4 Hydration Myths Skin Experts Want You To Know

Recognizing exactly how to take care of your skin( opens in brand-new tab) properly can be confusing, especially when it comes to hydration( opens up in brand-new tab). You could wonder what moisturiser( opens in brand-new tab) is ideal for your skin problems, or if exfoliating( opens up in new tab) really makes dry skin( opens up in brand-new tab) worse. Possibly you’ve been keen to try the K-beauty trend( opens in brand-new tab) of slugging but don’t know if it’s ideal for your skin type( opens in brand-new tab).

As well as it’s no wonder. The internet is a breeding place for incorrect info, worrying guidance and also skin care myths. To help separate the reality from the fiction, we spoke to Dr Kemi Fabusiwa( opens up in brand-new tab)– a skincare professional and NHS junior physician. Below, she shares four typical hydration myths( opens in new tab) as well as the knowledge she wants to equip you with for winter season( opens in new tab). Healthy and balanced, beautiful skin below we come …

Hydration Myth 1: Exfoliation causes drier skin

Peeling has a negative representative for making drier skin( opens up in new tab) even worse, but Dr Kemi Fabusiwa claims that this isn’t real for all types of exfoliators. “Consider utilizing a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid such as lactic acid( opens up in new tab) or mandelic acid to raise away the top layer of dead as well as dying skin cells”.

Hydration Myth 2: Slugging is a have to for all skin kinds

From TikTok to Reddit, slugging is the Korean beauty trend( opens in brand-new tab) that went viral as a result of its declared capacity to secure dampness right into the skin overnight. “Slugging( opens in new tab) is the process of applying a thick layer of Vaseline– an ‘occlusive’ agent that helps to avoid trans-epidermal water loss– onto the skin,” claims Dr Fabusiwa.

” Whilst slugging can assist those with very completely dry, eczema-prone skin( opens up in new tab), it goes without claiming that it’s not proper for all skin kinds– as well as absolutely not oily acne-prone skin( opens in new tab) types. Slathering on such a thick occlusion can actually result in blockage as well as blemish-prone skin”. Decide for light-weight non-comedogenic moisturisers having squalane or polyglutamic acid( opens in brand-new tab) if this seems like you.

Hydration Myth 3: The thicker the moisturiser the higher the hydration

” It’s vital to recognise that there are numerous various sorts of moisturisers( opens in new tab)– from humectants, to moisturizers( opens in new tab), to occlusives,” suggests Dr Fabusiwa. Each of these does somewhat various points. In other words, even if a product is thicker, does not always imply it will certainly provide the best type of hydration.

Humectants such as hyaluronic acid add water to the epidermis, while occlusives such as Vaseline as well as marula oil( opens up in new tab) assistance to prevent water loss by developing a safety movie over the skin Emollients, on the other hand, soften and condition the skin. This makes them particularly efficient at enhancing dry spots as well as conditions such as eczema.

Hydration Myth 4: Hyaluronic acid ought to be applied to dry skin.

If you’re finding that your hyaluronic acid serum( opens in brand-new tab) isn’t offering you the hydration boost you were expecting, it could be since you’re using it incorrectly. Yes, truly. According to Dr Fabusiwa, hyaluronic acid ought to constantly be applied to damp as well as not dry skin. “Hyaluronic acid is an effective humectant that functions by drawing water in from the atmosphere. As such, if your skin is not damp, then hyaluronic acid will draw water from the reduced layers of skin which may leave your skin sensation dried out.”