How to Hydrate Skin Naturally

Keeping skin hydrated is an essential component of everyday skin maintenance. Whether your natural complexion is oily, dry, sensitive, or (lucky you!) classified as “normal,” hydration needs to be a fundamental part of your basic AM and PM routines. Need help getting your hydration routine back on track? Well grab your Hydro Flask and follow along, because we’re breaking down the bottom line on skin hydration!

While hydration directly relates to how “moisturized” your skin is, the two terms refer to different skin variables. Rule of thumb: hydration refers to water, moisture refers to lipids (oil). That said, the two variables are closely related.

In order to maintain a healthy level of hydration in your dermis, it’s important to have a fortified lipid barrier. Remember that your lipid barrier is the outermost dermal layer which effectively works to ‘lock in’ water that you’ve delivered to your skin through water-based toners like our Flower Water Toner (more on this cult favorite below). Without a strong lipid barrier, your hydration will escape through evaporation. And need we say it, skin hydration also relies on your everyday habits and adequate intake of water.

Dehydrated skin can be deceiving, and can masquerade as a number of secondary problems. Oftentimes dehydrated skin is dry, itchy, and scaley, and can develop chronic flakiness in specific areas. Typically the super fragile skin around the mouth and eyes is most prone to showing dehydration. This flaking and rough texture can make it really difficult to apply makeup, and you’ll be left with uneven foundation, patchiness, and settling in creases.

Note that these dry skin symptoms can sometimes be linked back to skin that’s suffering from a lack of lipids. In all likelihood, you’re probably dealing with a combination of both: not enough H2O combined with a compromised lipid barrier.

Other telltale signs of dehydrated skin generally have to do with texture and complexion. Dehydrated skin typically has a dull and rough look, with exaggerated under eye circles, shadows, and an increased appearance in any texture problems. Dehydrated skin means that each individual skin cell doesn’t have enough water in it. This translates into a reduction of glow, bounce, and elasticity.

PRO TIP: To replenish hydration while stimulating circulation to depuff and brighten the eye area, employ a daily caffeine eye treatment like our Yerba Mate Eye Cream.

It’s worth mentioning that dehydrated skin doesn’t always mean dry skin. Sometimes dehydration can go hand in hand with an oily complexion, acne, and congested pores. You might actually be exacerbating your ‘combination skin’ problem through using overly stripping chemical ingredients to treat your blemishes, effectively dehydrating the surface of your skin while sending a message to your oil glands to go into overdrive.

One quick way to determine if you have dehydrated skin is the elasticity test: if you pinch your cheek and your skin doesn’t quickly bounce back into its original shape, chances are you are severely dehydrated. Time to drink some water and incorporate some topical skin rehydrators into your routine.

Wondering about how to hydrate skin with an easy everyday treatment? Our Flower Water Toner is made up of several carefully chosen floral waters, each specifically chosen to supplement your skin care routine when you’re dealing with dehydration. The formula contains Organic Rose Flower Water, a plant tonic that’s full of antioxidants and that’s super effective at balancing your coplexion’s PH and lipid levels.

In terms of external hydrators, there are a variety of plant-based topical rehydrators that work super hard to replenish lost water content in your skin.

A few of our favorites:

• Aloe water is an excellent rehydrator, with an H2O base that’s naturally boosted with calcium, magnesium, potassium, and Vitamins B, C, and E.

• Coconut water is another super effective rehydrator which works as a humectant to lock water into your pores, along with vitamin C (key for collagen production) and age-protective antioxidants.

• Floral waters are absolute allstars when it comes to rejuvenating skin and re-injecting water into skin cells. Also called hydrosols, these are waters created through a process of steam distillation of plant matter, flowers, and leaves. The resultant condensation is collected and cooled into an ultra concentrated water based liquid that contains trace amounts of plant essential oils and the constituent minerals and fatty acids in them.

Wondering about how to hydrate skin with an easy everyday treatment? Our Flower Water Toner is made up of several carefully chosen floral waters, each specifically chosen to supplement your skin care routine when you’re dealing with dehydration. The formula contains Organic Rose Flower Water, a plant tonic that’s full of antioxidants and that’s super effective at balancing your coplexion’s PH and lipid levels.

Rose works alongside Calendula Hydrosol, a delicate floral water which helps hydrate and revitalize skin, working as a natural skin conditioner that stimulates collagen. Think more fullness, density, and skin elasticity. Witch Hazel adds an antibacterial kick to the formula, and Hylauronic acid works as a seriously heavy duty humectant, helping skin to retain water and avoid dehydration throughout the day.

Add this or another plant-based, hydrating toner or facial mist into your skin care regimen after using a gentle facial cleanser in the PM. Follow with a plant-oil based moisturizer to lock in the water and minerals. You’ll be left with reduced inflammation, a more balanced complexion, and the feeling that your skin has just taken a big gulp of water.

Keep up with us here for more skin care guides!