Why harp on hydration?

Have you ever noticed your skin looking older after a heavy night or used a skincare product that appeared to reduce fine lines almost instantly? If you have, this wasn't due to overnight aging or anti-aging but because your skin was dehydrated. Dehydrated skin leads to a dull, uneven skin tone and fine lines that are suddenly more visible.

Dehydrated skin can result from aging, sun exposure, pollution, ambient conditions (e.g., temperature & humidity), and certain medications. These are extrinsic aging factors that you can help control with protective products. 

Another common cause of dehydrated skin is products that damage the skin's barrier by decreasing skin surface oils and damaging stratum corneum proteins, most often the wrong cleanser, exfoliant, acids, and retinol. 

Improving skin hydration can almost immediately improve the appearance of your skin. Look for products and moisturizers with natural moisturizing factors (e.g., urea, lactic acid, amino acids) and lipids (e.g., fatty acids and ceramides). These ingredients can help strengthen the skin's barrier, thus improving skin hydration by increasing the skin's water content and reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL; water lost from the skin). Hyaluronic acid is another excellent ingredient for skin hydration as it can bind up to 1000x its weight in water, locking more moisture into the skin. As well as hydrating your skin from the outside, you can improve skin hydration and overall body hydration by drinking more water. Be mindful of drinks that contain diuretics, coffee/tea, and alcohol: if you can replace some of them with herbal and tea that possess antioxidants that are great for your skin.