Winter: the time of year when your skin is crying out for hydration. However, with so many creams, oils, and other skin products available, we here at Clear Skin Solutions sympathize with the frustration that can stem from not knowing if you’re selecting the right products to get that much-needed boost of hydration.
In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing the key differences between hydration and moisturization, how to know if your products will hydrate, and, last but not least, why our philosophy here at Clear Skin Solutions is to keep your skin hydrated above all else– and how we ensure that your skin maintains that hydration.
Let’s Answer Your Burning Question: is Moisturizing the Same as Hydrating?
The short answer: no.
The long answer: while both moisturizers and hydrators aim to stave off dehydrated skin, hydrators increase the skin’s water content while moisturizers lock in pre-existing moisture. That means that, while you should, ideally, be using both moisturizers and hydrators in your skincare routine, your emphasis should be on hydration. Why? Because moisturizers will be forced into ineffectiveness if your skin is parched from a lack of core hydration.
That being said, prioritizing hydrators in your skincare routine is especially effective if your skin is dehydrated rather than dry. Dry skin is a skin type used to label skin that produces very little sebum (oil), whereas dehydration describes the level of water of your skin. Telltale signs that point towards your skin being dehydrated includes peeling, a feeling of tightness, sensitivity, redness, and rough skin texture.
“So, How Can I Tell if My Products Will Hydrate Rather than Moisturize?”
While there are a myriad of skincare ingredients that replenish the skin’s hydration levels (including, but not limited to, sodium PCA, ceramides, salicylic acid, and alpha hydroxy acids) there is one that we here at Clear Skin Solutions can’t recommend enough: hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid—alternatively known as hyaluronan—is a powerful substance that is naturally produced within the human body, the majority of which is found in the skin, connective tissue, and eyes. Since its function is to retain the body’s hydration, hyaluronic acid retains a staggering 1000 times its weight in water (which, when applied as a topical serum, quickly works to restore your skin to its ideal hydration levels.)
However, don’t go running out to grab just any skin product that has hyaluronic acid in its ingredients list: ensuring that the hyaluronic acid you’re applying is in a formulation that’s approved by your Skin Therapist is vital for reaching and maintaining your skin goals.
Whether you’re being coached in-person at our med spa or through our popular Long Distance Skin Consultations, working in conjunction with your Skin Therapist is the only way to achieve long-term healthy skin. Our team of skin experts factor in your current skin condition, skin type, diet, supplements, and skincare goals to both build a detailed profile of your skin and design a powerful home care plan.
That’s why, before adding any new formulas to your skincare routine, getting your Skin Therapist’s professional opinion on how this new formula will interact with other ingredients in your skincare routine should be your number one priority.
Our Hydrating Recommendations
Our philosophy here at Clear Skin Solutions is to always keep your skin hydrated: upping hydration levels keeps the skin from inflammation and dryness as we acclimate your skin to the active products that will have the biggest hand in changing your skin for the best.
So which hyaluronic acid-based hydrators does our team of experts recommended (especially if you plan to use them in conjunction with active ingredients?) Here are our top three:
- Hyaluronic Hydration: Perfect for helping to acclimate younger skin to active ingredients, this lightweight, ingredient-rich gel is designed to calm and hydrate all skin types.
- Balanced Hydration: Formulated for dehydrated, acne prone, and oily skin, this soothing serum bolsters hydration while treating sensitive skin and is available for purchase at our physical location.
- HA Complex: A highly concentrated hyaluronic acid serum, the HA Complex utilizes high-and-low molecular weight proteins to target aging skin at the source and maintain skin hydration.
Unsure which product would benefit your skin the most? One of our skin specialists can help you determine the best way to incorporate hydrating products into your skincare routine via our Virtual Skin Program; book yours today!