Why Hydration Is So Important For Your Skin

There’s no magic number of glasses of water that you should drink in order to have clear skin that radiates with health. That’s because water alone doesn’t work hard enough for our skin. So, how do we really optimize our skin’s hydration? Let’s dive in.

Hydrated skin is smooth, supple, and reflects light evenly, which gives off that radiant glow.

Furthermore, our skin enzymes that allow the dead layers of skin to exfoliate away—unclogging pores and bringing new, healthy cells to the surface—only function properly in a moisture-rich environment. Dehydrated skin loses elasticity, can be flaky, and can appear dull—both because the skin can’t naturally exfoliate properly, and because the light is either absorbed or scattered by the surface of the skin. Dry skin can be rough, and, if fine lines and wrinkles are a concern for you, those can become more visible. This is why your skin often looks instantly more healthy when you apply a hydrating skincare product.

Hydration is also essential to your skin’s long-term health.

Our skin barrier is our skin’s interface with the outside world. Like a selective bouncer at a nightclub, it actively decides which molecules can enter the skin and which ones should be blocked out. A compromised skin barrier is what I call “leaky skin,” which means that it is chronically inflamed and prone to irritation and inflammation. We find this in chronic skin conditions such as eczema, which I've covered more in-depth on programs such as Good Morning America. When your skin barrier is compromised, water evaporates off of the skin surface, leaving it dehydrated. By supporting the skin barrier—for example, by putting on a moisturizer with ceramides in it—you will see both short-term and long-term benefits.

When your skin is hydrated and the barrier is intact, the skin can redirect its energy towards repairing your healthy collagen and elastic fibers, rather than fighting inflammation. It goes from defense mode into repair mode, and that’s setting you up for skin health.

Okay, we care. So, how do we optimize our skin’s hydration?

As an integrative dermatologist (at DWB Beauty we call this three-dimensional, or 3D skincare), I address skin health from the outside-in and from the inside-out. I consider how the skin, gut, and the mind are all connected when treating the skin. Hydrated skin is a perfect example of an inside-out, outside-in job. What you put on your skin and what you drink (and eat) throughout the day are both critical in terms of keeping skin properly hydrated.

Drinking water isn’t enough.

Studies have shown that drinking more water, although beneficial to the skin, isn’t working hard enough for your skin. Drinking more water, for example, hasn’t been shown to improve transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which is an important measure of skin barrier function. This is why we say Bowe Glowe™ Moisturizer, and Bowe Growe™ Elixir are foundational products to your skincare routine.

The key to building any successful skincare routine starts with establishing healthy, balanced skin and a healthy, balanced gut.

Bowe Glowe™ Cream is formulated with hydration-boosting squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. Bowe Growe™ Water-Enhancing Elixir contains a proprietary polyphenol blend (pomegranate, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, cranberry, concord grape), lemon juice, coconut water, and monk fruit. These water-enhancing drops are designed to deliver healthier, more radiant skin through strategic, thoughtful hydration that helps to nourish your gut microbiome and helps to boost your intake of plant-powered bionutrients.† Oh, and they make drinking water so much more fun. The subtle notes of pomegranate, lemon and berries are delicious, making it easy to reach for another glass of water. These products set you up for success, providing the right canvas for the rest of your skincare routine.

Get ready to apply and drink your skincare!

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.