Hydration Vs. Moisturisation
Back to BlogWe believe the key to good skin is hydrated, nourished skin
Your skin is incredible it protects us, keeps the goodness in and shields us from harm. However the environment along with skincare (if we over cleanse it or over strip it, which can occur when using harsh skincare products and actives) then our skin can become compromised and its protective qualities can deteriorate.
An impaired skin barrier can also lead it open to penetration of potential irritants and allergens further disrupting the natural barrier.
So how do we keep the skin optimally functioning and hydrated and how does this differ from ensuring it is moisturised?
Glowing skin is possible and it occurs when the skin is optimally moisturised and hydrated, and the skin surface is smooth and clear of dead skin cells.
The stratum corneum is semi-transparent. Meaning that the smoother the surface the less scattered is the reflection of light which can appear to bounce off the face. Hence when the skin is well moisturised and the surface is exfoliated the skin will appear smoother, brighter and ultimately look more youthful.
Moisturisers are designed to do put moisture back into the skin where it is dry. So, what is the difference between moisturising the skin vs hydrating it?
The two terms do often mean the same thing, adding moisture into the skin, moisture as in fluids. However, the ingredients and definitions are not the same.
Our Skin Really does have the Ability to Glow
Skin hydration is associated with the concentration of water in the very outer layer of the skin. Water in the lower layer called the epidermis comes from the cells. The outer layer of skin has an optimal hydration of above 20-30%, if these levels drop below 20% the skin may start to appear dry and this is when the barrier becomes compromised and may even appear to crack.
The surface of the skin protects us, however it is where the water is lost which is known as a process called trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). The rate of water loss will depend on many things including the temperature and humidity in the air – hence why our skin can become dry and less hydrated during winter months often due to very cold conditions outside and very dry arid conditions inside (when we have the heating on or have hot showers and baths!!).
Other factors which effect TEWL is how intact the skin barrier is along with the water holding capacity of the skin
We formulate with high dose actives along with NMF's, which prevent the skin from becoming compromised. The skin will remain nourished and hydrated which benefit the skin cells as they renew.
NMF’s short for Natural Moisturising Factors are products naturally found in the skin as a natural protector of dry skin and are proven to attract and hold water in the stratum corneum. Due to environmental stressors and also certain skincare ingredients these can become depleted further exacerbating skin dryness.
To ensure the skin is moisturised it requires optimal lipids to increase the suppleness and elasticity. The skins lipids are comprised of free fatty acids, ceramides and cholesterol. It is these fatty acids that also work to reduce TEWL.
We believe that formulation is key to ensuring that the water is maintained in the skin and a variety of ingredients are used to formulate our products to ensure that water and lipid content in the stratum corneum are optimised and the skin really does glow.
The Josie Dream Mask is unique in that it provides the highest over the counter dose of retinol available in the EU, with no irritation – instead incredibly supple, nourished and hydrated skin.
