Hydration vs Moisture: Maximize both with a Hydration-Moisture Sandwich

Two top keywords everyone knows in skincare are ‘hydration’ and ‘moisturizing.’  Both are green flags, but does it matter which product you use?  

What’s the Difference Between Hydrating and Moisturizing Skincare?

Simply put, hydration focuses on replenishing the water content within skin cells, and moisture focuses on strengthening the lipid/fat barrier that seals in hydration.  The goal of a hydrator is to replenish, while the aim of a moisturizer is retention/protection.  Together the skin finds balance. 

Hydration First

Hydrators are more than just water, they’re strategic humectants—attracting and binding water to the skin.  Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera are a few common hydrating ingredients to look for. Before starting a new hydrating skincare routine, it’s best to begin with drinking plenty of water throughout the day.  Skincare starts on the inside, and keeping your water intake high supports your body internally first— enhancing the benefits of supplementary skincare hydrators on the outside.  Working with a well-hydrated foundation is paramount to reap the full benefits of a moisturizer element.

Sealing It In

Moisturizers are lipid/oil based ingredients that form a barrier within the skin; keeping water in and lifting dirt/pollutants out. Think about what happens when mixing oil and water in a cup, the oil rests on top, sealing the water in—that’s essentially what’s happening in your skin! 

Common moisturizing ingredients are ceramides, squalane, and Baobab oil, as well as our personal favorite: Supercritical chia seed oil.  Not all moisturizers are created equal, and ensuring that the ingredients you’re incorporating in a skincare routine have been sourced carefully and responsibly can be incredibly beneficial in preventing irritation and inflammation.  

How Does it Fit in My Routine?

Creating a hydration-moisture sandwich in your daily routine is the key to youthful, healthy, and resilient skin. Use a gentle or hydrating cleanser, such as the Great Cleanse, morning and night. Follow this with a spritz of a hydrating essence like the Optimist to create that hydration layer, and seal it in with a moisturizing face oil such as the Super Naked Face Oil. In the evening, you may opt for a richer facial moisturizer such as the Advanced Response Complex for deeper product penetration.