How to Hydrate Your Skin and Keep It Hydrated

Knowing how to hydrate skin is one of the best ways to keep your skin happy and healthy. According to AOCD.org, our skin becomes thinner as we age so its ability to retain moisture gets weaker over time.

Many people assume applying moisturizer is the only way to hydrate skin, but there’s much more to it than that. If one of your skin goals is to get plump, hydrated, glowing skin, you’re in the right place. Here are some of the best ways to hydrate skin:

Skip the Hot Showers

Ending a long day with a nice, hot shower can be quite relaxing, especially as the temperatures start to drop during the colder seasons. However, you may want to think twice about showering (or bathing) with hot water because doing so can strip your skin of its precious natural oils.

It’s also best to avoid using hot water when washing your face. Just as a hot shower can dry out the skin on your body, washing your face with hot water can irritate and dry out the skin on your face. Instead, use lukewarm water to help preserve the skin’s natural oils.

Being more mindful of how long you spend in the shower also has an effect on skin hydration. Spending prolonged periods of time washing up can dry out your skin even further, so do your best to limit your showers to five minutes, saving water and your skin in the process.

Drink Plenty of Water

There are many benefits of drinking water, and improved skin health is one of them. While merely increasing your daily intake of water doesn’t automatically equate to hydrated, healthy skin, it sure does help. Water helps flush toxins from your system and hydrate the body overall.

Dehydration can cause the skin to become more prone to various disorders and premature fine lines and wrinkles, so make it a priority to drink plenty of water every day. Try bringing a reusable water bottle wherever you go and tossing in fruit to add a little bit of flavor.

Pay Attention to Skincare Ingredients

Ever check the back of a skincare product and find an extensive list of ingredients with ridiculously long and complex names? We’ve all been there. The trick is staying educated and knowing what to look for, which can help make ingredient lists seem less intimidating. If your concern is skin hydration, be sure to watch out for dyes, sulfates, harsh chemicals, and fragrances when adding new products to your skincare routine, especially if you have sensitive skin. Ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and alcohol can also cause dryness and leave you with dull, dehydrated skin.

When browsing the skincare aisle or surfing the web, look for products containing highly hydrating plant-based ingredients such as aloe, jojoba, and olive. For extra hydration, keep an eye out for products containing ceramides and humectants.

Ceramides

Ceramides are lipids in the skin’s top layer that limit moisture loss, strengthen the skin’s barrier, keep skin plump, and increase hydration. Using products containing ceramides helps replenish the skin’s natural lipids that were lost due to aging and environmental stressors like sun damage.

Humectants

Humectants help pull water into the top layer of skin and retain moisture. Some of the most commonly used humectants are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, salicylic acid, and squalane.

Stay Moisturized

When searching for the best way to hydrate skin, moisturizing is a clear favorite. According to Harvard Health, moisturizer helps protect the skin from dryness, flaking, and peeling, making it a vital step in your skincare routine. It’s especially important if you use any type of acne medication or topical treatment that can potentially cause dry patches.

The best time to apply moisturizer is right after cleansing when your skin is still damp so the moisture gets locked in. Gently press and massage your moisturizer into your skin using upward circular motions, being careful not to pull the skin too harshly.

Every skincare routine needs moisturizer but one thing to keep in mind when looking for a moisturizer is to find one designed for your particular skin type. However, keep in mind that skin types can change as we get older, so you may need to switch out your moisturizer accordingly.

Dry Skin

Being more prone to flaking and tightness, dry skin obviously needs more attention. Those with dry skin should opt for a moisturizer designed to deliver long-lasting hydration such as our Primed & Ready 2-in-1 moisturizer and primer. It's clinically proven to provide 24-hour hydration while helping to blur pores and imperfections, extend the wear of makeup, and lock in your look all day or night.

Get Ready for Your Close-up

This 2-in-1 hydrating primer locks in your makeup and keeps your skin hydrated all day. Go ahead and snap a selfie -- no filter needed.

Get Primed

For an extra dose of hydration, our Drink It Up serum is clinically proven to provide 48 hours of hydration. It's formulated with our plant-potent hydration complex made from watermelon, apple, and lentil, along with sodium hyaluronate and vitamin E.

Endless Hydration

Quench your skin’s thirst with this super-hydrating serum that also helps fight signs of aging and keeps your skin soft and plump.

Stay Hydrated

Normal or Oily Skin

Go for a moisturizer that’s oil-free, non-comedogenic, and quickly absorbs into the skin. Those with oily skin types may think they can simply skip moisturizer. However, doing so can actually increase oiliness since the skin responds to dryness by producing more oil, which can then clog pores and result in breakouts. Oily skin types in particular may benefit from a gel-based formula.

Our Hydrate Skin Smoothie is a non-comedogenic, vegan moisturizer that softens and hydrates skin without leaving any excess oiliness or stickiness. Best for oily to normal skin, Hydrate is packed with botanicals and good-for-you ingredients such as Floralux from chlorophyll, argan, and olive.

Quench Thirsty Skin

A skin smoothie for your face! This lightweight moisturizer is packed with botanicals and good-for-you ingredients.

Soak It Up

Combination Skin

Finding the right moisturizer to include in a skincare routine for combination skin can be tricky since different areas of the face require different formulas. Those with combination skin will benefit from using two different moisturizers: a lightweight moisturizer for oily areas of the face and a thicker cream for the dry areas.

Sensitive Skin

Knowing what ingredients you are particularly sensitive to will be an essential part in finding the right moisturizer for sensitive skin. Before adding a new moisturizer to your routine, be sure to patch test it first to check for allergic reactions and avoid any potential irritation.

Add Hydrating Products to Your Routine

If moisturizer alone isn’t cutting it, add in a facial oil, hydrating mask or serum for an extra dose of hydration. Facial oils provide superficial hydration in that they soften and hydrate just the top layer of skin. After applying moisturizer, following up with a facial oil helps seal and lock in moisture. Serums are nutrient-dense, making them the perfect addition to your routine, while a hydrating mask is a great way to treat your skin to an at-home facial and hydration boost.

Our Hydrating Masque is a vegan face mask that softens and nourishes the skin while drawing out impurities. Give your skin a quick pick-me-up with a blend of detoxifying clays, brightening citrus, hydrating coconut, and invigorating sandalwood.

Restore Your Glow!

Give your skin a pick-me-up with this blend of nourishing and hydrating botanicals, leaving you like you just had a facial.

Find Your Glow

Try a Humidifier

Still not enough? Try adding a humidifier to your home. A humidifier emits steam to create a more humid atmosphere. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, using a humidifier adds moisture to the air, which then helps hydrate the skin. Humidifiers are especially useful during the colder seasons because they help battle the cool, dry air and low humidity of the winter months. Dry, dehydrated skin can definitely be uncomfortable but with the help of a humidifier, you’ll be able to watch those dry patches disappear.

Now Put It All Together

Clearly, there are plenty of factors that affect skin hydration. All it takes is a few small lifestyle tweaks to get you a little bit closer to healthy, glowing skin.

What’s your favorite way to keep your skin hydrated?

Abby Vinas

Abby Vinas has long been an active member of the holistic health community, advocating in favor of its benefits to both our physical and emotional well-being. Her commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle has made her an authority on self-care practices. Abby is passionate about fitness, nutrition, and proper skincare, and is also an avid lover of avocado toast and dog-petting.