Drinking water for your skin may be the simplest beauty habit you overlook. You may be layering on serums, smoothing with rich creams, and searching for the perfect glow.
But if your skin is still tight or looking dull and flaky, it could be calling for something more basic: water from within.
Local products absolutely matter. Ingredients like beta-glucan, glycerin and ceramides help lock in moisture and protect your skin barrier.
Quick overview:
- Ceramides are vital to keeping the skin barrier strong and work best when combined with glycerin, an ingredient that draws water from the air into the outer layer of the skin.
- Emollients enhance hydration by sealing in moisture and preventing water evaporation.
- Humectants attract water and retain it.
- Squalane helps trap water in the skin, making it one of the best moisturizing ingredients.
- Aloe Vera (95% water) helps attract water to the skin and retain it.
All these ingredients are included in CV Skinlabs products to keep the skin hydrated, firm from the outside and help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier.
But your skin is a living organ. It depends on what’s going on inside your body just as much as what you put on top of it.
Let’s talk about why drinking water is important for skin health, how to know if you need more, and simple ways to make hydration a part of your daily routine.
Why drinking water is important for skin health
Your skin is made up of approx 62 percent water. This water helps to maintain elasticity, softness and elasticity. When your body is well hydrated, your skin cells work better and look thicker.
In a study review published in Leather Research and Technology, The scientists explained that adequate water intake supported the skin barrier and helped prevent water evaporation from the skin. In one 2015 studyincreasing daily water intake improved skin hydration, particularly in subjects who did not drink enough to begin with.
And in the US, it’s a lot. According to a 2017 studynearly one-third of US adults are inadequately hydrated. A previous study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 7 percent of adults reported consuming no drinking water daily, while 36 percent reported drinking only one to three cups and 35 percent reported drinking four to 7 cups. Only 22 percent drank eight cups or more.
In one more recent researchnearly half of respondents reported drinking 0-3 glasses of water per day. Only 10 percent drank 8 or more.
That’s not good, because here’s what water does to the skin:
- Supports skin elasticity: Hydrated skin stretches and bounces back more easily.
- Improves circulation: Good blood flow helps deliver nutrients and oxygen to skin cells.
- Helps detoxification processes: The kidneys and liver depend on water to remove waste, which can indirectly help support clearer-looking skin.
- Strengthens the barrier: When the cells are properly hydrated, the outer layer of the skin can better protect against irritants.
Drinking water for skin: Signs you may need more
So how can you tell if your skin wants you to drink more water?
First, pay attention to the texture. Dehydrated skin often feels tight, even if you have oily skin. You may notice fine lines that seem to appear out of nowhere. When skin is dehydrated, these lines can appear more prominent.
Another sign is dullness. If your skin looks tired or dull, it may not be retaining enough moisture. Hydrated skin tends to reflect light better, giving you a natural glow.
You can also try a “pinch test”. Pinch the skin on the back of your hand. If it doesn’t bounce back quickly, you may be slightly dehydrated.
Other signs that your skin needs more water include:
- Peeling patches that do not fully improve with moisture
- Increased sensitivity
- Darker shadows under the eyes
- Tight feeling after washing your face
Keep in mind that these skin changes can also be related to the weather, aging, skin conditions, and more. If you are concerned, it is always best to consult a dermatologist. But if you’re not drinking enough water, this is an easy place to start.
What is enough drinking water for the skin?
What exactly is “enough” water for the skin?
How much water we should drink every day has been a source of debate for years. What we do know is that skin cells need water to function well. The study we mentioned above showed that increasing daily water intake had a positive effect on skin hydration, especially in people who drank less water to begin with.
However, the same research and others also note that the biggest gains come from moving from not drinking much to being adequately hydrated. If you’re already staying hydrated in general, there’s little evidence that drinking more will help your skin.
What does “Enough” mean?
Health authorities such as Mayo Clinic recommend your daily fluids total around 2.7 liters (11.4 cups) for women and 3.7 liters (15.6 cups) for men as a general guideline to stay well hydrated, but this includes water everything, including all liquids (water, tea, coffee, milk) plus water from food. Most people get about 20 percent of their daily fluids from food, especially fruits and vegetables. (If you don’t eat a lot of them, you’ll reduce that percentage).
Besides counting cups, there are a few other ways you can judge if you’re getting enough water.
Urine Color & Frequency
Clear to pale yellow urine usually a sign that you are well hydrated. Dark yellow/orange often means you should drink more. Also, how often you go to the bathroom can signal hydration. If you sometimes go all day, this is usually normal. If you go long hours without any desire to go, this could mean slight dehydration.
Note: Perfectly clear urine all day, without interruption, can mean that you are overhydrating, especially if it is combined with very frequent urination. This is rare for most people, but that’s why “pale yellow” is a better target than “absolutely clear”.
Body performance signals
When you are dehydrated, you may notice these symptoms:
- Headache
- Fatigue that feels flat or foggy
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness when standing
- Muscle cramps during activity
These aren’t skin-specific, but they’re helpful because they show that hydration affects your entire system, not just your face.
In groups
When judging whether you’re getting enough water, check for several things together:
- Urine color and frequency
- How you feel and how you function
- How your skin looks and feels
Drinking water for skin: Easy ways to get more
If you realize that you probably aren’t getting enough water on a daily basis, here are some tips to help you increase your intake.
Start with a simple goal: aim for consistent hydration throughout the day rather than consuming a large amount at once. Then use any of the steps below that you find helpful.
- Keep the water visible: Put a reusable bottle in your desk or bag. When it’s in sight, you’re more likely to drink more.
- Use a water bottle you love: This may sound silly, but having a water bottle that you enjoy using can make a big difference. Whether it’s a fancy insulation that keeps your water ice cold or one with gauges that track your progress, find something that motivates you to drink.
- Add natural flavor: If plain water seems boring to you, try adding slices of lemon, cucumber, mint, strawberry or orange. Herbal teas (without sugar) also count for hydration.
- Eat foods rich in water: Foods such as watermelon, cucumber, celery, oranges, tomatoes, peaches, leafy greens and strawberries are high in water content. Adding more of these to your diet can help.
- Combine water with habits: Drink a glass when you wake up, one with each meal, one after working out, one before bed, etc. Associating water with different parts of your daily routine helps your memory.
- Here are some reminders: You can use your phone to set hourly reminders to take a few sips. There are even apps designed specifically to track your water intake and will send you friendly nudges throughout the day.
- Keep a chart: If you want to see how much water you’re actually drinking each day, use a diary or chart to note each time you finish a serving. This can help you see exactly how much you may or may not be consuming.
Don’t forget to hydrate from the outside too!
While you’re working on hydrating from the inside, don’t forget to support your skin from the outside as well. Look for products with glycerin, beta-glucan and ceramides to help keep your skin plump and soft.
CV Skinlabs’ moisturizing and soothing treatments include barrier-supporting ingredients such as beta-glucan and ceramides that help the skin retain moisture. Think of these products as the “seal” that keeps your internal hydration working longer.
Do you need to drink more water a day?
Featured image by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels.
