The difference between hydration and nourishment.

Hydration is gauged by the amount of water present in the skin. All skin types (dry, normal, combination, oily) require hydration. Water, which makes up 70% of the skin, is stored in the dermis. It circulates through channels (aquaporins) to the upper layer of the epidermis, known as the stratum corneum. This layer serves as a barrier to protect the skin. When it is damaged, the water in the dermis gradually evaporates. This phenomenon is called "Insensible Water Loss (I.W.L.)". Lack of hydration is noticeable by a lack of radiance, fine lines or striations that can be observed when pinching the skin, a temporary tightness of the skin in localised areas, a lack of suppleness and a sensation of discomfort. Skin dehydration can be caused by the climate: wind, cold weather, UV exposure or pollution contribute to the weakening of the skin barrier and the evaporation of water. Alcohol and cigarette consumption can also cause dehydration. If you are stressed or tired, your body may also experience a lack of hydration. Certain skin diseases (atopic, eczema, psoriasis) and some medical treatments severely dry out the epidermis. Finally, cosmetics containing overly harsh or chemical ingredients can exacerbate the lack of water in the epidermis.

Nutrition is gauged by the amount of lipids present in the skin. Dry skins require nutrition as their hydrolipidic film is compromised and their sebum production is insufficient. Like all skin types, dry skins also need hydration. Lipids (or sebum) form the skin's hydrolipidic film with water. When sebum production is low, the hydrolipidic film no longer performs its barrier function and can no longer protect the skin against dehydration, as water can rapidly evaporate from the epidermis. The skin thus becomes more fragile and dries out. The lack of nutrition is perceptible by a constant feeling of tightness, the frequent appearance of redness and other skin problems (flaking, cracking, striations).

The aim is to form a protective barrier on your skin to lock in moisture, like a light veil, and thus prevent water from evaporating, by providing a dose of oil. Indeed, this means that the cells are no longer able to preserve their natural hydration. Therefore, to nourish the skin, favour products based onvegetable oils, vegetable butters or compounds of nourishing actives like vegetable squalane, which has a structure very similar to sebum, or ceramides, natural lipids that are part of the composition of the inter-lipid cement allowing cohesion between cells. Here are some products that we offer at Typology, intended for dry skin lacking in lipids, whether for the face, body and even hair:

• Nourishing hair oil concentrated in botanical oils and squalane;

• Nourishing serum composed of 100% olive squalane;

• Dryness & Imperfections Serum based on ceramides and olive squalane;

• Botanical hydrating blend enriched with plant oils and natural emollients such as squalane.

• Nourishing face cream based on shea butter and hyaluronic acid;

• Nourishing body scrub with almond oil ;

• Nourishing body serum with bisabolol, sweet almond oil and plum oil.

Small note : Apply your moisturising treatment just before your nourishing care, not the other way around. Otherwise, the barrier formed will prevent the moisturising agents from reaching the epidermis.