol is notorious for dehydrating the body. When less water is present, your skin will definitely suffer!

  • Lessen caffeine from coffee and other foods and beverages. Nowadays, caffeine is not just obtained from coffee. Teas and chocolates also have a certain degree of caffeine in it. Similar to alcohol, this causes dehydration as it induces more water to be expelled from the body.

  • Get enough sleep. The body is placed under more stress and expels more fluid when you do not provide adequate time for rest. Around 8 hours of sleep each night would be ideal for a healthy body.

As you can see, hydrating the skin is a combination of using the correct skincare product and healthy lifestyle habits!

Conclusion

Premature aging and dull-looking skin might be due to skin dehydration. But there is always a way to manage it!

Moisturizing vs hydrating the skin are different in terms of how they work for the skin. And you must understand both to get an idea of how to help your skin.

Your skin can remain plump and youthful as long as you identify your skin’s needs, follow a healthy skin care regimen, and adapt your lifestyle habits to focus on keeping yourself healthy and hydrated.

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Article Reviewed by: Dr. Mary Amy Fatima Cagayan Chua