Top Tips On How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated

Dehydration can affect all skin types, from oily to dry – so the question of how to hydrate skin is on many people’s minds. A lack of water can be due to not drinking enough of it – especially after a sweaty workout, or suffering with a cold or hay fever where you lose a lot of fluids. 

Another common culprit is air conditioning, which causes dryness in the atmosphere, zapping moisture from your skin in the process. Read on for our pick of the best skin hydration products and tips on how to keep skin hydrated around the clock.

Why is it important to keep skin hydrated?

Hydrated skin is happy, healthy skin! A lack of hydration can lead to dullness, pronounced fine lines and wrinkles, together with dark circles. Conversely, once you boost that H20 you’ll be rewarded with plumper-looking, glowing skin for your troubles. It will also be less prone to irritation. 

Drinking water can help flush out toxins and boost circulation and skin hydration, leading to that healthy glow we all crave. So if you’re wondering how to hydrate skin, read on for the best skin hydrating products and advice…

Hydrated skin vs. dehydrated skin

In a nutshell? Hydrated skin is well-moisturised, with a balanced water content, appearing plump, soft, and healthy. Dehydrated skin lacks water, often feels tight, looks dull, and may exhibit fine lines. Adequate hydration and a hydrating skin car routine is crucial for maintaining skin elasticity, preventing premature ageing, and promoting a vibrant complexion.

Best way to hydrate skin

Hydrating skin products you should know about

If you’re wondering how to hydrate your skin, these are the skin hydration products you should have on your radar…

Toner

Modern toners are an optional skincare step to add an extra ‘boost’ of hydration and skin-replenishing antioxidants in-between cleansing and serums.  They also work to balance the skin’s pH levels and create a ‘water pathway’ to allow serums and moisturisers to absorb more effectively. 

The Hydrating Toning Lotion, £25, is alcohol-free and contains hydrating aloe vera and fig extracts to leave skin balanced and replenished.

Essence

Inspired by Korean beauty rituals, an essence is similar to a toner, being a water-based treatment that works to drench skin with an additional boost of hydration and nutrients. Particularly good for dry or dehydrated skin types, they’re a great way to give your skin a ‘mini facial’. These are best applied with a spray bottle, to refresh your skin throughout the day.

The Multi-Active Treatment Essence, £39, contains a hyaluronic acid complex for a hydrating, youthful boost.

Serum

Probably the most hardworking product in your skincare regime, serums are intense, targeted treatments designed to treat particular skin concerns. Due to their lightweight consistency, they can reach the skin’s deeper layers and hydrate it more effectively.

Try the Hydra-Essentiel Bi-phase Serum – Normal to Dry Skin, £60, which delivers a hefty hydration hit in the form of medicinal kalanchoe extract that kickstarts the skin’s hyaluronic acid production (the “sponge molecule” that helps skin absorb and retain water).

Moisturiser

While serums tend to target specific concerns, the job of a moisturiser is to hydrate and soften the outer layers of skin, boosting its own protective barrier so that it’s less prone to water loss and irritation. Night creams or moisturisers for dry skin tend to be thick textures that are rich in oils and emollients. While those for oily skin are usually lightweight, gel textures that are oil-free and contain skin-plumping ingredients like hyaluronic acid, so that they hydrate the skin without feeling heavy or greasy.

If your skin is on the dry side, the Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream SPF15 – Normal to Dry Skin, £38, ensures skin moisture levels stay topped up throughout the day together with that all-important SPF to protect against UV damage.

But if your complexion is a bit oilier, the Hydra-Essentiel Matte Gel, £38, is a lightweight gel texture with all the same hydrating skin care benefits.

Masks

A great way to instantly perk up dry or lacklustre skin is with a skin-loving, deeply hydrating mask. The Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask, £53, is an intensive ten minute treatment for a quick burst of freshness and hydration, and is inspired by all of the best and latest cryotherapy techniques. Its nourishing and cooling ingredients (menthol and organic evening primrose extract) lower the temperature of the skin by 4 degrees (perfect for hot summer days), which is an impressive two times colder than a traditional cryotherapy facial. The result? Minimised pores, replenished radiance and skin that feels quenched and energised.

Eye creams

Many people tend to use a hydrating eye cream in addition to their moisturiser, as the ingredients tend to be gentler and safer to use around the sensitive eye area. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest and most prone to dehydration (hence why we get dark circles and fine lines, crow’s feet etc.).

Total Eye Hydrate, £32, is a life-saver when it comes to reviving tired, parched eyes.

How to hydrate your skin

If you have a bit meeting or special event coming up, you might want to know how to hydrate skin fast, an obvious tip is to drink more water, but there are ways you can boost your skin’s moisture levels via your skincare. 

A hydrating sheet mask is great for giving skin an extra boost of dewy radiance when you need it. Topping up with a facial mist throughout the day is another good way to quickly revive thirsty skin.

How to hydrate skin from the inside

When it comes to how to hydrate skin from the inside, an obvious tip is to drink more water (six to eight glasses per day) but there are ways you can boost its effects. 

Adding water-based foods to your diet, such as watermelon (clue is in the name), strawberries and oranges can help keep your hydration levels ticking over. Similarly, cutting down on diuretics like caffeine and alcohol, together with avoiding salty foods can help combat dehydration.

Also don’t forget to drink more water if you’ve been sweating it out on the treadmill or the spin bike, where you’re likely to lose a lot of hydration through sweat.

There are also supplements you can reach for if your skin’s particularly parched. Look for a vitamin that contains hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water and supplies a cushion between cells and elastin fibres for moist plump skin. Try one serving a day to give your skincare regime an extra kick.

Tips for hydrating ageing skin

While most of us want great skin at whatever life stage we’re at, signs of ageing such as pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles can be an issue for some of us. And while of course there’s nothing wrong with getting older, we obviously would like to get our skin looking as plumped, smooth and glowing as it can be. 

Applying a hydrating vitamin C serum in the morning is a good place to start. Rich in antioxidants, it boosts the production of skin-plumping collagen, repairs against sun damage and helps to diminish pigmentation.

The more mature your skin, the drier it becomes. So if you’re wondering how to keep skin hydrated when it’s also dry, apply a face oil over the top of your moisturiser to create a hydration barrier throughout the day to keep keep skin hydrated and glowing around the clock! You can’t go wrong with the best-selling Blue Orchid Treatment Oil – Dehydrated Skin, £40, infused with hydrating hazelnut oil to keep skin quenched all day.

FAQs

How can I hydrate my skin naturally?

You can hydrate skin naturally by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day, while avoiding foods and drink that are dehydrating – including alcohol, caffeine and anything salty. Incorporating water-based foods into your diet, such as melon, citrus fruits and lettuce can also help.

How do I deeply hydrate my face?

Wearing a sheet mask for 10 minutes can give your face the intense hydration hit it needs, particularly if you follow up with a hyaluronic acid-infused toner and serum.

What’s the quickest way to hydrate your skin?

A hydrating face mist is the perfect way to quickly hydrate your skin on the go. Pick one that features hydrating ingredients, such as squalane, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid.