By admin 
As you tumble out of bed at the beginning of the year, head full of ideas for a fresh start with fresher skin through better hydration, that “8 glasses of water a day” myth might be a bullet point on your resolutions list. But before you start slamming down so many glasses of water that you have to run to the bathroom at the most inconvenient times, sit down and spend a little time with the Apex Skin team as we discuss skin hydration, the best hydrating skincare products, and the science behind how to hydrate skin effectively from both the inside and the outside!
Although these widespread skin hydration myths may be well-intended, they can’t really achieve the skin-refreshing results you want. In fact, some of them can hinder your skin health:
While staying hydrated is crucial for overall health, it’s not enough for skin hydration. Your skin also needs topical moisturizers to lock in moisture and shield against environmental stressors.
Hydration is all about water—not oil—and oily skin needs hydration too. Over-stripping your skin of natural oils can lead to dryness, increased oil production, and potential acne. It can also leave you vulnerable to infection and premature aging. A balanced skincare routine with non-comedogenic moisturizers is essential.
Also, no. Moisturizers come in different thicknesses (creams, serums, lotions) and with different ingredients that perform varying functions based on your skin type, needs, season, and condition. They should be selected based on your skin type, needs, and the season to properly address hydration without causing irritation.
Actually, skin hydration is crucial year-round (especially here in Northeast Ohio). Cold, dry weather can deplete moisture from your skin. Adapting your skincare routine to seasonal changes ensures effective hydration and skin health.
Your skin is your body’s largest organ. Its layers breathe, protect you from infection, help regulate your body temperature, and help regulate your whole body’s hydration situation! Your skin consists of cells and layers that require water to stay healthy, soft, and smooth. There is water inside these cells (intracellular water) and also between these cells (extracellular water). Maintaining this hydration balance is essential for healthy, glowing, fresh-looking skin.
The skin cells also have fats (lipids) protecting this water balance from evaporation. The right balance of water, lipids, and nutrients can also protect your skin’s barrier function against damage from UV rays, stress, dry air, and environmental pollutants. So, in addition to providing your skin with water by drinking water, you need to apply moisturizers with lipids like ceramides, emollients, and humectants to replenish and protect the skin’s hydration from the outside.
Because skin hydration is essential to youthful, smooth, radiant skin, we’ve discussed hydration with Apex Skin experts at all 14 of our Northeast Ohio dermatology clinics. Between them all, we’ve selected five favorite, effective hydrating skin products that truly protect and hydrate skin for people with most skin types and conditions.
Daily Hydrating Boost is a twice-daily ultra-hydrating serum containing both fractionated and high molecular weight forms of hyaluronic acid. This enables the serum to sink deep to quench dehydrated skin. It smooths the complexion and helps the skin hold moisture all day, helping the skin appear smoother, firmer, brighter, and more vibrant. Daily Hydrating Boost also contains a balanced, nourishing combination of nutrients to revitalize the skin and humectants to lock in moisture and antioxidants.
They both recommend this serum during the winter months, whenever your skin is feeling particularly dry. It can revive dull skin, smooth fine lines, and even help enhance skin healing after cosmetic procedures.
The skin on your hands gets a workout every day, especially when the weather is dry and harsh, and you wash your hands more frequently. This Intensive Hand Cream absorbs quickly into the skin and is formulated with high-performance hydrating ingredients to bolster the skin’s natural moisture barrier for long-lasting hydration and comfort.
Our Neck Firming Cream addresses a common and annoying problem that develops as neck and décolleté skin loses its elasticity, tone, and definition with age. Keeping this skin area hydrated is essential to maintaining a lifted, tightened, defined neck. This cream repairs the skin barrier and improves elasticity with a special ceramide-peptide mixture that includes Vitamin B3 and botanical extracts to boost collagen levels so that this skin remains smoother and tighter. Ringaile Sirvaitis, one of our board-certified nurse practitioners and licensed estheticians who works in our Concord dermatology office is a big fan of the Neck Firming Cream.
For preventing transepidermal water loss (water evaporating out of your top layer of skin), it’s impossible to beat the Age-Defying Body Lotion. Its hyaluronic acid and biomimetic ceramide complex combines with a powerful mix of antioxidants and green tea polyphenols to protect and replenish the skin barrier while improving texture and elasticity. It also helps smooth out wrinkles, fine lines, and even cellulite while locking in moisture. The Age-Defying Body Lotion is a must-have item for RN and aesthetic nurse Dana Baker who works in our Hudson dermatology office:
The wonderful thing about the Perfect Moisturizer is that it contains a balanced formula with hyaluronic Acid that works with your skin’s own chemistry to restore and boost hydration, and protect your skin’s barrier function. It slows and reduces signs of aging to improve smooth, supple elasticity.
When you work on protecting your skin from the inside and the outside, your skin’s barrier function will do its best job protecting you from the elements while helping your skin look and feel smooth, radiant, and firm, even as the years tick by. In addition to the 5 best hydrating skin products mentioned above, here’s how to hydrate skin every day for healthy, vibrant skin:
This year, make it an easy resolution to bolster your hydration from the inside and the outside to get glowing, healthy skin without hassle and fuss. Avoiding the myths and focusing on the science of skin hydration while adding a few key hydrating skin products to your daily skincare routine can go a long way to smoothing, lifting, and keeping your skin firm and radiant. Of course, it’s important to be mindful of your individual circumstances and skin conditions when adapting your skincare routine for maximum hydration, so schedule an appointment at the Apex Skin location closest to you to talk with a dermatology expert today. We have same-day appointments available! Start your journey toward better skin health today.