Start with a gentle, hydrating cleanser, then apply a hyaluronic acid serum. Follow up with a rich moisturizer to seal in hydration and consider adding a hydrating face mist or overnight mask for extra care. Drinking plenty of water and using a humidifier can also support skin hydration.
Drinking water can only do so much, but you can add electrolytes to water, which can actually plump up the skin and give it a nice, healthy glow. Chia seeds also give water a boost. Coconut water is a nice shortcut because it has minerals found in electrolytes, and it gives skin a pretty glow.
Water is the most hydrating ingredient for skin. However, water tends to evaporate off of the skin, so it needs to be combined with humectants to hold it on the skin's surface, and occlusives to keep it from evaporating away. Oils are also wonderful hydrating ingredients for the skin.
Petroleum jelly is an oil-based product that forms an oily film over the surface of the skin. This oily film seals in moisture, helping keep skin hydrated and soft. According to a 2016 review article, Vaseline prevents more than 98% of water loss from the outer layer of the skin.
While hyaluronic acid is the ingredient everyone raves about—quite rightly so—for its hydrating abilities (it can famously hold up to a thousand times its own weight in water), there are other hydration heroes to look out for on skin-care ingredient labels.
While they're both effective hydration ingredients, polyglutamic acid has better performance and additional benefits to moisturize that hyaluronic acid does not have. Bondi says that “depending on the source, polyglutamic acid holds 4,000-5,000 times its weight in water.
Use toners, boosters, serums, and moisturisers that are loaded with antioxidants, hydration-replenishing ingredients such as ceramides, and skin-restoring ingredients. These give your skin what it desperately needs to appear healthy, radiant and smooth.
Some of the most effective and least expensive are petroleum jelly and its vegetable-based alternatives, and moisturizing oils, including vegetable oils. Because they contain no water, they're best used while the skin is still damp from bathing, to seal in the moisture.
Water is a great choice, in general. If you're dehydrated because you've been sweating a lot — from vigorous exercise, for example — a sports drink might be your best choice. If you're dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea, choose an oral rehydration solution.
1. Water. No surprises here. Water is always going to be one of the best drinks to hydrate.
A powerful hydrator for the skin's surface, Polyglutamic Acid can hold 4x more moisture than Hyaluronic Acid, locking in moisture and helping the skin appear instantly smoother.
However, if you apply Hyaluronic acid on an absolutely dry skin surface it only takes moisture from the deeper layers of the skin making the skin dry. You must top the Hyaluronic acid serum with a moisturiser to lock the Hyaluronic acid within. if you don't do that again it dries up your skin.
Our Top Picks. Best Overall Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer at Amazon $24. Best Budget Moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid at Amazon $19.
For most people, water is ideal for hydration. The lack of sugar and other additives makes it one of your best options. Other drinks can also help you stay hydrated. Some examples of hydrating drinks include coconut water, smoothies, and broth.
Humectants like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and urea pull water from both the air and the deeper layers of skin into the stratum corneum to add moisture. Occlusives like beeswax, soybean oil, and lanolin form a barrier that prevents water from evaporating.
Our top pick for the best night cream is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, as it's great for all skin types and provides long-lasting hydration. Another fantastic option is La Roche-Posay's Double Repair Moisturizer, which leaves the skin feeling nourished, soft, and supple—all for under $25.
Coconut oil can hydrate the skin and help it retain moisture. It may also have antibacterial properties. Additionally, coconut oil may help reduce inflammation and promote wound healing. Researchers are looking at coconut oil as a possible topical treatment for chronic skin inflammation.