How To Hydrate Your Skin Without Needing A Moisturiser 24/7?

Winter or not, some people have skin that’s always craving for a bit more moisturiser. If you don’t apply it immediately after washing your face, it can become tight, crusty, and dull.

If you are the one who always carries lip balm and moisturiser everywhere you go, this is for you: hydration is not only your moisturiser’s job. In fact, some moisturisers contain drying ingredients like alcohol, which can make you want to reapply them frequently (we bet most of you weren't aware of this).

Read on to know how to hydrate your skin the right way, from the inside out and reduce your constant reliance on moisturisers.

Why Your Skin Doesn’t Need Moisturiser Every Hour

Your skin isn’t dry because you’re not applying enough cream, but because your skin’s hydration system inside isn’t working right. Sometimes you just have dry skin that needs extra care year-round.

Here are some ways to address the root causes and make your skin naturally soft:

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Water is not the whole story, but it helps a great deal in keeping organs and skin well hydrated. Even those with very basic diets who keep their internal hydration in check have glowing skin. Make it a habit to drink at least 2 litres of water a day.

2. Be Mindful of Your Shower Habits

No matter how heavenly it feels to soak in a hot shower, it can strip your skin’s natural oils. Switch to warm water and keep showers short. Also, use oil-based moisturisers on damp skin right after towel-drying. Best to do it in the bathroom. Oil-based products lock in moisture better and for longer.

3. Use Natural Humectants

Humectants are moisture magnets. Once applied, they can keep your skin plump and dewy for many hours, even all day. Another perk is that they don’t feel heavy or greasy, so no oil marks on your phone screen.

Look for moisturisers with these humectants:

●      Hyaluronic acid

●      Glycerin

●      Snail mucin

●      Aloe vera

Skin-healthy nutrients, such as vitamin C, can help strengthen skin barriers by increasing collagen production. You can get your daily dose of this vitamin through daily vitamin C capsules or from fresh fruits.

4. Fix Your Skin Barrier

Before blaming the weather or the inefficient moisturiser, check if your skin barrier is damaged. If you notice these, chances are that you need to fix your skin barrier:

●      Burning after products

●      Patchy dryness

●      Flakiness

●      Tightness

Here are ingredients that will help restore your skin barrier:

●      Ceramides

●      Squalane

●      Fatty acids

●      Centella

●      Niacinamide

Once your barrier is healthy, skin stays hydrated way longer without constant reapplication.

5. Avoid Harsh Ingredients

To care for dry skin, avoid face washes, soaps, shampoos, or topical products with harsh ingredients that may irritate or dry out your skin. So, it’s best to avoid products that have the following features:

●      Too fragrant

●      Contain sulphates

●      Alcohols like denatured or isopropyl alcohol

●      Parabens

It is also important to remember that most products contain these ingredients, and it may be difficult to avoid them altogether. So, it boils down to the hit-and-trial method. If you feel like you need to reuse a product, or it’s making your skin drier than usual, it’s best to skip it.

The Bottom Line

To make your skin more hydrated, you need to give it what it needs. Improving the skin’s healthy barrier with ceramides and internal nutrition, including multivitamin capsules with vitamin C, can help your skin retain moisture. Additionally, avoid hard ingredients and hot showers. This way, you can enhance your skin's appearance, making it look and feel softer and more glowy.