Empower Your Skin Within Part Two: Empower Your Skin With Hydration

In our summer skincare series ‘Empower Your Skin Within’, we are looking at three foundational lifestyle habits that strengthen your skin’s natural defenses from the inside out.

In Part 1, we explored the power of antioxidants and polyphenols. In Part 2, we’ll dive into how proper hydration—inside and out—can help your skin stay healthy, resilient, and radiant all summer long.

Empower Your Skin With Hydration
Water – we can’t live without it.

The human body is composed of about 60% of water and is essential for such life-giving functions as detoxification, temperature regulation, joint lubrication, nutrient transport, cognitive function and digestive support.

Water also supports skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of dryness and wrinkles.

“The skin is your body’s largest organ and needs plenty of water to keep it healthy and in good working order,” says Richard Price, M.D. of Price Skin Care Clinic of Ridgeland, Mississippi. “Drinking enough water and applying skin moisturizers are crucial components of a healthy skin foundation.”
There are two primary ways to keep your skin hydrated: drink plenty of water every day and use humectant-rich skincare products.

Empower Your Skin with Water
Most health experts recommend that you drink about 8 glasses (64 ounces) or water a day for general health, but when it comes to hydration for your skin the amount of water depends on body size, activity level, the climate, diet and intake of caffeine and alcohol – both of which can be dehydrating.

Although drinking water doesn’t directly moisturize skin like a cream does, staying well-hydrated can improve skin elasticity, help flush toxins, support circulation and reduce the appearance of dryness and dullness.

Admittedly, it can be difficult to get those 64 ounces of water in each day.

Tips to help with that include:
• Spice it Up: If you happen to be someone who doesn’t like the taste of water – or you get bored with it – you can add flavor by getting creative with fruit, veggies and even herbs. Try such combinations as: strawberry, lemon and basil; orange and blueberry; watermelon and mint; citrus and cucumber; or watermelon and coconut. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
• Get Technical: Use an app like Waterlogged to track your water intake and to set ‘water alarms’ to remind you to get your water in.
• Work It Into Routines: Another way to add water to your day is to build it into your routines: drink a glass when you wake up, when you take your meds, before dinner and after brushing your teeth – that’s half your daily water requirement right there!

Empower Your Skin with Humectant-Rich Products
The other weapons in your hydration arsenal are humectant-rich products and substances that contain ingredients designed to attract and retain moisture.

Popular humectant-rich products include: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea, aloe vera, sodium PCA and honey.

These products attract water from the environment and the deep layers of the skin into the outermost layer and help keep skin hydrated, soft and plump.

Using these products – especially in your summer skincare routine, help your skin:
• Stay moisturized despite sun exposure and heat
• Look smoother and more supple
• Heal faster from dryness or minor irritation

H2O Your Way to Healthy Skin
Incorporating these hydration practices into your daily routine can significantly bolster your skin’s natural defenses against the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun during the summer months.

Empower your skin with H2O inside and out and you’re not just enhancing your skin’s external beauty, but you’re also empowering its inner resilience for a healthy foundation.

Remember, your first line of defense against the sun is an annual skin check performed by a trained skin health professional. If you haven’t had your annual skin check this year, call us at 601.992.3996 and we’ll schedule your appointment.