10 Reasons Your Skin is Dehydrated

Skin is the largest human organ and like the rest of our body, our skin is made mostly of water! When cells are dehydrated, the skin appears dry and loses elasticity making it more prone to those dreaded fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re suffering from dry dehydrated skin, chances are one of these factors may be contributing to the moisture and health of your complexion.

While some can manage it better than others, unfortunately, we all experience stress on some level. Keeping stress under control is not only necessary for our mental health, but the health and hydration of your skin. When the body is under stress, it will overproduce the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is essential for the regulation of our metabolism, blood pressure, and the body’s use of fats, carbs, and proteins. Cortisol is also responsible for inflammation and the body’s ability to retain water, causing your skin to become dull and dehydrated when under constant stress. The Hawaii Superfood Beauty Boost was created to address the three internal areas that can cause less than perfect skin. The GMO and preservative free supplement uses evening primrose and ashwagandha to naturally balance hormones in the body helping manage hormone related acne and hydration levels in the skin.  

Hard water, or tap water that contains high levels of magnesium, lead, and zinc, can leave a film on the skin that eventually causes dryness. The heavy metals in the water change the natural oil on your skin into a substance that clogs pores, worsens acne, and prevents moisture from absorbing into the skin. You can control the mineral content of your water through a filtration system or use hydrating skincare products with vitamin A and C to counteract the coating created by hard water. The Golden Nectar Brightening + Firming Serum contains natural clinical level actives including Vitamin C.

The temperature of the water used to cleanse has an impact on the health and hydration of your skin as well. Hot water can heighten skin sensitivity and inflammation through stripping your skin of natural oils that leave you dehydrated and dull. Using cold water to shower or cleanse promotes blood flow that carries oxygen and nutrients through the body promoting damaged cells to heal and creating a radiant youthful glow. The cold temperature also activates your sympathetic nervous system which releases hormones and brain chemicals that combat stress.

Skincare products and practices can have a major impact on the hydration of your skin. Traditional soap can disturb the natural pH level of the outer skin layer leaving you feeling irritated and thirsty for moisture. Gentle cleansers, like our Birdbath Cleansing Balm, removes dirt and toxins from the pores without stripping your skin of moisture. The ultra-hydrating cleanser will leave your skin feeling replenished with Hawaiian macadamia nut and kukui nut oil.

Many of the topical chemical treatments used to cure acne contain dehydrating and irritating substances such as retinol, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide to treat the bacteria that cause breakouts. If you find it necessary to use these treatments, make sure to apply the right moisturizer beforehand and consider your highly susceptible to sun damage. O’o Hawaii Soar Age Delay Moisturizer + Finishing Polish is highly absorbable and includes fermented sea silt to boost actives and provide natural low-level sun protection. Applying moisturizer while your skin is still damp is the most effective way to ensure it is fully absorbed.

As we age, the skin slows down the production of natural oils and cell turnover. Collagen and hyaluronic acid reduce over time allowing the skin to lose elasticity and become rougher. Just because you’re getting older, doesn’t mean you have to start accepting dry skin! Finding a hydrating skincare regime can slow down the aging process and lock moisture in. The O’o Hawaii Hydration Trio is a deeply hydrating set of moisturizers and eye cream that will help you maintain the youthful glow of your skin. Superfood ingredients feed the skin with micronutrients that repair at the cellular level.

It’s no secret that smoking cigarettes dramatically speeds up the aging process of your skin. Smoking depletes the skin of oxygen and decreases vitamin A levels to create dryness and collagen breakdown. Blood flow is inhibited by the chemicals used in cigarettes also leaving your skin dehydrated and permanently aged.

First and foremost, staying hydrated with water is one of the most important things you can do not only for your skin but your overall health. In addition, a poor diet can cause your complexion to look and feel less than glowing. Food with excess salt and caffeine draws hydration from the cells leaving the skin deflated. Processed food and sugars can damage collagen in the skin causing dehydration and loss of elasticity. Incorporating nutrient-dense superfoods into your diet and topically can increase hydration, combat inflammation, and flush toxins from your system. Consuming fatty acids through wild caught salmon and nuts provide the Omega-3’s needed to create the essential protective barrier on the skin. According to Ayurvedic dietary practices, if you’re experiencing dry skin it’s recommended to avoid dry foods such as bread and choose more oily foods such as salmon and avocado. Adding cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage into your diet is an easy way to increase hydration. The Hawaiian Superfood Beauty Boost uses the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 to promote collagen production and the fatty acid of Hawaiian Noni Fruit to aid in skin cell function and ensure a well-hydrated complexion. Hawaiian turmeric is added to promote blood circulation which directly impacts hydration levels in the skin.

When you travel into high altitude, whether you’re getting on a plane or hitting the mountains for the weekend, not drinking enough water can quickly lead to dehydration. Our bodies acclimate to the decreased oxygen levels in the atmosphere by speeding up the breath and increasing urine output. Breathing harder forces excess vapor to escape the body resulting in dehydration. In addition, the humidity is lower at a higher altitude which may add to the flakey dryness your skin experiences. O’o Hawaii is excited to be coming out with the Whole Flock in an easy to carry travel set so you don’t have to sacrifice your skin on your adventures!

It should be no surprise that alcohol is incredibly dehydrating for not only your entire body but your skin too (hence the horrible hangovers). This is because alcohol is a diuretic that forces water out of the system and makes it more difficult to reabsorb. This can leave your skin dry and flakey with more visible fine lines and wrinkles due to the lack of fluid. Not to mention, alcohol can cause breakouts due to the high sugar content, puffiness from the inflammatory effect it has on the body and hormone disruption as a result of the insulin response to the sugar content. Make sure to replenish plenty of H2O with your cocktails!

Luckily, summer is just around the corner, but for those remaining chilly spring days,  temperature fluctuations can be rough on the skin. Central heating systems suck moisture out of the air making it a living nightmare for your skin. If you are using a heating system, try setting up a humidifier to maintain moisture levels. Using a deeply hydrating topical solution, like our Brilliant Feather Beauty Balm will help prevent and restore dehydration damage to the skin. Powerful superfoods such as red algae, Hawaiian Noni, cocoa seed butter, and sea buckthorn oil lock moisture in and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Synthetic fragrances used in many skin care and cosmetic lines tend to irritate the skin making your dryness issue worse off. These man-made fragrances are usually a blend of chemicals that act as a particular scent. While it may smell good, many people are highly allergic and contract a red itchy rash which can cause inflammation. The good news is, you can still have invigorating and calming scented skincare without the adverse effect on your skin! O’o Hawaii only uses high grade pure essential oils and natural fruit extracts to create the most delicious smelling skincare you could dream up, like our Birds + Roses facial mask that has the oil of over 600 roses in every jar! Make sure to check the ingredient labels of your make-up, skincare, and deodorants for the word fragrance.