Have you noticed a dullness to your skin? Or maybe you’re always getting those small bumps that you use your Hydroxy Acids, or whichever chemical exfoliant, to “buff it out” & they just don’t go away? Or you feel tight & dry even after slathering on your thick moisturizer only a couple hours ago?
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THAT is your sign to increase the hydration your skin is getting…or in this case not getting. We’re not just talking about increasing your water intake just to let you know! In this post, we’ll discover why building better hydration & maintaining optimal hydration is going to be key for healthier, less upset skin even for acne, oily skin & how it can truly transform your skin.
Let’s dive into how hydration is a pillar in Refine’s approach to at-home & in-spa skin treatments.
So how does hydration affect our skin?
Hydration plays a key role by ensuring skin cell function is balanced. When cells receive sufficient hydration, your skin is able to tolerate harsh aggressors better & the skin barrier is kept healthy & strong. Your well-hydrated skin can have a more even tone & brighter complexion & premature signs of aging are minimized (along with UV Protection!). In cases of more sensitive conditions (acne, oiliness, dryness, hyperpigmentation etc.), your skin is able to manage the flare ups of these conditions due to your stronger skin barrier.
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On the flipside, what happens when we deprive the skin of hydration?
Cells start to malfunction in which you may notice your skin tone becomes dull, skin inflammation and sensitivity start to flare up frequently, & skin specific conditions, like acne or hyperpigmentation, can worsen & be more susceptible to harsh aggressors. I often notice with my oily or acne skin clients, hydration is severely lacking in their routine, throwing them in a cycle of acne flare-ups or their skin feeling excessively oily or congested for a couple weeks, subsiding, only for their oiliness to come back. Why can this happen? Your skin tries to make up for the lack of hydration, by overproducing sebum/oil to rebalance itself. In the longer term, you may notice your skin starts to age faster as your cells are not functioning properly. This particular skin condition is dehydration (& yes, oily or acne skin can 100% be dehydrated).
So when a client comes to Refine for the first time, not only do I, along with any of the Refine estheticians, check what your skin concerns are, we are also checking your level of skin dehydration. Often, dehydration can be a major contributing factor to your skin concern. To combat dehydration, skin treatments and products focused on increasing/replenishing & protecting your hydration levels are essential in alleviating the dehydration condition.
With treatments like Hyaltune 3-Step Peel & Quadsonophoresis, we can boost how much hydration your skin produces which will essentially give your skin a head start in rebalancing its hydration levels.
To lock in the hydration we deliver, a customized mask, including modeling packs or specialized mask systems, is left on for 10-20 minutes leaving a glowy, calm & brighter finish. To keep up the facial glow at home with more advanced hydration, Check our hydrating mask recommendations here.
How much hydration does one need?
That is dependent on how severe & long your skin has been lacking hydration, your external & internal environment. For some, they don’t retain hydration as easily, so layering hydrating products (See our recommendations for dehydrated dry, sensitive skin here). If you produce more oil though, layering hydration can be tricky so we don’t clog the pores, but it’s not impossible! (See our recommendations for dehydrated, oily, acne skin here).
External factors can affect continuous dehydration, however a major one is your weather that can influence the types of hydrating aftercare products. Edmonton weather is perpetually drier & continuous and deep hydration may be necessary to prevent moisture loss. Incorporating masks & hydrating mists are small changes to keep skin well hydrated & healthy
A cautionary notice!
There’s such a thing as excess hydration. This can happen when you layer too many hydrating products, use the incorrect type of hydration for your skin or applying hydrating products without controlling congestion. In this case, the products accumulate on the skin leading to enlarged, clogged pores, congested or textured skin, & you can still feel dehydrated in the end.
Here you have Refine’s philosophy. With appropriate hydrating measures, your skin treatments work more effectively & results can be better thanks to hydration normalizing your cell processes. If you’re unsure what works best for you, come book your consultation at Refine for your transformative skin journey.
Until next time, I’ll be in the treatment room!
Vivian Wong