Summer Skin, Hydration and Why We MUST Supply Our Bodies With H2O

Why we need water?

90% of our body is… water. Our blood is 90% composed of water. Water moves around oxygen and nutrients that every cell in our body needs. Water helps to form urine and flush out the waste from our bodies. In addition, it lubricates our joints, regulates our body temperature, normalizes blood pressure, prevents wrinkles….. enough? These are just some benefits of water.

Since it is difficult to imagine that we would forget to drink water, nevertheless, research indicate that 75% of us are chronically dehydrated (do not provide our bodies with sufficient amount of water). The level of dehydration is obviously the key as some level of dehydration is not good but will not cause your demise, severe dehydration may lead to serious illness and even death. Remember – if provided with fluids a human being can live without food for up to 3 weeks but without water just up to 3 days…

How do I know I am dehydrated?

Five Major Signs of Dehydration

1. You feel hungry - When your body wants a drink, it will happily use any source of water; from a glass of water to a bowl of soup. Food can be a source of water and we often will overeat if we do not drink enough. Try to get a glass of water before your meal. Your body and … waste line may truly enjoy it
2. Your Breath Stinks - One of the first things to get reduced when you're dehydrated is your saliva production. Less saliva means more bacteria in your mouth and more bacteria means stinky breath
3. Your urine changes color to dark yellow or even orange - Water is a major component of urine and your kidney need water to process the body’s waste. When you are dehydrated all the waste becomes concentrated and changes the color (and intensifies odor ) of your urine
4. Your mood gets bad - A bad mood may start with your water levels, according to the Journal of Nutrition. Scientists found that young women who were just one percent dehydrated reported feeling more anger, depression, annoyance, and frustration than women who drank enough water during a lab test. SO DRINK AND SMILE!
5. You get a little fuzzy - Why your brains begs for water, it may also decrease your cognitive functions and decision process. Dehydration and not just alcohol may impair your driving and other mental functions.
6. You get a pounding headache - That same study that found that dehydration increased moodiness in women also found an increase in headaches for both men and women. The researchers added that dropping water levels could decrease the amount of fluid surrounding the brain in the skull, giving it less padding and protection against even mild bumps and movement.

Short Guide to Hydrating Your Skin

Moisturizing reduces many skin problems including acne, moisturizing everyday can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes are harmful for skin and can cause or exacerbate acne. In addition, proper hydration helps with faster healing of pimples and other skin injuries, reduces puffiness, prevents wrinkles and skin aging as well as reducing pores and helps your skin glow.

While water provides for very important internal hydration, skin can also benefit greatly from external hydrating This is achieved with moisturizing and moisturizers. The basic function of a hydrating face moisturizer is to add moisture to dry skin and help keep it from drying out again. Beyond that, there are many other things moisturizers can do that your skin can benefit from.

Why is it important to use a moisturizer?

1. Prevent Dryness
Cold weather or hot weather, air conditioning or indoor heat all of these environmental factors can suck the moisture right out of your skin? That’s where a good moisturizer comes in. It not only replaces moisture that’s already been lost but helps prevent future loss.

2. Slow Signs of Aging
Fact: Hydrated skin is younger-looking skin. You’re thinking, “why do I need to think about that now?”. Because it’s never too early to start preventing future fine lines and wrinkles. And that plump, firm feeling you get after giving your face a dose of hydration is actually helping to slow down the aging process. You can thank us later!

3. Help Fight Acne
It might seem strange to add more moisture to already oily-prone skin, but it actually makes sense. Think of it like this: When your skin gets dry, it sends a message to your glands to produce more oil that can clog your pores and cause breakouts. So, if skin is properly hydrated, it can actually help stop the skin from producing more oil than it needs.

4. Protection From The Sun
We can’t tell you enough how important it is to use a product with SPF, even in colder months. Since dermatologists recommend using SPF every day, why not go for a 2-in-1 moisturizer that contains sun protection?

5. Soothe Sensitive Skin
Got red, irritated skin? Have dry, itchy patches? Sensitive skin needs extra special care. Look for a moisturizer that has soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, oatmeal, and honey, just to name a few.

When should you use a moisturizer?

Since we wash our face and body morning and night, it’s a good idea to moisturize right after. In the AM a light moisturize would be preferred while in the PM.,we should reach for something more substantial maybe containing some proteins, collagen even healthy natural oils. Wherever you use moisturizer give it time to penetrate into your skin- wait about 10 min before you apply your makeup and make sure to give yourself 30 min in the evening so you do not rub it on your pillow.

How to moisturize your face

1. After washing your face, pat it dry before applying your favorite moisturizer.
2. Make sure you apply moisturizer gently, using upward strokes. Never press or pull on your skin.
3. If you’re going to put on makeup, apply moisturizer before foundation or any other makeup.

For combination and dry skin, use more creamy moisturizers possibly with added Vitamin E and/or B. For oily skin opt for water based products with Ceramides, Niacinamide and Vit C, to brighten dull skin.