Skin hydration

If moisturizing the skin seems to be a simple gesture, it is absolutely essential because a well hydrated skin is the secret of a beautiful healthy skin. The skin thus retains its luminosity, radiance and plump appearance. To stay young as long as possible.

Characteristics of well hydrated skin

A well hydrated skin can be recognized by its radiance, its luminosity, its elasticity, its rebound and its comfort. Full of water, it is luscious, smooth on the surface and very soft. When it lacks water, it wrinkles and tarnishes. Fine lines are drawn and the marks of fatigue appear. The skin is less firm and its texture changes. It becomes rough with a feeling of discomfort and can be accompanied by redness, tightness, even itching.

Why and how does the skin become dehydrated?

The skin becomes dehydrated when it lacks water, either because it has not received enough, or because it has lost too much by evaporation when the skin barrier is deficient. This is called transepidermal natural water loss, which is felt, for example, when waking up by skin that pulls and is “raplapla”. A modification of the hydro-lipid film which covers the skin on the surface. If its water and lipid composition is modified or even reduced, the skin sees its protective armor drop its guard and external attacks attack it head-on, especially in winter.
The alteration of the stratum corneum composed of hard cells or corneocytes and intercellular lipid cement also explain the process of dehydration and therefore dryness. The horny layer, also called "stratum corneum", is the outermost layer of the skin, on the surface: it is the one which is in contact with the outside and which faces attacks thanks to the wall of dead cells (dead cells). corneocytes on the surface and deeper in the keratinocytes as for 90% of the epidermis), which make it up and make it impermeable. The intercellular cement, made up of lipids, is located between the cells to keep them welded together and offer no penetration of external agents.
All modifications of the mechanical and chemical structure, of the hydrolipidic film as well as of the stratum corneum, explain the weakening of the skin's barrier function and the increase in its vulnerability to attacks. Beware of overly abrasive and ill-adapted treatments that accentuate these imbalances, modify the skin's pH and microbiota.

The causes of dehydration

The causes of skin dehydration are all phenomena that weaken, damage or destroy the protective hydro-lipid film that prevents water from evaporating. External causes attack the skin on the surface:

• The climate: too dry, too cold, too windy, it increases the evaporation of water from the skin.

• The sun and UV rays: not only do they increase the internal temperature of the skin, but they induce cellular and biological modifications which weaken the barrier effect.

• Pollution: it deposits an accumulation of residues and toxic substances on the surface of the skin, day and night. Some manage to penetrate and alter certain skin cells. A process that is accompanied by an inflammatory phenomenon that increases dehydration.

• Hard water deposits mineral residues on the surface of the epidermis which alters it. Too aggressive cleansers and unsuitable cosmetics damage the protective hydrolipidic film, modify the pH and the cutaneous microbiome so that the barrier effect is clearly weakened.

Internal causes also attack the skin: certain diseases and their treatments, such as cancer treatments or the taking of medications, in particular anti-acne, or poor nutrition and of course, tobacco and cigarettes. All these factors affect the skin, which loses its plumpness and moisture. Note: aging, menopause and certain skin conditions modify the normal functioning of the skin and lead to chronic dehydration.

Hydrate or nourish your skin, what is the difference?

Hydrating the skin means providing it with the water it needs to ensure its physiological functions. Nourishment means enriching its natural protective film with fat to provide it with suppleness and comfort. Water and fat make up the protective “hydrolipidic” film located on the surface of the skin. Which explains why all skin types need to be hydrated and the drier ones need to boost their nutrition to function properly. Because if this precious hydrolipidic film is modified, it no longer fulfills its function of barrier and cover, the water in the skin evaporates and the cells break up from one another. The wall formed of dead cells (bricks) and lipids (cement) is thinner, less compact. Cracked and brittle, it less effective. The skin deteriorates quickly and suffers.

Moisturize your skin, the best routine to follow

The skin is an organ that sweats but also absorbs through contact, like a blotter. We can therefore provide the skin with enough to meet its needs with an appropriate cosmetic treatment.

• According to your skin type

If the serum formula based on water and components that activate hydration (hyaluronic acids) mainly can be enough to hydrate certain skins, such as normal to combination skin, dry skin needs a moisturizing formula but also enriched with fat, cream type. We also look in the formulas for vitamins (niacinamide) to revive radiance and pre and post-biotics to respect the skin microbiome. On the other hand, care that is too perfumed is avoided to guarantee the skin the greatest harmlessness.

• Morning and evening

The ideal is to adopt a complete routine dedicated to your skin type but always favoring twice-daily hydration and cleansing.

• Depending on the season

The routine must also adapt to the season: with the cold comes the dryness which implies richer formulas, both for the face and for the body. Also beware of the drying effects of hard water and excessive hygiene in winter. In summer, the sebaceous glands produce more sebum, so formulas can be lighter in fat with moisturizing gels, for example, and skincare with an SPF to protect against the sun's rays.

• according to body regions

Finally, so-called rough areas such as elbows, legs and knees require special attention with rich, lipid-replenishing formulas to soften and restructure. Also, it is necessary to smooth these areas using a formula rich in chemical exfoliants to remove dead skin and thus boost the effectiveness of the emollient and nourishing treatment. We advise you in the XERONACRE range of BLUE SKINCARE, the Kerato-Reducing Emollient Care which softens and soothes the skin and eliminates the dead skin cells responsible for the rough appearance. Enriched with a duo of gentle exfoliating acids, gluconolactone and lactic acid, dead cells are eliminated leaving skin smooth and soft. Colloidal oatmeal known for its soothing properties reduces redness and itching. Finally, the body allows you to adopt sensory products adapted to everyone's preferences: balm, milk, oil, moisturizing spray.

The importance of exfoliation and moisturizing masks

The scrub + mask duo is the basis of a reinforced action to hydrate the skin. Exfoliation is used to eliminate dead cells accumulated on the surface of the epidermis which slow down or prevent the proper absorption of moisturizers. This gesture prepares the skin for treatments by allowing it to breathe better, boost the penetration of active ingredients and stimulate cell renewal, the production of young cells by the skin. After the exfoliation, the application of a moisturizing mask immediately and perfectly compensates for the loss of water and fat. Indeed, its highly concentrated formula restores the water level, rebalances and strengthens the skin.

What to eat ?

The water in food also contributes to good hydration of the skin: fruits and vegetables rich in water (cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, etc.) greatly contribute to this. Other foods, on the other hand, require or retain water and should be avoided, such as foods that are too salty which promote water retention (crisps, cold cuts, etc.) or red meat which requires the kidneys to make drainage efforts to eliminate the nitrogen it contains. Since the skin is the last organ of the body supplied with water, sometimes the water in the diet is not enough. That is why the application of moisturizing cosmetics essential. In the NACRE ECLAT range from BLUE SKINCARE, when the skin is tired and lacks radiance, we advise you to complete your beautiful skin routine by using the Skin Perfecting Food Supplement. Ultra-concentrated in active Nacre, it also contains a pre and probiotic complex to rebalance the intestinal microbiota, hyaluronic acid to maintain skin hydration and elasticity. Rich in vitamin C and zinc, it is antioxidant and contributes to the normal formation of collagen for plumper skin.

Why moisturize the skin more during menopause?

At menopause the skin becomes dry because it produces less fat to form the protective film due to hormonal upheaval. The water normally retained in the skin then evaporates at high speed. At the same time, substances that retain water such as hyaluronic acid see their production slow down. With age, all the vital functions of the skin are also impacted by hormonal imbalances. It is imperative to support the skin in these upheavals by adapting all the products, from the face cleanser, to the serum and to the care which must be reinforced in humectant agents (hyaluronic acids), rich in fat and vitamins (niacinamide) restructuring and regenerating (Nacr -45®). Formulas intended for sensitive skin and dermatologically tested to preserve the pH and skin microbiome of mature skin are preferred.