You could be forgiven for thinking we’re here to talk about hydrating products to keep your skin moisturised as we hit the cooler months, and we will! First up though, we’re going to look at hydration on a broader level, through the lens of wellness.

Our focus on wellness is all about finding ways to improve your skin through healthy lifestyle choices that complement our high-tech, supercharged skincare, so you hit your skin goals sooner and more easily. We’ve chosen 5 pillars of wellness to focus on and over the coming months we’ll be discussing sleep, stress management, balanced hormones, and gut health. We’re kicking off this exciting new season with hydration.

In this part of the world, we’re lucky enough that water is such a simple drink and so readily available to us, that it’s easy to forget how essential it is to all our bodily functions. Hydration really is a cornerstone of our everyday wellbeing; our bodies function more smoothly when we reach optimal hydration. Our skin shows the benefits outside, and inside, our blood flow and lymphatic system both work better too. Our joints are lubricated and smooth, hair follicles grow stronger, we’re more energised and even our brain works more efficiently!

What if I’m not hydrated?

Water is vital to every cellular function, so even mild dehydration will have a physiological impact on all areas of our bodies. Gut health is one such area and is linked to slower toxin removal. Toxins hanging around in the body are a big no-no and can be linked to frequent colds and lethargy (no thank you) as our immune system suffers. Time to get a drink? We think so!

How is my skin impacted?

Skin cells are full of water, it’s part of what makes the surface of our skin feel plump and bouncy. As we get older our skin loses some of its natural elasticity and this can be exacerbated by dehydration, meaning wrinkles are more visible and skin looks slack. We all know how great exfoliation is for revealing bright, fresh skin right? Unfortunately, when we are dehydrated our natural exfoliation slows right down causing a build-up of older skin cells and a dull greyish tone, the opposite of that healthy glow. The outermost layer of skin along with the skin barrier locks in water to keep skin strong and protects the body from free radicals. Dehydration can damage this essential barrier causing skin to become sensitive, dry, and flaky and lead to redness and breakouts. H20 is also vital for wound healing (aka, rejuvenation following an in-clinic treatment like injectables, a chemical peel or laser).

What is ‘optimal hydration’?

One of the simplest ways to optimise our wellbeing is to drink more water, but what do we mean by ‘more’? We’re talking 2.5 litres per day for women and 3.5 litres for men, on average. It sounds a lot but it’s so worth it to avoid dull skin, sunken eyes, and a feeling of lethargy!

Not drinking enough? Try these tips

Drinking more water is a shortcut to greater wellbeing and happier skin and it’s relatively simple to do. Get yourself a reusable water bottle: we love the tracker style bottles with a handy timeline to help keep your water intake on track throughout the day and take it with you wherever you go. Lisa Waring, nurse prescriber and director of @facetherapyni recommends setting small targets, like drinking a full glass of water as soon as you wake up. If H2O isn’t your drink of choice, try adding cucumber or lemon to a glass to give it a new flavour and entice you to drink more. You can also make smoothies with water-rich fruit and veg – try watermelon and cucumber blended with berries. For more great tips, watch our Instagram interview with Lisa here.

Hit ALL your skin goals

Now you’re bossing hydration from the inside-out, it’s time to start looking at outside-in with your skincare routine. Different skin types will respond in different ways as the weather cools and the central heating goes on. We always recommend connecting with one of our skin professionals to get personalised advice based on your lifestyle and exact skin goals.  You can also use our connect to buy function and kick off your AlumierMD journey right away!

When your skin starts feeling dry, dehydrated, tight or flaky then it’s a good idea to support the skin barrier with a targeted serum such as our Ultimate Boost Serum. This lightweight, hydrating hero contains sodium hyaluronate and niacinamide and will quickly soothe dry skin, and take skin that’s already hydrated to the next level.

A weekly treatment mask can do wonders for all skin types and as the weather changes, adding a regular mask session to your routine will provide that extra TLC the skin craves. Don’t forget to drink a full glass of water while you mask! Our Aqua Infusion Mask is a great way to maintain great skin all year, no matter the season, as the oil-free formula intensely hydrates and works to support the skin’s barrier. You’ll also find the mask in our new, limited edition Smooth & Hydrate Kit alongside a full-size invigorating MicroDerm Polish and a double-sided bamboo and ramie face cloth.

In a survey focused on our Smooth & Hydrate Kit, after one application (of both products) 95% said they felt happier about their skin and 100% said their skin had more glow. We also asked testers how they felt about the Smooth & Hydrate experience, 90% felt more relaxed and 80% felt more refreshed and awake. Sounds perfect! We’ll take our Kit with a side of water please!

A shortcut to hydrating skin (aside from chugging H20 all day long), is our Essentials Kit for Dry Skin. The carefully chosen formulas: HydraBoost Cream Cleanser, Ultimate Boost Serum and Sheer Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 40, will help to hydrate and protect dry, dehydrated skin.

Regardless of your skin type, your complexion and health will benefit from boosting your hydration. Even if it’s just two more glasses of water a day, make the change and get in touch with your results! We’d love to hear how you get on!