The Hydration Myth

And what actually hydrates skin 

We have all heard it before.
“Just drink more water.”
“As long as you stay hydrated, your skin will glow.”

If only it were that simple.

While drinking water is important for your overall health, it is not the magic fix for dry, dull, or tight skin. Especially not once you pass your late 30's and early 40's. If you are doing all the right things and your skin still feels thirsty, you are not imagining it.

Let’s talk about why the “Just drink more for glowy skin" myth falls apart and what your skin actually needs to stay hydrated, comfortable, and glowing.

Why drinking water alone does not hydrate your skin

Here is the honest truth.
Water does not travel straight from your glass to your face.

Your body prioritises vital organs first. Skin comes much, much later in the queue...if at all. By the time water reaches the surface of your skin, most of it has already been used elsewhere.

On top of that, as we age, our skin becomes less efficient at holding onto moisture. The natural lipids that keep hydration locked in start to decline. Hormonal changes slow everything down. The skin barrier becomes weaker.

So even if you are drinking plenty of water, your skin can still feel dry, tight, or dull.

It is just biology.

Hydration is not just about water

This is where skincare gets confusing, because hydration is often oversimplified.

True skin hydration depends on three things working together.

1. Water attraction

Your skin needs ingredients that attract water into the skin.

These are humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and multi hydration complexes. They act like magnets, drawing water into the skin layers. Our Hydra-Firm Serum for instance acts as a moisture magnet.

You can think of this step like giving your skin its daily 2 to 3 litres of water with electrolytes. It is not just water. It is water plus the elements that help skin actually absorb and use it.

This is where well formulated serums really shine. They deliver deep hydration efficiently, without heaviness, and help skin feel replenished rather than temporarily damp.

2. Water retention

Once water is in the skin, it needs to stay there.

This is where many routines fall down. Hydration without support simply evaporates.

Barrier supporting ingredients, skin identical lipids, and nourishing emollients help seal hydration in so the skin does not lose it throughout the day.

This is where moisturisers play a critical role. Think of them as the top-up glass of water for your skin, followed by a nutrient rich skin smoothie. Not just hydration, but vitamins, minerals, lipids, and everything your skin needs to stay comfortable, resilient, and glowing.

Without this step, even the best hydrating serum can feel like it disappears too quickly.

Some more advanced moisturiser formulations like our Hydra-Smooth moisturiser, take this a step further by incorporating  "Moisture Mesh Technology" it forms a breathable hydration mesh on the skin, the 3D hydration network then begins to slowly release and deliver hydration to the skin throughout the day instead of being a one hit wonder for the first hour or two after application. This is what gives skin that super soft, plump, cushiony feel all day long. 

3. A healthy skin barrier

Your barrier is what keeps moisture in and irritation out.

As we age, the barrier often needs more support than it used to. Over exfoliation, too many actives, and complicated routines can quietly weaken it over time.

When the barrier is compromised, no amount of water or skincare layering will fix the problem. Supporting the barrier is what allows hydration to finally stick.

Why skin feels different now

If your skin suddenly feels drier, tighter, or more reactive than it used to, there is a reason.

Skin changes with age in very real ways:

• Natural ceramides and lipids decline

• Cell turnover slows

• Inflammation becomes more common

• Skin loses elasticity and bounce

• Moisture escapes more easily

This is why we often need hydration that is smarter, more complete, and more supportive. Not just water, but everything that helps skin function properly again.

The problem with chasing hydration through layers

Many people try to fix dehydration by adding more products.

A toner.
An essence.
A hydrating serum.
Another serum just in case.
Then a moisturiser to seal it all in.

This approach often leads to irritated, overwhelmed skin rather than hydrated skin.

More layers mean more chances for imbalance. Different formulas can clash. Actives can compete. The skin barrier can become stressed without you even realising.

Hydration should feel comforting, not complicated.

What actually works for hydrated, glowing skin

Well formulated skincare does not rely on one hero ingredient. It relies on balance.

The most effective hydration comes from products that:

• Combine multiple types of humectants

• Support water retention and barrier health

• Deliver hydration at different skin levels

• Nourish the skin with lipids, vitamins, and minerals

• Reduce the need for excessive layering

This is why modern, thoughtfully designed routines often focus on fewer products that do more. A hydrating step that truly quenches the skin, followed by a nourishing step that locks it in and feeds the skin what it needs.

So is “drink for your skin” completely wrong?

Not entirely.

Think of hydration like this.

Drinking water supports your body from the inside.
Skincare supports your skin from the outside.

You need both.

If you don't hydrate from the inside, your body will pull water away from the only available sources to feed your organs and that source will include your skin. So although drinking plenty doesn't really contribute to adding hydration to the skin, it can prevent it from being dried out further. 

But if your skin is thirsty, tight, or dull, the answer is not another litre of water or another random product. It is giving your skin hydration it can actually absorb, followed by nourishment that helps it hold onto that hydration properly.

When hydration is done right, skin feels calm, plump, comfortable, and quietly radiant. Not greasy. Not sticky. Not overwhelmed.

Final thought

Great skin is not about working harder, throwing 10 different products at it or chugging 3 litres of water. 
It is about nourishing it and focusing on skin health. 

When hydration is intelligent, balanced, and complete, your skin stops asking for more and starts to glow. 

And honestly, that is how skincare should feel, simple. 

Much Love