Our skin is awash in water—30 percent water, in fact—and keeping it there can help make our complexions healthy and happy.

Water and our skin

Its water content is hugely responsible for our skin’s plumpness, elasticity, and resilience to the elements. Studies have found that decreased skin hydration is linked to greater depth and quantity of wrinkles. Yikes!

The good news is that by learning how to boost our skin hydration levels, we can improve the look and feel of our skin, and we may even be able to decrease signs of aging, including wrinkles. Do you know how to lock moisture into your skin? You may be surprised.

Guzzling water for your skin? There’s no need

Hydration is essential, no doubt. We certainly need to drink enough water; however, drinking the fabled eight glasses a day doesn’t automatically make our skin better. While the myth continues to persist in popular culture, it has no scientific basis.

Research shows that if we are chronically dehydrated, drinking sufficient water can boost skin thickness and density, but overhydrating is neither necessary nor beneficial. Plus, adequate hydration isn’t enough to help prevent signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles.

How do we know if we’re drinking enough water? An easy way to tell is to ensure our urine is pale yellow or colourless. Sometimes, we may be consuming more water than we realize: many foods—fruits and veggies, in particular—contain plenty of water.

We can help preserve moisture in our skin through other means

What does help preserve water in our skin, then? It all starts with the first step of our skin care routine: cleansing. It may sound strange, but our natural oil (sebum) helps keep our skin moisturized.

That’s why overscrubbing our skin or using harsh cleansers dries us out—by destroying our skin’s natural “waterproofing” oil layer, much-needed moisture escapes. The solution? Use a gentle facial cleanser without alcohol, sulphates, or artificial fragrances.