Today we are going to talk about dehydrated and dry skin many of us suffer from. After moving from a tropical island with high humidity to the dry weather in Utah, my skin took a turn to the worst. I strongly believe the dehydrated skin was the primary cause of my adult acne I suffered from for the longest time but that’s a topic for another day. I’m sure some of you can relate, back in the day no matter how much moisturizer I lathered on, a couple of hours later my skin would go back to being dry and dehydrated. What I didn’t know back then was that just putting on hydrating products won’t keep your skin moist and plump. As we age our skin loses its ability to hold on to that hydration, so we need to incorporate moisturizing ingredients into our skin care regimen to prevent the loss of hydration. In other words, our skin needs help with moisturizing ingredients that can hold on to the water molecules in our skin so they don’t evaporate so quickly.
“I’m sure some of you can relate, back in the day no matter how much moisturizer I lathered on, couple of hours later my skin would go back to being dry and dehydrated. What I didn’t know back then was that just putting on hydrating products won’t keep your skin moist and plump.
Let’s start with some basic science behind our skin. Glycosaminoglycans, known as GAGs, are very large molecules that exist naturally in the dermis of the skin. They have the ability to bind 1,000 times their weight in water to prevent water in your skin from evaporating into the air. Not many people are aware that as we age, the levels of GAGs in our skin decrease. This is when we need to incorporate skincare products infused with GAGs to retain our skin’s ability to hold hydration.
The most commonly known GAG in our body is Hyaluronic Acid. Bamboo Sillica is a natural ingredient that’s increasing in popularity within the skincare community because of its high levels of GAGs among many other skin benefits. Both of these are great moisturizing ingredients that can help you with your dry and dehydrated skin. So today I want to focus not only on the skin benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and Bamboo Silica but also how to correctly use products infused with these ingredients to keep your skin supple and plump.
Hyaluronic acid (HA):
Hyaluronic acid (HA), is a sugar molecule naturally produced by our body and almost half of our body’s Hyaluronic Acid is found within the skin. HA is in our bodies to help retain moisture in our skin and joints. Hyaluronic Acid is the perfect moisturizing ingredient for just about anyone, especially for those who struggle with new products due to sensitive skin. Because HA naturally exist in the skin, it is safe to use and allergic reactions are very rare. For the mommas out there, we got you covered, it’s an ingredient that is safe to use when pregnant or breastfeeding!
Other than acting as a sponge to hold water in your skin, Hyaluronic Acid is also known to strengthen your lipid barrier; improve skin texture and tone; reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles; increase cell regeneration; and improve hyperpigmentation. All in all, it is good for your beautiful skin! Hyaluronic Acid pairs nicely with many skin care ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). It is most commonly found in serums and moisturizers but can also be found in a variety of sheet masks and other facial products.
My favorite Hyaluronic Acid infused product is Kalaia’s Preserve & Restore – Eye Cream. It is a gentle and safe ingredient to use around the eyes. I love how it instantly refreshes the skin under my eyes leaving it hydrated and plump. With overtime use, I’ve noticed a reduction in the look of fine lines and wrinkles as well. If you are looking for a way to get rid of those crow’s feet and elevens without needles, this eye cream might be for you.
Bamboo Silica:
Bamboo is full of natural silica, an essential mineral that promotes healthy skin and hair. In fact, it contains about 70% silica making it the richest natural source of this mineral. Silica also is known to promote the production of collagen, and everyone knows collagen is a very important to maintain a youthful appearance.
Bamboo silica is one of the key contenders in protecting our skin from premature aging. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, and this happens to be the major cause of premature aging and wrinkles. In order to delay signs of aging, your body needs antioxidants present, and bamboo silica is a great source of it! Silica is also essential to our bodies and as we get older it becomes less prominent. The absence of silica is actually in direct correlation with our body’s aging process and this includes the formation of wrinkles, loose skin, and fine lines. This is when we turn to clean beauty products to come in and rescue our skin. It’s important to find products that contain bamboo silica as it will revive your skin and keep it looking youthful and beautiful.
My favorite product with Bamboo Silica is our Hold Tight – Overnight Moisturizer. I didn’t know what was possible when it came to keeping my skin hydrated until I used this moisturizer. Now I wake up with supple skin even on those extremely dry days in Utah. Both me and my 7-year-old daughter use this moisturizer morning and night to keep our skin hydrated. If you have teenagers and pre-teens who struggle with uneven skin tone, dry skin, or acne, I highly recommend them pairing this moisturizer with Kalaia’s Detox & Balance – Cleansing Bar. (More on how to take care of acne prone/oily skin to come on a separate blog post.)
How to correctly use products infused with these ingredients?
Now you know the benefits of these ingredients, let’s talk how to use products infused with them to maximize the results. For these ingredients to do its job, you need to make sure they penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin. So, make sure to exfoliate your skin on a regular basis. Applying skincare products on top of a dead skin layer is a waste of money. Next, these ingredients work the best when applied on damp skin or paired with a water-based serum like our Keep Smooth – Day & Night Serum so these GAGs have enough water molecules to hold on to. That’s why I always apply my serum right after I wash and/or exfoliate my skin. Then apply both the eye cream and the moisturizer to create that protective layer to lock in the hydration.
That was a lot, but it is an important and one of the most basic steps in taking care of your skin regardless of your age, gender, and skin type. Knowledge is power and I hope now you know little bit more about simple ways to take care of your beautiful skin.
