Hydrating vs Moisturizing

Hydrating and moisturizing are two fundamental processes needed for optimal skin health. Here's how to know the difference between the two and what you need.

Hydrators attract water to the outer most layer of the skin. While moisturizers give you that baby soft-feel lubricating your skin and preventing water from escaping. Simply put hydration is water, while moisturizers are oil. And if you know anything about oil and water they don’t mix, which is why the products you use and their placement in your routine is important.

Hydrators such as humectants, think of the ever-so trendy ingredient hyaluronic acid, brings water to this skin. They draw water from the deeper layer of your skin, the dermis, and bring it to the outermost layer of your skin, the epidermis.    Examples of hydrating ingredients are:

• Glycerin
• Hyaluronic Acid
• AHA’s
• Aloe Vera

Moisturizers can also contain humectants. However, moisturizers are categorized in three different ways:

Occlusives: Oil and lipids that form a layer to prevent, TEWL or Transepidermal Water Loss. TEWL is a normal process that occurs where water passes through the outermost layer of your skin. If this process occurs frequently it can damage your skin barrier. 

Emolients: Fatty acids and fatty alcohols that improve the overall appearance and texture of the skin.