The Importance of Moisturizing

Humans are mainly made up of water. Like the water we see outside, water evaporates from our bodies as well.  When the water evaporates, it makes our body feel dehydrated, which is when we feel thirsty or have ashy, dry skin. Putting on a moisturizer is like drinking water for the skin. 

Next time you go to the store, check out the lotion aisle. When looking at the ingredients  on the back of a bottle check to see what is listed as the first ingredient. Is it water or oil? Be sure to use a water-based moisturizer. 

The skin is the largest organ on the body and maintaining hydrated skin supports healthy hair growth. Moist skin hydrates hairs while they grow. Hydrated hair can stand up straight and is strong enough to poke through the skin. If the hair is not hydrated, it is too weak to stand up on its own and ends up toppling over, breaking or growing back into the skin causing an ingrown hair. Have you ever seen hair growing in your skin or gotten a bump that has a hair in it? Using a water based lotion as a first ingredient is a basic rule for keeping skin and hair moisturized. 

Here are a few tips for keeping your skin moisturized. 

• Use a soap that does not dry out your skin. For example, do you ever feel like you're going to crack after you get out of the shower? This feeling may be from the soap stripping your skin of its natural oils. Alcohol can also make your skin feel dry. Check the ingredients of the soaps you use and try to use one mentioning “moisturizing.” This can work for anyone who is on the go or does not like lotion. 

• Put lotion on where your skin feels dry. This might be your face or feet. You don’t have to put lotion everywhere. Do what you want, create a routine that works for you.

• Hydrate your skin by drinking plenty of water. Maybe you don’t ever feel dry or dehydrated because you drink a ton of water. That’s great! You are taking care of your skin.  

Moisturizing can look different for everyone. It is important not to compare what you do to what others do. Creating a successful day may or may not include moisturizing your skin. If you ever feel dry, cracky, or like your skin is thirsty, dab some lotion on that area. Moisturizing is like your skin’s way of drinking water. There are many ways to hydrate yourself. 

I hope you help your skin find the sweet side of being hydrated!