Hydration: The Key to Glowing Skin?

Hydration: The Key to Glowing Skin?

Beauty is skin deep

Did you know that your skin is the second largest organ in your body? And, just like any other, it needs water to function properly and stay healthy.  Hydration has a number of incredible benefits for your skin, such as anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and plumping properties; it’s the unsung hero of beautiful skin. Only when your body is properly hydrated will your skin look radiant, supple and rested.

Turn back the hands of time 

As you get older, you’ll start to notice various changes in your skin and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, there are a  few things you can do to age ‘gracefully’.

One of the main changes we see in our skin as we mature, is wrinkles and loss in skin elasticity. Michigan State University studies show that drinking sufficient amounts of water can improve the skin’s elasticity and work against the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face. In addition to staying hydrated, protecting your skin from the sun by wearing SPF and aiming for around 7-8 hours of sleep will also help you to maintain a fresh complexion, (but we know that can be easier said than done!)

These bags ain’t designer 

Dark circles, sunken eyes or under-eye bags, whatever you call them, sunken, puffy, discoloration under your eyes can  give the appearance of tiredness and can make you look older than your years. They can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, lack of sleep, sun exposure, aging, eczema and, you guessed it, dehydration.

Of course, you can’t change your genetics, however studies by BMC Public Health show that people who are dehydrated are more likely to have sunken eyes. So, if you want to keep your eyes looking fresh and alive, pick up that water bottle and start keeping properly hydrated throughout the day. 

H20 glow

There’s only so much you can hydrate your skin with moisturizers and lotions and we know it can get expensive. Before reaching for the latest must-have product, how about starting from the inside out first? By focusing on proper hydration, you can improve the appearance of your skin and prevent dryness and flakiness. Drinking lots of water helps to combat the buildup of dead skin cells, keeping your skin plump, supple and radiant.

Likewise, a study by the University of Missouri-Columbia found that just by drinking two cups of water, you can increase blood flow to the skin which helps to create a more even skin tone, giving you that glowing complexion.  

When you’re drinking more fluids, you may notice you need to pee more and your urine will be a lighter colour, and this is a good thing. Harvard Health studies show that water helps flush bacteria from your bladder and lighter urine is an indication of fewer bacteria in your body. This means fewer toxins in your skin, meaning less irritation and inflammation.

Reduce puffiness

Sometimes, your face may seem a little bit puffier than usual and, in most cases, this is a result of fluid retention; most often caused by consumption of too many salty and processed foods. Our bodies retain water as a means of protecting us when we are dehydrated, holding onto any water we do have in our cells.

If you are properly hydrated your body will not need to retain as much water. Cutting down on processed foods and incorporating more water-rich foods into your diet, such as fresh fruits and vegetables can also help you to beat the bloat.

Unclog your pores and reduce breakouts

Our pores can become clogged and enlarged, resulting in breakouts and inflammation. Dehydrated skin sends signals to the glands to produce more oil in order to combat the lack of moisture however this can cause oily, acne-prone skin. Drinking lots of water helps your skin to balance the levels of oil and water which prevents oil-production, helps make pores less visible, reduces aggravation of acne and prevents breakouts.

Experts note there is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. So, even if you consider your skin to be oily, that does not necessarily mean it’s not dehydrated. Someone with dry skin has fewer oil-producing glands on their skin while  someone with dehydrated skin lacks water, not oil. The only way to resolve this is to drink more water. 

Hydration means more than just water

Remember that keeping hydrated isn’t always about how much water you’re drinking because water alone doesn’t always work at keeping you sufficiently hydrated. Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, citrate, chloride, zinc, and malic acid also play a key role in hydration. These minerals allow the cells in your body to generate energy and help regulate the water levels all across your body.

To keep your skin in check,  consider adding supplements to your water that contain all the necessary nutrients. SOS is a hypotonic drink which means that it has lower osmolarity than blood allowing you to absorb three times more water than simply drinking water alone. Our powder solutions offer the optimum balance of electrolytes to combat mild to moderate dehydration. 

Drink yourself beautiful!

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