The secret to great skin revealed

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our skin. Some days it’s perfect, glowing and flawless. Other days, we find ourselves covering acne and blemishes with Band-Aids or concealer.  Dry patches are usually an indicator of more than just dry skin. It typically means you need to drink more water.

Hydration is the secret to great skin. The more water you drink, the more your skin benefits. Skin is an organ, and like any other organ, water is a primary component. Water makes up about 64% of your skin. So, if you’re dehydrated, you’ll see the signs. Cracked, irritated, itchy, or flaky skin are messages to refill your water bottle and drink up. 

If you use skin products, there is a fundamental difference between hydrators and moisturizers. Moisturizers trap water. Hydrators pull in water. If your skin is already dry, you have to hydrate before you can moisturize. 

Routine and natural activities can have a drying effect on your skin. It might seem odd, but steamy showers can dry you out. When the water evaporates, it might take away more than just the surface moisture. So take time to moisturize immediately after showering, when the hot water has opened up the pores making them more receptive to hydration. Then, the moisturizer works to lock those newly hydrated cells into place. 

Maintaining your moisturizing routine keeps you glowing on the outside. But to keep your whole body healthy, make sure you drink as much water as your body needs because this is the key to great skin. A general formula to figure this out is to take your body weight and divide it in half. The answer is a rough idea of how much water you should be drinking daily. Staying hydrated will keep your tissue, bones and vital organs functioning at peak performance and your skin will show it.