How to deeply hydrate your skin?

Even though dry skin is particularly vulnerable to skin dehydration, all skin types are likely to experience it. For optimal hydration, combining internal and external hydration is ideal. To provide the skin with deeper and longer-lasting hydration, favour products that include the following ingredients in their composition:

• The humectant or hygroscopic agents attract and retain water in the stratum corneum. The most well-known molecules are hyaluronic acid, glycerine and polyglutamic acid. You can find some of these active ingredients in our serums such as the plumping serum with polyglutamic acid and red algae extract or the hydrating serum with 3% hyaluronic acid and 2% provitamin B5 (INCI: "Panthenol").

• Film-forming substances do not penetrate the skin but rather act on the surface. Indeed, they form a lipid film on the surface of the epidermis, creating an occlusive barrier layer that opposes the transfer of water molecules to the outside environment. Some, obtained by synthesising petrochemical derivatives, should be avoided: this is the case with dimethicone (the most common silicone), petroleum jelly, and paraffin. At Typology, ingredients of natural origin are favoured: in this category, we find squalane and vegetable oils. In this sense, the nourishing serum composed of 100% squalane is a recommended treatment for dry skin, aiming to reduce feelings of tightness and minimise dehydration fine lines.

• The intercellular cement correctors strengthen the cohesion between cells and make the evaporation of water more difficult. These include, for example, ceramides or vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids such asprickly pear oil (INCI: "Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil"),argan (INCI: "Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil") and plum (INCI: "Prunus Domestica Seed Oil"). Our dryness and blemishes serum contains olive squalane combined with ceramides to repair the skin barrier for better protected, more hydrated skin and reduced blemishes.

However, products that evaporate too quickly should be avoided, as they carry away some of the skin's water, resulting in a slight drying effect. Thus, applying floral water or hydrosol directly to the skin does not rehydrate it, as the water molecules cannot penetrate and immediately evaporate. Similarly, ethanol is a highly volatile solvent that undergoes this same phenomenon more intensely. Added to formulas for its low cost and dry touch, it is an ingredient to avoid due to its drying effect.

Drinks provide water to all organs, a portion of which is directed towards the dermis and then diffuses through the various skin layers before evaporating on the surface.Drinking 1.5 L of water per day helps to keep the skin plump, as well as slowing down skin ageing. Indeed, water acts at the level of the horny layer as a softener. Thus, the signs of ageing will tend to mark more quickly on dehydrated skin, which is less elastic than skin that is well-hydrated. Similarly, fruits and vegetables, foods rich in water, provide a significant supplement. Finally, alcohol should be avoided. Although it is in liquid form like water, it is known for its dehydrating power.