Two words that sound similar, but understanding the difference in skincare could be a lifesaver. It's important for your skin to stay hydrated and visually healthy this season, so let's explore what hydration and humectation are and why it's so important to include them in your skincare routine.

What is hydration?

The outermost layer of your skin, the one that protects you from pollutants and that you can touch whenever you apply a cream, is called the epidermis. This layer naturally maintains an optimal level of hydration throughout the day; however, there are factors that can alter this factor: age, pollution, not drinking enough water, an incorrect diet, and, of course, sun exposure.

There's something you can do for all these causes, but we'll summarize it in four tips:

1. There are dermatological-grade products that manage to stay in the epidermis. These contain ingredients called heavyweights because the molecular size of their ingredients allows them to meet immediate hydration needs; from creams to serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid can help you with the guidance of a specialized recommendation.
2. Drinking the recommended amount of water should be a must. It is recommended to drink 15 to 20% of the water that our body contains, normally above 2 liters per day.
3. A diet rich in vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants like avocado, kiwi, tomato, spinach, olive oil, nuts, and red fruits.
4. The use of sunscreen is mandatory and you should remember to use it every 3 to 4 hours even if you are indoors.

Our recommendation: CeraVe Moisturising Cream

And humectation?

Starting from the knowledge that hydration refers to the appearance and shield of the outermost layer of the skin, we can say that humectation is the retention of fluids in the deeper layers, those that have a medium and long-term impact and have the ability to attract and trap water in your body.

It's important for your skin to have this attraction, especially in cases of atopy and scaling, this is where products like emollient creams, body creams, and ureas have a greater impact and where you'll hear about ingredients like panthenol, ceramides, lipids, and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid.

The long-term importance of humectation is even greater and the differentiation between products for the face and body will determine the anti-aging effects of merely hydrating products, so the company of a dermatologist is essential.

Our recommendation: Skinceuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan