Your skin deserves all the love and hydration in the world. And the best way to do this is by applying a hydration serum to your skin.
This type of serum contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and glycerin, which all function to deeply penetrate and hydrate your skin, restoring health and firmness into it.
In this article, we’re going to take an in-depth look at what a hydration serum is and why you should be using one for your skin. Read on to find out.
What Is a Hydration Serum?
Hydration serum, also known as a hydrating serum, is a skincare product that helps moisturize the skin. It is made of water, emollients, and other ingredients, which help to treat dry and damaged skin.
When your skin is dry, it can flake and peel, causing problems with its overall appearance. By using a hydration serum, you can help your skin look smoother and healthier.
A hydration serum will enter the skin more deeply than a moisturizer because it is applied after cleansing and toning, but before applying moisturizer and other skincare products.
Because of this, hydration serums tend to have more potent active ingredients than other hydrating products, such as moisturizers and creams.
Why Should You Use a Hydration Serum?
Many of us think that our skin is already hydrated enough, but in fact, we are all living in a very polluted climate. We do not realize this because our body has a natural mechanism that helps to keep our skin well hydrated by retaining more water.
However, we suppress that mechanism when we use harsh detergents or soaps on the skin, spend too much time in harsh weather, and also when drinking alcohol or caffeine.
Dry flaky skin that lacks adequate moisture will result in visible lines, wrinkles, and skin conditions, like eczema. If you want to avoid this and achieve a sufficient level of hydration in your skin, then you should use a hydration serum.
Using a hydration serum is an easy way to treat your skin with the essential nutrients it needs to remain hydrated, youthful, and firm.
These serums work by infusing the skin with vitamins and other essential active ingredients that will make it more hydrated. With sufficient moisture, your skin will be soft and smooth, making it look healthy and vibrant.
A good hydration serum should contain hyaluronic acid as an essential ingredient because it enhances the absorption rate of other nutrients into the skin cells.
It should also contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are extremely important for the health of your skin because they destroy free radicals and protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Ingredients to Look For in Hydration Serums
Water
Water is one of the most important ingredients in any type of skincare product, including hydration serums. It hydrates the inner layers of your skin, which helps keep it looking fresh, clean, and youthful.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is another popular ingredient because it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. HA plumps up fine lines and wrinkles and keeps the skin hydrated by drawing water into deeper layers of the skin.
Aloe vera gel
Aloe vera gel is a great ingredient for moisturizing and healing skin. It is light, non-greasy, and absorbs quickly into the skin. This prevents it from clogging pores like some skincare ingredients.
Glycerin
This is another excellent ingredient to look for in a hydrating serum. It is a natural humectant which means that it draws moisture to itself and takes it into the inner layers of your skin.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants like vitamins C and E protect your skin from free radicals that cause premature aging by neutralizing them. They also help minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Growth factors
These are essential components of the skin’s structure and play an important role in water retention and tissue repair. Growth factors also encourage new cell production to keep your skin looking younger.
Other ingredients to look for in a hydrating serum include chamomile extract, green tea extract, jojoba oil, and shea butter.
So How Does a Hydration Serum Differ From a Moisturizer?
A moisturizer is the most basic type of skincare product. Its job is to replenish the skin with water and nutrients. Hydration serums are slightly more advanced.
They replenish your skin with not just water but also many other active ingredients that are crucial for skin health, like hyaluronic acid, vitamins, and amino acids.
It’s worth mentioning that there are also products called “hydrating essences” out there. While they’re similar to hydrating serums, they have one big difference: serums contain more active ingredients. That’s why hydrating serums are more effective than hydrating essences.
If you have sensitive skin or don’t want to dry it out any further, you’re better off using a hydration serum as opposed to a hydration toner.
Hydration Serum Benefits for Your Skin Type
Oily skin
If you have oily skin, using a hydrating serum can help balance out an oily complexion. Applying a hydrating serum after cleansing helps to lock in moisture so that excess oil production is restricted and sebum is broken down.
Dry skin
If you have dry skin, applying a hydrating serum can help add both hydration and nutrients to dry patches on your face or body.
Normal/Combination skin
If you have normal or combination skin, which is neither too oily nor too dry, a hydrating serum will provide an extra dose of hydration while also locking in moisture. This helps prevent the natural loss of water from your skin so that wrinkles.
How to Use Hydration Serum
- Wash your face and neck with a mild cleanser and pat dry your skin with a soft towel.
- Squeeze 2-3 drops of your serum into your hands after washing it with water.
- Massage it gently into your face and neck so that the serum gets absorbed in your skin properly.
- After massaging, wait at least 10 minutes, then apply moisturizer to your skin to lock in moisture.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun so that you do not get affected by harmful UV rays.
Treating Dry Skin with Hydration Serum
Treating dry skin is important because it can often lead to skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. If you have dry skin, it’s important to use a hydration serum at least twice a day.
The best time to use this product is after you have showered when your pores are open and the dirt on your skin has been washed away by water and soap.
You should not apply a hydrating serum before showering because the dirt and oil on your skin will prevent it from penetrating your skin.
There are also other types of hydrating products on the market today, including creams, gels, and essences. When purchasing a hydrating product, look for one that contains ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin E.
Tips for Getting Rid of Dry Skin
Drink more water
Dry skin requires a lot of hydration. Drinking lots of water and eating foods that contain hydrating elements, like watermelon, cucumber, and papaya, are great ways to keep your skin hydrated.
Ditch harsh soaps
Some soaps contain chemicals that can strip the natural oils from your skin and cause it to lose its ability to retain moisture.
Use gentle cleansers
Gentle cleansers that contain natural ingredients will clean away dirt without irritating the skin. Look for cleansers that have ingredients like cucumber extract, green tea extract, or aloe vera. All three are great for the skin and won’t leave it feeling dry, tight, or inflamed.
Don’t forget to moisturize
You can simply get rid of dry skin by using a good moisturizer. Use one with a light scent, as strong scents tend to irritate the skin and worsen itching problems.
Apply moisturizer right after bathing or showering, when your skin is still damp so it will absorb better into your skin rather than just sitting on top of it.
Use oil-free moisturizers
If you tend to break out when using products containing oil, there are moisturizers designed for you as well. Look for creams labeled “non-comedogenic,” which means they won’t clog pores and cause pimples.
Look for moisturizers with SPF protection
There’s nothing worse than going out into the sun without sunscreen or a moisturizing cream with SPF protection. The sun can cause dryness and premature aging of the skin, making your already dry skin worse.
Use a humidifier
If your home is dry, use a humidifier to add moisture back into the air. You can use a humidifier in the morning and evening to keep your skin from losing moisture.
Keep your hands clean
Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to prevent dry skin on your hands. Washing your hands regularly with soap and water will also make a huge difference to the softness of your hands.
What to Avoid if You Have Dry Skin
Being conscious of your skin type is the first step in taking proper care of your skin. If you have dry skin, you should avoid the following:
Pore-clogging products
Pore-clogging products will worsen the condition of your skin and cause more damage than good. For example, products containing artificial oils are pore-clogging and are not recommended for use with dry skin.
Skin irritants
Avoid using any products that contain harsh ingredients, such as excessive perfumes, alcohol, menthol, or camphor. These ingredients will worsen the condition of your skin instead of improving it.
Unnecessary cleansing
You can strip away your natural protective barrier by over-cleansing with harsh products. However, if you’re diligent about washing your face only twice daily, you’ll help keep your skin supple and hydrated.
Hot water
Hot water strips away both water and oils from your body, leaving it dry and itchy. Instead of hot showers, opt for lukewarm tub baths instead. If you have to take hot showers because of your job or lifestyle needs, try taking shorter showers if possible.
FAQs
Will drinking water hydrate your skin?
Yes, it will. Drinking plenty of water is important for not only hydrating your skin but also keeping your organs functioning properly as well.
Water is the most important nutrient in your body, so when you don’t get enough of it, you get dehydrated and your skin gets dry and wrinkly.
What is the difference between hydrating and moisturizing skin?
Hydrating is the process of adding water to your skin, while moisturizing is the process of keeping water in your skin.
You need both because hydrating your skin gives your skin the moisture it needs while moisturizing helps keep the moisture locked into your skin instead of allowing it to evaporate outside.
How can you hydrate your face naturally overnight?
Before bedtime, rinse your face with warm water and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Next, take some cucumber juice and apply it all over your face. Leave it on your face overnight and then rinse it off in the morning with cool water.
Cucumber contains sodium, which is an important element for keeping the body healthy and hydrated. The hydrating abilities of cucumber make it useful in treating dry or flaky skin, plus it also helps in reducing itchiness by cooling the skin down.
Conclusion
Hydration serum is key to achieving the radiant skin we all aspire to. These serums contain ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin, transporting water and nutrients to keep your complexion looking healthy.
Hydration serums are also affordable and easy to use, which makes them an ideal solution for people looking to improve their overall moisture levels.
Thanks for reading.
Visit Serum101 today for more information on hydration serums and other skincare products.
