Water Works. Focus on Hydration.
We carry water bottles now. It’s what we do. It has become a style statement as well as a health benefit. Fashion forward designs, every color and texture, shape and delivery method is available to suit your individual taste. We flavor water, chill it, put fruit in it, filter it...but still, it is ultimately life-giving water.
Our learnings on the sustainability of natural resources and our throw away culture is finally catching up with us with shocking images of sticken wildlife, swirling masses of trash floating on the ocean, deforestation, drought...it’s a mess that we will spend decades trying to rectify.
The world is waking up, water is such a precious resource, literally life-sustaining and we are recognizing that we cannot assume it is endless in supply; brands are born and reinvented through crisis like these as they recognize the opportunity to define themselves in the conscious of the consumer in an ever crowded market.
But in all this brand-led consciousness, do we understand fully what water means for our bodies?
Overall, an adult human body comprises around 55% (women) 60% (men) of water - according to Dr Jeffrey Utz, Allegheny University. According to HH Mitchell from the Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, the lungs about 83%, the skin is around 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79% and even the bones are 31% water.
So it comes as no surprise that water helps optimize all muscular, organ and cellular function.
Statistics from experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2013, found that 43% of adults drink less than four cups of water a day. This includes the 7% of American adults who drink no water at all. That’s nearly 60% of the population who are allowing their bodies to exist in a state of dehydration.
Shockingly, results revealed in 2015 from a study carried out at Loughborough University in the UK, found subjects 114% more likely to make an error when mildly dehydrated. Indeed, the study showed that the negative impact on mental ability while driving was similar to drinking alcohol! Indeed only 2% drop in hydration starts to affect mental and physical performance.
Hydration and our skin
Skin is our biggest organ and it requires adequate hydration to function optimally, it has a tough job to do.
Skin has a natural, semi permeable wall that helps protect and regulate the delicate internal cellular structure from external factors that impair regular function. When the barrier function is unbalanced through lifestyle and environment, it can cause disruption to the flow of nutrients and hydration to the body and cause havoc with the natural balance known as homeostasis.
Maintaining adequate hydration in your skin will help slow down the visible signs of premature ageing that occur as a result of free radical impact on the body. Through hydration, skin maintains elasticity and is able to “bounce” back more readily plus cellular function is optimized to deliver protection where it is needed.
Skin that is hydrated will help regulate toxins within the skin, avoiding inflammation and irritation.
Hydration can help regulate oil prone skin, clarity to pores and reduce overproduction of sebum that is caused by skin out of balance.
So dehydrated and dry skin are the same right?
Nope.
Sadly, years of unclear marketing has left the area of dehydrated / dry skin a confused area. Similarly, there has a been a blanket reference to face cream as “moisturizers” rather than defining whether a hydrator or a moisturizer.
So let’s clarify:
Dehydrated Skin: Lacking in water.
- - Wrinkles look more defined
- - Dark circles may appear more pronounced
- - Complexion may appear dull and uneven
- - Oily skin may still feel dry
- - Affected by lifestyle, environment, seasons
- - NOT A SKIN TYPE - a skin condition caused by inadequate hydration.
Dry Skin: Lacking in lipids (oil)
- - Feels tight all year round, not seasonal
- - Dry skin on scalp and body
- - May experience flakiness
- - SKIN TYPE - a combination of genetics, hormonal and environmental factors.
So what’s the difference between a hydrator and moisturizer?
Moisturizers tend to be oil based ingredients (i.e. plant oils like squalane, nut oils like shea butter), they tend to create a seal to keep moisture locked to skin, they help achieve a smooth surface texture to the complexion.
Hydrators (like glycerin / hyaluronic acid) work by drawing moisture to them and into the skin.
Most creams will contain both emollient and humectant so they moisturize and hydrate, but it is down to individuals as to how the balance of both is optimized.
So what ingredients do we need to consider to achieve this?
At Good Science Beauty, we are all about simplicity and efficacy. We know that 003-Hy Hydrating Face Cream is one of our most popular products because it offers clinically proven improvement in hydration and wrinkle reduction of 94% in less than a month!
This dramatic improvement is thanks to the partnership of 2 key ingredients.
Hyaluronic Acid
We produce Hyaluronic Acid naturally within our bodies, however lifestyle and ageing depletes our ability to replenish it naturally.
Hyaluronic is a large molecule that can hold 1000 times its weight in water. Its size makes it difficult to penetrate effectively through the skin barrier when applied topically, so it is often injected as fillers instead.
Our unique Good Silicon+® has enabled HA to be encapsulated and protected so it can be absorbed topically and delivered to where it can work most effectively drawing in moisture and plumping from within.
Marine Omega 3
An essential fatty acid to help strengthen skin barrier function to lock in hydration and protect from skin stressors.
Rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), to help prevent premature aging and promote healthy cell membranes, optimizing skin texture and tone. Marine omega-3 also reduces the activity of hyaluronidase enzyme, which breaks down hyaluronic acid.
As we have discussed, many of us have dehydrated skin, so to broaden the 003-Hy range to incorporate more intensive treatments that can be integrated into any skincare regimen amplifies the opportunity to optimize hydration regardless of skin type.
NEW: 003-Hy HYDRATING FACIAL:
QUENCH. STRENGTHEN. REPAIR.
This is an intensive overnight barrier recovery treatment formulated to boost lipid content and deeply hydrate, restoring skin suppleness, strength and texture.
Improved skin hydration levels helps visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Use this on cleansed skin 2 to 3 times a week and leave overnight.
NEW: 003-Hy HYDRATING FACE SERUM:
QUENCH. STRENGTHEN. PROTECT.
An ultra concentrated rehydration support system to strengthen skin and reinforce the natural hydrolipidic barrier function.
The power partnership of Hyaluronic Acid and Marine Omega-3 is delivered deeper within the skin structure, navigating to where it is needed most, boosting skin texture and tone from within to help soften and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Good news for great skin.