Hydration is one of the most important (and yet overlooked) aspect of maintaining healthy, glowing skin. Today, we’re going to explore some of the natural ingredients that can help boost your skin's hydration levels, leaving it radiant and rejuvenated.
What Does Hydrated Skin Mean?
Hydrated skin means that your skin cells are full of water. This not only makes your skin look plump and vibrant, but it also allows it to function correctly. Hydration is essential for maintaining the skin barrier, which protects against environmental stressors like pollution, UV rays, and harsh weather conditions. Well-hydrated skin is supple, smooth, and has a natural glow that’s hard to ignore.
Signs of Dehydrated Skin
When your skin is dehydrated, it can feel tight, rough, and sensitive. You might notice fine lines and wrinkles becoming more pronounced, a dull complexion, and even some flakiness. Dehydrated skin can also lead to an increase in oil production, as your skin tries to compensate for the lack of moisture, which can result in breakouts and an uneven skin texture.
Understanding TEWL: Transepidermal Water Loss
TEWL stands for transepidermal water loss, which is the process by which water passes from the dermis (the middle layer of skin) through the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) and evaporates into the atmosphere. While some TEWL is normal, excessive TEWL can lead to dehydrated skin. Keeping TEWL in check is vital for maintaining hydration, which is where humectants and occlusives come into play.
The Role of Humectants, Emollients and Occlusive Ingredients
Humectants, emollients, and occlusives are three types of ingredients that work together to keep your skin hydrated. Humectants attract water from the environment and the deeper layers of the skin to the outer layer, ensuring that your skin stays plump and hydrated. Emollients soften and smooth the skin by filling in the gaps between skin cells, making your skin feel more comfortable and flexible. Occlusives form a barrier on the skin's surface, preventing water from evaporating and locking in the moisture provided by the humectants.
Humectants are most effective when paired with occlusives and emollients, which help seal in moisture and enhance skin texture by attracting moisture.
Natural Ingredients That Boost Skin Hydration
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about some star natural ingredients that can help keep your skin hydrated. We’ll focus on squalane, fermented oat extract, gluconolactone, and propanediol.
Squalane: The Ultimate Occlusive
Squalane is an oil that mimics the skin’s natural oils, making it an excellent emollient. Plant-derived squalane is different from squalene that is found in shark liver.
Squalane’s lightweight texture allows it to be easily absorbed by the skin without leaving a greasy residue, making it perfect for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin. By forming a barrier on the skin’s surface, squalane helps to lock in moisture, reducing TEWL and ensuring your skin stays hydrated and supple.
You can find squalane as the base oil in our best-selling Glow & Revitalize Oil Serum.
Fermented Oat Kernel Extract: A Hydrating Powerhouse
Fermented oat extract is a humectant that draws moisture into the skin and has the added benefit of being rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Fermentation enhances the bioavailability of the nutrients in oats, making them more effective in skincare.
Oat extract soothes and calms the skin, making it ideal for those with sensitive or irritated skin. It also helps to strengthen the skin barrier, further reducing TEWL and ensuring long-lasting hydration.
Gluconolactone: A Multifunctional Humectant
Gluconolactone is a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that not only hydrates the skin but also provides gentle exfoliation. Its larger molecular structure allows it to attract water without penetrating too deeply, making it suitable for sensitive skin types.
In addition to its humectant properties, gluconolactone offers antioxidant protection, helping to combat free radicals that can cause premature aging. By attracting and holding water in the outer layer of the skin, gluconolactone keeps your skin looking plump and smooth.
Propanediol: A Skin-Friendly Solvent
Propanediol is a natural, plant-based glycol derived from corn. It acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin and providing a smooth, soft feel. Unlike some other glycols, propanediol is less likely to cause irritation, making it a great choice for sensitive skin.
Propanediol also enhances the absorption of other ingredients, ensuring that the humectants and occlusives in your skincare routine can work their magic more effectively. By improving the overall hydration of the skin, propanediol helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and gives the skin a healthy, dewy glow.
What's Skin-Hydrating Routine Like?
Well-hydrated, radiant skin needs both humectants and emollients/occlusives. Rehydrate & Balance Beauty Essence is designed to banish dull, dehydrated, and irritated skin, this essence provides intense hydration while strengthening your skin barrier with a microbiome-friendly formula.
It contains powerful humectants such as Nordic fermented oat kernel extract, Probadeniol, Glycerine and Gloconolactone to deeply hydrate the skin.
It's best paired with Glow & Revitalize Oil Serum, a light-weight, squalane-based face oil that delivers the skin vitamins and antioxidants from organic plant and seed oils. And most importantly, locks all the hydration in to prevent TEWL.
The Take-Away On Hydrating Skincare Ingredients
Keeping your skin hydrated is essential for maintaining a healthy, youthful complexion. By understanding the role of TEWL and incorporating both humectants and occlusive ingredients into your skincare routine, you can effectively boost your skin’s hydration levels. Natural ingredients like squalane, fermented oat extract, gluconolactone, and propanediol offer powerful hydration benefits while being gentle on the skin.
Remember, consistency is key. Make these ingredients a regular part of your skincare regimen, and you’ll notice a significant improvement in your skin’s texture, tone, and overall health. Stay hydrated, stay glowing!
With love,
Jenny - Founder of Jenny Nordic Skincare
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