Is your skin flaky, dry, rough, patchy, or dull? You could be lacking one of the two: moisturisation or hydration. But how do you tell the difference? How do you know which one you lack, and what’s the solution?
To achieve a vibrant, supple, and healthy complexion, your skin relies on both moisture and hydration, but because these terms are often used interchangeably, knowing which one you lack and what your body needs the most can be confusing.
Truth is, hydration and moisturising are not the exact same thing and they serve slightly different purposes. Hydration refers to the water content in your skin, while moisturization involves sealing in that hydration to prevent water loss.
Knowing the difference is important since the ingredients used for each are also different. And so understanding each will help you know if your skin lacks hydration, moisturisation, or both.
In this article, we’ll help you navigate the often-confusing world of hydration and moisturization. We’ll also recommend products specifically designed for each function, ensuring your skin gets exactly what it needs to maintain its suppleness and vibrancy.
What is Hydration
Our skin has three layers. The outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis, followed by the dermis, and finally the hypodermis, or subcutaneous tissue. When the epidermis lacks sufficient hydration, the skin may feel tight, dull, and dry. To prevent this, the epidermis absorbs water from both the atmosphere and the body’s internal water supply to maintain hydration. [1]
Over time, this process can slow down due to ageing, environmental factors, over-exfoliation, use of synthetic skincare products with harsh ingredients, and dehydration, making hydrating products essential for replenishing lost moisture.
In a nutshell, skin hydration is the process of absorbing water from inner skin layers or the atmosphere, to the outermost layer, either on its own or with the help of specific hydrating products.
Hydrating Ingredients
Hydrating ingredients often work as humectants, which draw moisture from the atmosphere and bind with it. Some of the most effective, natural ones are:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Naturally occurring in the skin, hyaluronic acid retains water, and provides deep hydration. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it one of the most effective hydrating ingredients.
- Aloe Vera: Known for its soothing and deeply hydrating properties, aloe vera is a popular natural humectant that helps to replenish the skin’s moisture.
- Cucumber Extract: Rich in water and antioxidants, cucumber hydrates and soothes the skin while also calming irritation.
- Honey: Among the many uses it has, honey is a natural humectant that draws moisture from the environment into the skin, keeping it hydrated and soft.
- Rose Hydrosol: Helps to hydrate the skin and balance its pH levels. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe and calm the skin.
- Seaweed Extract: This marine botanical has minerals that help to draw moisture into the skin, promoting hydration and radiance.
- Glycerin: Acts as a humectant that draws moisture to the outer layers of the skin.
- Coconut Water: Lightweight and rich in nutrients, coconut water hydrates the skin while providing it with vitamins and minerals.
- Sodium PCA: A key component of the skin’s Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF), it helps the skin retain water and supports hydration
- Marshmallow Root Extract: Known for its ability to soften and deeply hydrate, marshmallow root is a natural plant extract that provides a soothing, hydrating effect.
These are some of the gentle and natural hydrating ingredients. It’s important to avoid products with harsh synthetic ingredients, as this will continue to dehydrate your skin. Beauty in Us has a range of skincare products that work well together and are deeply hydrating without being too harsh on the skin.
What is Moisturising
Moisturising entails using products to create a barrier on the skin, locking in the moisture that’s already there to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hence maintaining a healthy skin barrier. It’s important to have a strong and healthy skin barrier as a compromised one will not lock in moisture, leading to signs like flakiness, dryness and roughness. [2]
Like with hydration, lack of moisture from a compromised skin barrier can be caused by over-exfoliation and use of synthetic skincare products with too many harsh ingredients. Going for products with natural, gentle and intensely moisturising ingredients can help restore or maintain a skin barrier.
We recommend RETREAT- Intensive Care and Recovery Face Oil by Beauty in us. The product is enriched with highly moisturising ingredients, including Acai oil, Passion Fruit oil, Borage oil, Baobab oil, among others, all of which are natural.
Moisturising Ingredients
Moisturising products can include occlusives, which form a protective barrier to lock in moisture (like shea butter and coconut oil), and emollients, which soften and smooth the skin by filling in cracks in the skin barrier (like jojoba oil and squalane).
Moisturising does not start or stop with the moisturiser. It needs to also come from other products you are using like face oils or even cleansers. However, while oils are fantastic moisturisers, not all oils are suitable for every skin type, especially on the face.
Some oils can be comedogenic, meaning they can clog pores and lead to breakouts, particularly for those with oily or acne-prone skin. For example, oils like coconut oil or olive oil are deeply moisturising but may be better suited for body skin, as they have higher comedogenic ratings.
For the face, especially for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin, non-comedogenic oils like jojoba oil, squalane, rosehip oil, or raspberry seed oil are excellent options. These oils moisturise without clogging pores, making them suitable for facial skincare.
We recommend both Shield – Broad-Action Antioxidant Face Oil and Retreat – Intensive Care and Recovery Face Oil. They are formulated with non-comedogenic ingredients, making them 100% safe for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin. These face oils provide deep moisture and nourishment without clogging pores, ensuring your skin stays balanced and healthy. (and maybe exclude the comment below about Release.
Here are some effective moisturising ingredients:
- Jojoba Virgin Oil: Mimics the skin’s natural sebum, making it highly effective at sealing in moisture without clogging pores.
- Baobab Oil: Packed with omega fatty acids, baobab oil is a deeply moisturising ingredient that also strengthens the skin’s barrier.
- Acai Oil: Rich in essential fatty acids, which help to lock in moisture, nourish the skin, and protect it from environmental stressors. Its antioxidant properties also aid in forming a protective barrier that prevents water loss.
- Squalane: A lightweight, non-greasy moisturiser that softens and protects the skin’s barrier.
- Sacha Inchi Organic Oil: Rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, it moisturises the skin while promoting elasticity and barrier repair.
- Rosehip Seed CO2 Extract: High in vitamins A and C, this oil deeply moisturises and nourishes, helping to improve skin texture and regenerate the skin barrier.
- Sea Buckthorn Berry/Pulp CO2 Oil: This oil is rich in omega-7, helping to deeply moisturise, regenerate, and restore the skin barrier.
- Calendula CO2 Extract: Soothes and moisturises, especially beneficial for dry and sensitive skin.
- Evening Primrose CO2 Extract: Contains essential fatty acids that moisturise, soothe, and support a healthy skin barrier.
- Shea Butter: Extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, this butter is a deeply moisturising emollient that forms a protective barrier on the skin, sealing in moisture.
- Avocado Oil: This rich oil penetrates deeply to provide long-lasting moisture and nourishment to dry, dehydrated skin.
- Olive Oil: An ancient beauty ingredient, olive oil is full of antioxidants and fatty acids that deeply moisturise and protect the skin. It is, however, more suitable for the body since they are comedogenic, meaning they can lead to clogging.
- Coconut Oil: A popular natural moisturiser, coconut oil helps to form a barrier on the skin to lock in moisture while also nourishing with its fatty acids. This is also comedogenic, meaning it’s more suitable for the body, not the face.
- Borage Oil: Known for its high content of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), borage oil is excellent for dry and damaged skin, helping to moisturise and repair.
These are some of the most effective natural moisturising ingredients. Some synthetic ingredients can be harsh on the skin and break the barrier, hence a safer option is to go natural.
The Difference Between Hydration and Moisturising
While they both involve moisture, hydration and moisturising work differently to keep the skin supple and healthy. Below is a side by side comparison of the two.
What Does Your Body Need; Hydration or Moisturising?
We’ve seen that hydration draws moisture to the outer skin layer, then moisturising locks in the moisture. Both of these purposes are important, and therefore, both are essential for the body.
Think about it; if you hydrate the skin but the barrier is broken, it will lose the moisture. Likewise, if you create a barrier with no moisture to lock in, it will have little to no impact on the skin. This means the two go hand in hand. Therefore, hydration can only be effective with moisturisation and vice versa is true.
However, in some instances, you may need one more than the other. For instance, if you have a damaged skin barrier, you may need more moisturising ingredients like Baobab, and Rosehip. On the other hand, if you are dehydrated, aside from drinking lots of water, you may need to use more hydrating products like hyaluronic acid.
How to Boost Hydration and Moisture in Your Skin
A healthy skin does not begin with the products we apply, it begins from the inside, which is why the number one way of keeping your skin hydrated is by drinking lots of water. Eating foods with high water content, such as watermelon and cucumber, can also make a significant difference.
Besides what we ingest, mental health can also impact how our skin looks, and so considering mindful practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga can help. Beauty In Us has the CycleSync Portal which has mindful exercises categorised into day and night, that can help you calm down and reduce the effect of stress on your skin. Aromatherapy has also been found to be effective in reducing stress.
Other ways of hydrating and moisturising are:
1. Use Hydrating Products
Hydrate your skin with serums containing humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera. Drink plenty of water and apply hydrating mists or toners to refresh skin throughout the day.
2. Moisturise to Seal In Hydration
To lock in moisture, use rich face oils with ingredients like baobab oil, raspberry seed oil, and jojoba oil. These oils not only provide nourishment but also create a protective barrier to help maintain hydration. Apply face oils on damp skin after your serum to maximise their effect.
3. Avoid Harsh Ingredients to Protect Your Skin
Harsh synthetic ingredients that can strip your skin of moisture and compromise its natural barrier. So, you should avoid products with Ingredients like alcohol, sulphates, and certain preservatives that can cause dryness, irritation, and long-term damage. Instead, opt for products with gentle, natural ingredients that support hydration and moisture retention, such as aloe vera, jojoba oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid. These not only nourish the skin but also help maintain a healthy barrier to lock in hydration.
4. Avoid Over-Exfoliation
Over-exfoliating can damage your skin barrier, leading to moisture loss. Exfoliate sparingly and follow up with hydrating and moisturising products.
5. Protect with Sunscreen
Use sunscreen daily to shield your skin from UV damage, which can undo your hydration and moisturization efforts.
The Best Skincare Products for Hydrating and Moisturising
To achieve well-hydrated and moisturised skin, here are the top Beauty In Us products that can help keep your skin nourished, vibrant, and healthy.
Best Products for Hydration
Key Ingredients: Functional Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Chebula
REPLENISH is a must-have for supple, highly hydrated skin. It’s formulated with Functional Hyaluronic Acid, which penetrates deeply to the stratum corneum to keep your skin hydrated all day long. Plus, Niacinamide helps retain moisture, improves your skin’s texture, and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, thanks to Chebula.
Why You'll Love It:
- Deeply hydrates and plumps your skin
- Helps your skin retain moisture and feel smooth
- Reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation for a more even skin tone
- Offers protection against environmental stressors
Best Products for Moisturisation
Key Ingredients: Acetyl Zingerone, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Squalane, Red Raspberry Seed Oil, Buriti Oil
SHIELD is a broad-action antioxidant face oil that protects your skin from environmental stressors while delivering moisture and long-lasting hydration. Despite being a face oil, Shield is powered by Isosorbide Dicaprylate, a clinically-proven smart skin hydrator. It not only enhances skin hydration, but also improves barrier function.
This potent formula also features Acetyl Zingerone to alleviate photo-damaged skin and pigmentation issues, while a blend of Squalane, Buriti, Jojoba, and Red Raspberry oils stimulates collagen production for visibly firmer and smoother skin.
SHIELD contains Squalane and Red Raspberry Seed Oil, which work wonders for locking in moisture. You’ll love how it softens your skin and boosts elasticity, making it perfect for everyday use. Besides, it is a broad-action antioxidant that shields your skin from environmental stressors and alleviates photo-damaged skin and pigmentation issues, thanks to Acetyl Zingerone.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Deeply moisturises and hydrates your skin
- Strengthens your skin barrier for better protection
- Gives your skin a smoother texture and improved elasticity
- Reduces pigmentation for an even skin tone
Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, Copaiba, Baobab Oil, Sacha Inchi Oil, Seabuckthorn
After a long day, your skin needs to relax and recover. RETREAT is an intensive care face oil designed to boost cellular renewal, deeply moisturise, repair the skin barrier, and soothe sensitive skin.
What sets RETREAT apart is its powerful moisturising ingredients. It features Baobab, Passionfruit, Jojoba and Sacha Inchi oils, which create a protective barrier that prevents water loss, helping the skin retain its moisture. This combination nourishes the skin and supports its overall hydration. For best results, apply it before bed and wake up to a complexion that feels soft, smooth, and rejuvenated.
Why You'll Love It:
- Provides intense overnight cellular renewal
- Restores moisture and plumpness to your skin
- Calms and soothes irritation
- Reduces discoloration for a more even skin tone
For Both Hydration and Moisturisation
For a complete skin routine that covers both hydration and moisture, the combination of REPLENISH, SHIELD and RETREAT will ensure your skin stays hydrated while locking in essential moisture for a smooth, supple complexion.
References
- Mojumdar, E.H., Pham, Q.D., Topgaard, D. et al. Skin hydration: interplay between molecular dynamics, structure and water uptake in the stratum corneum. Sci Rep 7, 15712 (2017). [ScientificReports]
- Harwood A, Nassereddin A, Krishnamurthy K. Moisturizers. [Updated 2024 Feb 12]. StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. [NCBI]
