Hydrating Agents for Skin: Boost Moisture and Glow Naturally

Your skin cannot function well without optimum hydration. Your skin barrier, oil production, glow, and texture all depend on how well you practice skin hydration. The goal is to find and layer the right products seamlessly into your regimen. So, if you’re looking for how to keep skin hydrated or finding the skin hydrating ingredients, it’s time to dive right in.

Keynotes:

• Skin hydration agents like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and panthenol help draw moisture into the skin, supporting a strong, healthy barrier.
• Hydrating skincare ingredients work best when layered correctly, from light to heavy, and applied on damp skin.
• Learning how to keep your skin hydrated improves texture, reduces sensitivity, and leaves skin plump and glowing.

Hydrating agents, also known as humectants, are potent agents that add hydration to your skin. These are typically hydrophilic and hygroscopic molecules, which means they can draw moisture out of the environment or deeper layers of skin and hold the moisture in the outermost layer of your skin, or stratum corneum. Maintaining skin hydration in the stratum corneum is crucial for a healthy skin barrier, for healthy, plump skin, and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Skin hydration especially comes in handy for tacking environmental aggressors. Whether you’re tackling dryness in winters or low moisture in summers, using humectants or hydrating agents comes in handy. Make sure that you use humectants with humidifiers, in humid weather, or over a layer of water. When used in a dry atmosphere, humectants draw moisture from the deeper layers of the skin instead, creating paradoxical dryness. This is why humectants should also be paired with occlusives - substances that form a barrier and keep moisture intact, and emollients - natural oils and butters that help you soften dry, flaky skin. While emollients and occlusives are generally better suited to normal, dry, and sensitive skin types, humectants suit all skin types, including oily and combination skin.

While learning how to hydrate skin, it’s crucial to look for the right skin hydrating ingredients. Here are some of the most well-researched and gentle ingredients you can start with:

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring humectant found in your skin and connective tissues. When applied topically, HA attracts moisture from the environment and the deeper layers of your skin into the topmost layer of your skin, creating a plumping, smoothing effect. Typically, topical serums use HA with a low molecular weight ranging from 20-300 kDa, which gets absorbed through your stratum corneum. On the other hand, HA with higher molecular weights remains on the surface to give you immediate and sustained hydration on top of your skin. A pro tip is to mist your face with water before using hyaluronic acid serum to ensure that the moisture isn’t taken from the deeper layers of your skin. Allow the serum to penetrate and follow it with a moisturizer. Alternatively, you can also use serums and day creams with HA in your regular skin regimen.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a small-molecule humectant that is a natural moisturizing factor (NMF) and widely used in skincare. Just like HA, glycerin helps draw water into the outermost layer of your skin and enhances your barrier function. Glycerin is often added to your cleansers, toners, and serums to maintain the moisture levels of your skin while maintaining barrier function. Just like hyaluronic acid, glycerin suits all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone

Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5)

While HA and glycerin have become common names in skincare, panthenol or pantothenic acid are just as potent when it comes to soothing, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory effects. Once absorbed by your body, panthenol turns into vitamin B5 and aids barrier repair and lipid synthesis. Whether you’re simply tackling dry skin or have more serious dermatological concerns like psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, hydrating skincare like panthenol comes in handy.

Natural Oils and Plant Extracts

• Ceramides: Ceramides are lipids that reinforce your skin barrier and reduce TEWL, sealing in hydration.
• Squalane: Derived from natural ingredients like olives or sugarcane, squalane is a light emollient that mimics your natural skin oils. It helps support barrier function, seals moisture, and has a non-greasy, balanced feel, making it ideal for mature and combination skin.
• Aloe Vera: Aloe vera gel offers instant hydration and soothing benefits. It’s anti-inflammatory, non-comedogenic, and suitable for sensitive or sun-exposed skin.

• Tip 1: Cleanse and Tone

  Begin your skin hydration routine with a gentle, gel-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils or disrupting the moisture barrier. Look for cleansers with salicylic acid to unclog your pores and balance any oiliness. Follow it with a pH-balanced toner to strengthen your skin barrier and improve absorption.
  
  Explore our gentle Face Cleanser and Toner for sensitive skin

• Tip 2: Try the Sandwich Technique

  This layering method helps lock in moisture effectively and is ideal for both dry and dehydrated skin types. Start by cleansing your face, then apply a hydrating toner or essence that contains humectants such as hyaluronic acid (HA), glycerin, or lactic acid. Follow this with a targeted serum, preferably one with hydrating or barrier-strengthening properties, then apply a moisturiser, and finally seal everything in with an occlusive, like a balm or facial oil. This ‘moisture sandwich’ ensures that hydration is first pulled into the skin and then locked in. Make sure all products, especially occlusives, are suited to your skin type.

• Tip 3: Apply Products on Damp Skin

  Humectants, particularly hyaluronic acid and glycerin, are most effective when applied to damp skin. This helps draw moisture into the skin rather than pulling it from deeper layers or the surrounding air, especially in dry environments.

• Tip 4: Layer Products from Thin to Thick

  For optimal absorption and effectiveness, always begin with lightweight, water-based products and gradually layer thicker, cream-based or oil-based products on top. This ensures that active ingredients penetrate efficiently and that heavier products don’t block lighter ones from being absorbed.

• Tip 5: Understand Your Skin Type

  If you have oily or acne-prone skin, opt for lightweight, water-based moisturisers that are non-comedogenic and formulated with ingredients that hydrate without clogging pores. For dry, aging, or sensitive skin, choose richer creams that contain emollients like ceramides, fatty acids, and natural oils.

• Tip 6: Be Consistent with Hydration

  Proper skin hydration should be a part of your daily skincare routine, both in the morning and at night. Skin loses moisture throughout the day due to environmental stressors, so reapplying hydrating products ensures your skin stays supple, calm, and healthy.

• Over-Exfoliating:
  

  Using chemical exfoliants or retinoids too frequently can compromise the skin’s natural protective barrier, leading to increased TEWL and dryness.

• Taking Hot Showers:
  

  Long, hot showers may feel relaxing, but they dissolve the skin’s lipid layer, which plays a key role in water retention.

• Neglecting Indoor Humidity:
  

  In air-conditioned or heated environments, low indoor humidity levels can dehydrate the skin over time. Using a humidifier helps maintain moisture in the air and supports better hydration levels in the skin.

• Strengthens Skin Barrier: Proper skin hydration supports the structure of the stratum corneum by maintaining its lipid and protein content. This also reduces TEWL and protects you against environmental stressors.

• Plumper Appearance: When skin cells are well-hydrated, they swell slightly with water, which makes the skin look plump, smooth, and visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• Better Texture: Consistently hydrated skin looks more even, feels softer, and reflects light better, contributing to a natural glow and a more refined texture.

• Reduced Sensitivity: A strong, hydrated barrier protects the skin from allergens, irritants, and pollutants, which can otherwise cause flare-ups, redness, or inflammation.

Now that you know how to keep your skin hydrated, it’s time to invest in the right products. Look for dermatologically tested, lightweight creams that hydrate your skin optimally, without weighing it down. For everything skincare, turn to Eucerin.

1. What are the best hydrating agents for the skin?

   Humectants, emollients, and occlusives are some potent hydrating agents for your skin. Humectants add moisture to the dermal layers, emollients soften dry, flaky skin, and occlusives prevent moisture loss. However, they may not suit all skin types, so it’s best to consult a dermatologist.

2. How does hyaluronic acid hydrate the skin?

   Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws moisture from the environment towards the outermost layer of your skin. The skin active is gentle and suits all skin types.

3. Can I mix different hydrating ingredients?

   While you can layer different hydrating ingredients, like HA and ceramides, it’s best to consult your dermatologist to prevent clogged pores.

4. Do hydrating products work on oily or acne-prone skin?

   Yes. Oily and acne-prone skin requires hydration just as much to maintain the skin barrier while maintaining a bright tone and even texture. Look for lightweight options like hyaluronic acid.

• PubMed - Skin hydration and hydrating products
• Healthline - How Humectants Keep Hair and Skin Moisturized