Written by: @brownskinned_nelly | Image by: Nadi Lindsay
Everywhere you turn in the skincare world, an expert is recommending ‘staying hydrated’ as a key to achieving healthy skin. Realistically, the water we drink doesn’t flow straight to the skin surface, resulting in dewy glass-like skin, so what’s all the fuss?
If you religiously drink 8 glasses of water daily, highly unlikely you will see any effect on your skin. The best-proven way to hydrate the skin is by taking a shower and then slathering on water-based products. It is also important to note that water comsumption is essential for lots of bodily functions, and constant dehydration will eventually take a toll on the skin resulting in premature wrinkles, puffiness, dry & itchy skin etc.
The amount of water a person needs for optimal daily hydration could be influenced by some factors such as:
- Lifestyle – someone who is active will get easily thirsty compared to someone with a sedentary lifestyle
- Weather – humid weather is more likely to increase thirst and water intake as opposed to cold weather.
How to achieve hydrated skin
- Incorporate water-packed fruits and vegetables (watermelon, lemon/mint infused water etc) into your diet.
- Quitting smoking because it contributes to water loss from the skin which leads to dehydrated or dry skin.
- Exercise, or being active, encourages blood flow to the skin.
- Having and sticking to a healthy skincare routine.
We can see that staying hydrated is not a total solution for achieving clear skin but it is definitely one of the many things we can do to positively impact our skin health so it is paramount to pay attention to it.
