We know that the quest for hydrated skin can sometimes feel like a never ending battle between water in and water out. And it doesn’t matter how much water you drink or how many times you moisturise. Our skin is constantly losing water in ways beyond our control. Perspiration caused by heat, stress or exercise results in active water loss. Then there’s transepidermal water loss – the natural way in which our body passively diffuses about half a litre of water a day from the skin’s deeper skin layers.
But could your daily routine be the real culprit?
You could accidentally be doing things to make your skin even drier, but don’t worry. You’ll be on the path to happy, hydrated skin in no time. Shaving incorrectly can cause damage to the stratum corneum – the protective outermost layer of the skin. When this gets disrupted, water can easily evaporate, which results in higher than usual water loss, a dry and tight face, and skin that’s more susceptible to external factors.
The stratum corneum can also become compromised if the skin generates lower levels of sebum – an oil-like substance produced by the sebaceous glands that contains essential lipids needed to retain moisture. Interestingly enough, some people naturally produce less sebum, but did you know that you can also remove it unintentionally by using the wrong products for your skin type or washing too often with very hot water?
Skin lacking in natural moisturising factors like urea, amino acids and lactic acid can also become dry and tight. The removal of these water-binding molecules can be caused by harsh ingredients and overshaving.
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