Skincare 101: Here’s How To Naturally Increase Your Skin’s Moisture
Skincare 101: Here’s How To Naturally Increase Your Skin’s Moisture
Our skin is the largest organ of our body and this comes with great responsibility.
We must take care of our skin at all times. Else, it’ll look dry and haggard.
Today, skincare routines have become more popular and while skincare routines vary, there is one you shouldn’t do without — moisturizing.
Whether your skin type is oily, dry or combination, you need to moisturize it daily.
This article will walk you through all you need to know about moisturizing your skin.
(Not to worry, in no time, you’ll be a moisturizing master.)
Skin Moisturizing… What Does It Mean?
Moisturizing and hydrating are often used vice versa. But do they mean the same thing?
Hydration and moisture are two distinct skin care needs.
Moisturizing is really focused on the skin barrier itself while hydrating goes beneath the skin barrier.
Hydrating ingredients in skin care products attract water to the outermost layer of the skin. While moisturizing ingredients lubricate the skin to prevent water from escaping.
(to the main reason why we are here —moisturizing)
Your skin naturally produces oil –sebum, which protects it from losing its moisture.
However, everyday actions such as sun exposure, chemicals in personal care products, and environmental pollution can hinder this natural oil’s function.
The products produced as “moisturizers” are designed to provide moisture to your skin.
They contain water, oil and other ingredients which helps protect your skin from getting dehydrated or dry.
Moisturizing products contain 3 types of ingredients, which includes:
Humectants: They are substances that bind water into the outer layer of the skin, and need to be used along with the other components in order to retain the water content they provide. They include ceramides, glycerine, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, and lecithin.
Emollients: help with skin barrier function, leading to an overall improvement in skin texture and appearance. They are squalene, ceramides, fatty acids.
Occlusives: help seal moisture within the skin.
They include petroleum jelly, beeswax, mineral oil, silicone, lanolin, and others.
Is Dehydrated Skin and Dry Skin The Same?
Though, it may appear like dehydrated and dry skin means the same, they are quite different.
Dry skin is characterized by fewer oil-producing glands on the face and body, while dehydrated skin is a lack of water and not oil.
Dehydrated skin is noticeable with symptoms like itchiness, dull skin tone, under-eye cycles, sunken eyes and wrinkles while a dry skin looks and feel rough, flaky, itchy and scaly.
The list of culprits that cause the skin to lose its moisture is a long one, some of which includes:
Hot showers
Low humidity
Winter weather
Overexposure to sun
Not drinking enough fluids
Lack of natural oils in your skin
Using harsh soaps and cleansers
Scrubbing yourself dry with a towel
Certain skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
Certain medical conditions also lead to dry skin which includes:
Diabetes
Menopause
Poor nutrition
Thyroid disease
Sjogren's syndrome
If you have any of these conditions, see your doctor for the right treatment.
On the flip side, the two aren't exclusively different either because your skin can be both dehydrated and dry.
Dry skin lacks oil, which affects the skin barrier function, leading to loss of more water through the skin barrier. This results in dehydrated skin.
It’s not only individuals with dry and dehydrated skin that need to moisturize, but also those who have oily or combination skin types.
Now that you understand what dry and dehydrated skin is, then that's right out of the way.
Here is the great news. It's quite easy to keep your skin hydrated and get a healthy glowing skin, especially if you try out natural home remedies (would love to see what they are? Here you go!).
Here’s How To Naturally Increase Your Skin’s Moisture…
A dry skin can really make you look drained. However, the solution is at your fingertips!
Though, applying moisturizer can feel like an annoying process in your skincare routine but trust me, it's essential (So don't try skipping it!).
Skin care is incomplete without daily moisturization and home remedies are the greatest option for many skin types.
There are quite a number of moisturizing creams available at shops and online, but you can as well make one by yourself.
Here’s a list of natural ingredients that can help you increase your skin’s moisture. They include:
Oils
Honey
Avocado
Green teas
Shea butter
Aloe vera gel
Oatmeal bath
Cucumber juice
Milk or buttermilk
1. Moisturize Skin with Oils:
Essential oils are effective for moisturizing the skin.
They help protect the skin barrier, which is damaged by exposure to environmental factors that strip the skin of its natural oils.
Aside from coconut oil which seems to be the most common, other natural oils also help, as they are free from irritants.
Examples of such oils are olive oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, castor oil, lavender oil, avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil and so on.
The natural oils mentioned above offer excellent soothing effects for all skin types, because they are very rich in Vitamin A, vitamin E, and fatty acids.
They supply the skin with essential nutrients, that in turn helps to lock in the skin’s moisture for perfect skin health.
You can decide to use natural oils alone or in combination with other ingredients to make a face mask or an exfoliating rub.
If you need extra moisture, virgin olive oil is a good homemade moisturizer because it contains vitamin E, antioxidants, squalene and other properties that repair damaged skin.
However, apply it in a very small amount and be sure this remedy is safe for you.
2. Moisturize Skin With Honey:
Honey naturally contains humectant and emollient.
These two ingredients in honey help soften your skin and retain the skin’s moisture.
It penetrates into the deeper layers of your skin and also helps in cleaning up your skin pores, restoring your skin to its natural glow.
You can also mix honey with oatmeal and glycerine, to make a moisturizing scrub.
Apply a small amount on your face and leave on the skin for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it off.
Repeat this twice a week or more often if you have very dry skin.
3. Moisturize Skin With Avocado:
Avocado contains several nutrients, vitamins, and minerals such as fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin E.
It aids in collagen and elastin production, making your skin firm and young-looking.
It will also help nourish your skin and protect it from environmental damage.
You can as well eat avocado for moisture, as it helps increase the skin’s elasticity and firmness.
For use as a facial mask; cut the avocado and remove the pulp present inside. Gently mash this so that no lumps remain.
Apply and let it sit for about 10 minutes rinse with water (and your dull flaky skin is gone).
4. Moisturize Skin With Green Teas:
Apart from drinking, herbal teas like chamomile, jasmine, caffeinated green and black teas, have other benefits.
Green tea bags have a soothing, cooling and anti-inflammatory effect on your skin, while black tea bags may help balance your skin’s natural pH level.
Put the wet tea leaves into a bowl and add other ingredients like honey to make a paste.
Apply the paste to your face and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing off (and your DIY moisturizer is all done!).
The caffeine in these teas may also help with under eye circles so consider applying a cool wet bag under your eye for about 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Moisturize Skin With Shea Butter:
Have you noticed shea butter is in almost every skin care product you see today? Well, that is all thanks to its powerhouse ingredient.
Shea butter works as an “emollient” and helps to soften and smooth dry skin.
It is a seed fat that comes from the shea tree found in East and West tropical Africa.
In foods, shea butter is used as a fat for cooking while in manufacturing, it is used in cosmetic products.
It serves as an effective skin moisturizer, as it is rich in saturated fatty acids.
It also has healing and anti-ageing properties and is used for many skin conditions like skin swelling, eczema and so on.
6. Moisturize Skin With Aloe Vera Gel:
Aloe vera is a houseplant with natural healing properties, also an effective natural moisturizer.
It grows very quickly and in no time you’ll have a home moisturizer for your use!
(so consider planting one in your compound).
Aloe vera contains nutrients like vitamin A and Vitamin E that makes it a great option for your skin.
It also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps lock moisture into the skin and makes it more tempting for trial as a natural skin moisturizer.
It has anti-inflammatory properties, which will help relieve the itching sensation that comes with dry skin.
It works by alleviating redness and irritation caused by skin dryness, and it can also decrease signs of aging, as well as acne breakouts.
You can make a face mask by using alone or mixing aloe vera gel with other ingredients like rose water, honey and fruits. Repeat this once every 2-3 days.
7. Moisturize Skin With Oatmeal Bath:
Oatmeal acts as an emollient and protective moisturizer for your skin. It works as an exfoliant which helps remove oil and dead skin cells.
Extracts from oatmeal have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, so adding powdered oatmeal to your bath is another natural ingredient that can help you treat dry skin.
Soaking yourself in oatmeal baths has an effective way to soothe and moisturize your skin.
To make an oatmeal bath; fill your tub with lukewarm water, add about 1 cup of grounded oats then soak yourself in it for about 10-15 minutes.
For face: Grind plain dry oats into a fine powder, Stir the oats in a bowl of water to see if it's fine enough. Apply the mixture on your face and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Wash it off with water and pat your face dry with a towel.
8. Moisturize Skin With Cucumber:
Cucumber is mainly water, and when used as a skin moisturizer, it hydrates your skin.
It has cooling and soothing effects that helps replenish and rejuvenates your skin.
Cucumbers are packed with anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, magnesium, silica and potassium.
Cucumber helps keep your skin firm and retain the skin’s youthful appearance.
To use as a face mask; blend unpeeled cucumber till it gets a watery paste, strain the mixture to separate the juice from the solid.
Apply the cucumber juice to your clean face, let the mask sit on your skin for about 15 minutes (thank me later).
9. Moisturize Skin With Milk or Buttermilk:
Milk and buttermilk are effective ways for moisturizing all skin types as they contain natural anti-inflammatory properties.
It contains lactic acid—a mild, natural exfoliant.
Lactic acid is one of the most hydrating and safer acids for sensitive skin. Though, they can sting cracked skin, so use with caution.
They are quickly absorbed into the skin pores and help in preventing wrinkles.
To moisturize your skin, soak a clean cloth or towel in a bowl of cool milk, and hold it in place over any dry skin area for about 5 to 10 minutes.
It’s common and normal to feel mild tingling, but if you experience a burning sensation, stop using it and talk to your dermatologist.
Do this twice a week before taking a shower.
Other Tips That Can Help Increase Your Skin’s Moisture:
With the skin being the largest organ, it’s your first barrier against any infection. So it's important to maintain the skin’s health.
Using a moisturizer is necessary, but there are also tips to maintain your skin’s moisture.
Other ways include:
Keep Showers Short and Warm: showers should be short and lukewarm in order to ensure water stays within the skin. A great ingredient that does this is hyaluronic acid.
Limit yourself to about 5-10 minute baths or shower daily. If more than this time, you may strip away much of the skin’s oily layer and cause it to lose moisture.
Apply Your Products on Damp Skin: after washing your face, leave it just a little damp before applying your skincare products.
Get a Humidifier: get a humidifier to increase the humidity in your bedroom, or any other space you spend a lot of time in. This way, less moisture will be lost from your skin.
Don't Over Wash: when you wash your face more than the recommended once in the morning and once before bedtime rule, you’re stripping it of both its moisturizing barrier agents.
Always Use Sunscreen: when you expose your skin to too much direct sun, ultraviolet rays can damage the skin barrier, which then leads to dry, irritated skin.
Applying sunscreen daily helps to lock in your skin moisture by creating a physical barrier.
Drink More Water: drinking more water will keep the skin hydrated. However, skin hydration also depends on some factors. Your skin is also affected by your diet, lifestyle and environment.
Eat Antioxidant Rich Foods: fruits and veggies are an excellent source for the skin as they increase the total water content of your body and hydration.
Some great foods rich in water and antioxidants include beets, spinach, and mushrooms.
Avoid Dehydrating Foods and Drinks: Food substances like alcohol, excessive coffee, foods high in sodium and sugars all contribute to general body dehydration. This may make the skin look dry, flaky, and dull.
Make Use of Toner or Essence: Essence contains humectants, oils and other emollients while toners are also made up of aloe, glycerine, hyaluronic acid and ceramides that helps to hydrate the skin and promote the skin’s moisture level.
Why Do We Need To Adequately Moisturize The Skin?
Ever wonder why your skin even needs hydration?
Hydration refers to water. Your skin needs water to give it strength and elasticity.
Luckily, you’ve got a built-in barrier to hold in water — the skin barrier.
But the issue is that the moisture-locking system doesn't always work as well as it should.
Out of everything you need to do in the morning, moisturizing your skin can feel like another chore- so why do it?
Just before you get tired, take a look at why you should always moisturize your skin:
Moisturizing helps:
soothe sensitive skin.
fight wrinkles and blemishes.
protect the skin from sun damage.
give your skin a young and glowing appearance.
slow the signs of aging and keeps the skin healthy.
reduce the chances of skin problems like acne, eczema, psoriasis and so on.
prevent dryness: cold weather or hot weather, air conditioning or indoor heat are all factors that can clear the moisture out of your skin.
Wrapping up
Skin trends come and go but there is one you should never let go — moisturizing your skin.
No matter your skin type, whether oily, dry, or combination, you need to moisturize your skin daily to keep it healthy.
Based on preference, you can buy manufactured moisturizers or try making one yourself.
You can conduct a patch test if you are unsure about any ingredient in the home remedies.
However, if home remedies and manufactured moisturizers do not work for your skin, you may have an underlying skin condition.
Then you should speak to your dermatologist or aesthetician.
Say no to dry skin and step up your skin moisturizing game with the above listed remedies.
Stay hydrated and fresh!