The heat is on, summer is finally here! This means our bodies will dehydrate faster and our skin will show the drying effects of a dull and wrinkled complexion. Our skin will get triggered to produce more oil, increasing the likelihood of congestion and breakouts.
My first suggestion is an obvious one.. Drink plenty of water! The skin is the largest organ of our body (not to mention the first thing people see when they look at us) an excellent reason to take proper care of it.
A good rule of thumb for water intake is this: take your body weight, divide it in half and that is the amount of water in ounces you should be getting everyday.
Get yourself a water bottle which is marked with measurements and keep that with you all day, so you know exactly how much water you consumed.
Now that we’ve talked about hydrating on the inside, let’s look at hydrating on the outside with oil, humectants and occlusives (oh my!). For those prone to acne and congestion, you may cringe when I talk about applying oil to the face. Some of you in fact work very hard to scrub away all that oil. Actually, this is often counterproductive because you are signaling the skin to produce more oil and interestingly enough, studies have shown that acne sufferers are deficient in essential fatty acids.
Oil is classified as an occlusive which means it locks moisture into the skin. If you’re prone to breakouts, I’d suggest using light oils such as sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Applying them after a bath or shower is best. Other natural occlusives include shea butter, cocoa butter and squalene which is derived from olives.
Humectants attract and hold on to water. They work by pulling moisture up from the dermis into the epidermis. Some popular humectants are glycerin, honey and hyaluronic acid. The latter, can attract and hold on to 1,000 times its weight in water which can definitely give you a glowing and supple complexion. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body-it’s what gives the skin a plump and supple appearance, but diminishes as we age. Glycerin is commonly found in skin care products, but can also be purchased as a stand alone ingredient.
The dry San Diego weather definitely makes it hard to stay hydrated, but follow my suggestions and you’ll find your skin glowing and radiant in no time. Remember to drink lots of water, don’t over wash or exfoliate and find a moisturizer that is both a humectant and an occlusive.
