Drinking water for skin: the truth about hydration and glow

Drinking water for skin may be the simplest beauty habit to overlook. Maybe you apply serums, apply rich creams and search for the perfect glow.

But if your skin still feels tight or looks dull and flaky, you may be asking for something more fundamental: water from within.

Current products are absolutely important. Ingredients such as beta-glucan, glycerin and ceramides help retain moisture and protect your skin barrier.

Quick overview:

• Ceramides are essential for keeping the skin barrier strong and work best when combined with glycerin, an ingredient that draws water from the air to the outer layer of the skin.
• Emollients promote hydration by retaining moisture and inhibiting water evaporation.
• Humectants attract and retain water.
• Squalane helps retain water in the skin, making it one of the best moisturizing ingredients.
• Aloe Vera (95% water) helps attract and retain water to the skin.

All of these ingredients are included in CV Skinlabs products to keep the skin hydrated and plumped from the outside and help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier.

But your skin is a living organ. It depends as much on what’s going on in your body as it does on what you put on top of it.

Let’s talk about why drinking water is important for skin health, how to determine if you need more, and simple ways to make hydration part of your daily routine.

Why drinking water is important for skin health

Your skin consists of approx 62 percent water. That water helps maintain elasticity, smoothness and resilience. When your body is well hydrated, your skin cells function better and look plumper.

In a study review published in Skin research and technology, scientists explained that adequate water intake supported the skin barrier and helped prevent the evaporation of water from the skin. In one Study from 2015Increasing daily water intake improved skin hydration, especially in people who didn’t drink enough to begin with.

And in the US that’s a lot. According to one Study from 2017Nearly a third of American adults are inadequately hydrated. An earlier study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 7 percent of adults reported no daily drinking water consumption at all, while 36 percent reported drinking only one to three cups, and 35 percent reported drinking four to seven cups. Only 22 percent drank eight cups or more.

In a lake recent researchalmost half of respondents reported drinking 0-3 glasses of water per day. Only 10 percent drank 8 or more.

That’s not good, because this is what water does for the skin:

• Supports skin elasticity: Hydrated skin stretches and rebounds more easily.
• Improves blood circulation: Good blood circulation helps deliver nutrients and oxygen to the skin cells.
• Helps detoxification processes: The kidneys and liver rely on water to remove waste, which can indirectly contribute to clearer-looking skin.
• Strengthens the barrier: When the cells are well hydrated, the outer layer of the skin can better protect against irritants.

Drinking Water for Skin: Signs You May Need More

So how can you tell if your skin wants you to drink more water?

First, pay attention to the texture. Dehydrated skin often feels tight, even if you have oily skin. You may notice fine lines that seem to appear out of nowhere. If the skin lacks water, those lines can look more pronounced.

Another sign is dullness. If your skin looks tired or dull, it may not retain enough moisture. Hydrated skin reflects light better, giving you a natural glow.

You can also try a ‘squeeze test’. Lightly pinch the skin on the back of the hand. If it doesn’t bounce back quickly, you may be slightly dehydrated.

Other signs that your skin needs more water include:

• Flaky areas that do not fully improve with moisture
• Increased sensitivity
• Darker shadows under the eyes
• A tight feeling after washing your face

Keep in mind that these skin changes can also be related to the weather, aging, skin conditions and more. If you have any concerns, it is always best to contact a dermatologist. But if you’re not drinking enough water, that’s an easy place to start.

What is sufficient drinking water for the skin?

What exactly is ‘enough’ water for the skin?

How much water we should drink every day has been a source of debate for years. What we do know is that skin cells need water to function properly. The study mentioned above found that increasing daily water intake had a positive impact on skin hydration, especially in people who drank less water to begin with.

However, that same study and others also note that the greatest benefits come when someone goes from not drinking much to being adequately hydrated. If you already generally stay hydrated, there’s little evidence that drinking more will help your skin.

What does ‘enough’ mean?

Health authorities such as the Mayo Clinic suggest that your daily fluids total about 2.7 liters (11.4 cups) for women and 3.7 liters (15.6 cups) for men as a general guideline for staying well hydrated, but that includes all water, including all liquids (water, tea, coffee, milk) plus water from food. Most people get about 20 percent of their daily fluid from food, especially fruits and vegetables. (If you don’t eat a lot of it, you would lower that percentage).

Besides counting cups, there are a few other ways you can judge whether you’re getting enough water.

Color and frequency of urine

Clear to light yellow urine usually indicates that you are well hydrated. Dark yellow/amber often means that you need to drink more. How often you go to the toilet can also be a sign of hydration. If you spend the day sometimes, it’s usually normal. If you spend many hours on the road without any urge to go, it could indicate mild dehydration.

Remark: Perfectly clear urine all day, non-stop, may mean you are drinking too much fluid, especially if it is accompanied by very frequent urination. That’s rare for most people, but that’s why “pale yellow” is a better target than “completely bright.”

Body performance signals

If you are underhydrated, you may notice these symptoms:

• Headache
• Fatigue that feels flat or foggy
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness when standing
• Muscle cramps during activity

These aren’t skin specific, but they’re useful because they show that hydration affects your entire system, not just your face.

All together

To assess whether you are getting enough water, check a number of things together:

• Color and frequency of urine
• How you feel and function
• How your skin looks and feels

Drinking Water for Skin: Simple Ways to Get More

If you realize that you’re probably not getting enough water every day, here are some tips to help you increase your water intake.

Start with a simple goal: aim for consistent hydration throughout the day rather than chugging a large amount at once. Then use any of the following steps that you find helpful.

• Keep water visible: Keep a reusable bottle on your desk or in your bag. When it’s in sight, you’re more likely to drink more.
• Use a water bottle you love: This may sound strange, but having a water bottle that you enjoy using can make a big difference. Whether it’s a nice insulated one that keeps the water ice cold or one with graduations that track your progress, find something that motivates you to drink.
• Add natural flavor: If plain water seems boring to you, try adding slices of lemon, cucumber, mint, strawberries or orange. Herbal teas (unsweetened) also count towards hydration.
• Eat water-rich foods: Foods such as watermelon, cucumber, celery, oranges, tomatoes, peaches, leafy greens and strawberries contain a lot of water. Adding more of this to your diet may help.
• Link water to habits: Drink a glass when you wake up, one with each meal, one after exercise, one before bed, etc. Linking water to different parts of your daily routine will make it easier to remember.
• Set reminders: You can use your phone to set a reminder every hour to take a few sips. There are even apps specifically designed to track your water intake and send you gentle nudges throughout the day.
• Keep a chart: If you want to see how much water you actually drink each day, use a calendar or chart to mark when you finish a serving. This can help you see exactly how much you are or are not consuming.

Don’t forget to moisturize from the outside too!

While you’re working on hydrating from the inside out, don’t forget to support your skin from the outside out as well. Look for products with glycerin, beta-glucan and ceramides to keep your skin plump and soft.

CV Skinlabs moisturizing and soothing treatments contain barrier-supporting ingredients such as beta-glucan and ceramides to help skin retain hydration. Think of these products as the “seal” that keeps your internal hydration working longer.

Should you drink more water per day?

Featured image by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels.