If there’s one thing that we know is good for our bodies, it’s water. Not only are we advised to drink at least two litres of it a day, but it’s very much a part of who we are; in fact, up to 60% of the human adult body is water, with the lungs composed of about 83% – which shows just how vital it is.
As a result, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that our skin needs just as much hydration as the rest of us. So much so that lots of people say if you want to have glowy, plump and healthy-looking skin, you need to make sure to drink plenty of water.
Although we all know that it’s important to stay hydrated in order to maintain our skin’s health and wellbeing, I want to look into the ways that the beauty industry can help to keep our complexion thoroughly quenched through the use of forward-thinking ingredients and jaw-dropping tech. In the eighth edit in my technology series, I’m going to be exploring some of the best hydrating skincare formulas that have recently caught my eye; trust me – they’re the skin’s equivalent of a chilled glass of water on a hot summer’s day. Read on to find out more…
1. The Skin-Soothing Sorbet For Skin
Now, I don’t know about you, but if it’s a blistering hot day, there’s nothing I crave more than a cool, crisp ice cream; well, Caudalie’s Vinosource-Hydra moisturiser is just like a fresh, frozen sorbet for your skin. And with a light and pleasant citrus scent of mandarin blossom, lemon leaves, cucumber water and fresh mint, you’d be forgiven for daydreaming about frozen cocktails in the sun.
The 97% natural origin Vinosource-Hydra Moisturising Sorbet has been specially designed to replenish the skin’s water reserves – which is the skin’s equivalent of refilling your glass – and it also helps to strengthen the skin to reduce sensitivity.
As soon as you apply Caudalie’s everyday face cream, the skin is instantly soothed and hydrated, while redness is cooled and minimised. This moisturiser is a must-have for thirsty, sensitive skin; not only does it replenish the skin’s water reserves, but reactivates the skin’s hydration mechanisms for lasting comfort. As you’d expect from Caudalie, the moisturiser is packed with a number of powerhouse natural ingredients; chamomile offers calming benefits, while moisturising shea butter softens the complexion. Of course, Caudalie’s iconic probiotic grape water is included to hydrate and soothe, while added polyphenols offer antioxidant defence.
And although I could write about the formula all day long, I have to mention the techy bit; thanks to “quick break” lipophilic technology, the gel quickly transforms into a water-like texture as it melts directly into the skin upon contact, leaving the complexion instantly soothed, moisturised and strengthened. If that isn’t the closest equivalent to a refreshing, cooling sorbet for your skin, I don’t know what is. Oh, and a top tip? Pop this face cream in the fridge before use for an extra cooling experience!
2. The Face Cream Fuelled By Fermentation
Florena is paving the way in the innovation of natural cosmetics by revisiting the ancient benefits of fermentation and applying new technologies to create fermented skincare for the 21st century. But what exactly does fermentation do? By breaking down a substance into a simpler substance, fermentation makes the original ingredient more powerful and more concentrated, so skin readily accepts and absorbs it. Florena uses this innovative process to get the best out of nature’s ingredients and supercharge your skincare.
Florena use fermented ingredients in all of their skincare formulas, but the one example I want to show you that utilises this process to douse your skin with long-lasting hydration is their 24h Hydrating Day Cream. As the name suggests, the daily face cream for dry skin offers lasting hydration – all day and night long, in fact! (Although that doesn’t mean you’ll want to miss out on this night cream; it’s just too good.)
The lightweight formula locks in moisture for soft, supple skin. But how does it do this? All thanks to fermented camellia sinensis and fermented olive oil, of course! Fermented camellia sinensis is known for its naturally hydrating benefits, while Florena’s fermented olive oil contains at least 10 times more essential free fatty acids than a non-fermented alternative, so it can supercharge your skin with the likes of omega 6 and omega 9. These natural fatty acids are renowned for their skin-quenching, smoothing and protecting properties.
As if that wasn’t enough, the vegan face cream also contains a drizzle of coconut oil and a dollop of avocado oil to nourish skin further.
3. The Serum Supercharged By Super Smart Tech
For lots of us, our skin can feel like a little bit of a mystery at times, and working out exactly what it needs can be a minefield. Well, what if I told you that there’s a serum out there that knows just what your skin needs even before you do. Well, thankfully, it does exist: it’s Dermalogica’s Smart Response Serum.
It’s safe to say that Dermalogica’s serum has left me seriously impressed – and it’s all because of its next-generation tech. Designed to deliver just what your skin needs, when it needs it, the formula is powered by SmartResponse Technology that reacts to skin’s needs to hydrate, brighten, soothe, and address fine lines and wrinkles.
The serum delivers a personalised response every time as SmartResponse tech recognises micro-changes in the skin, discovering and correcting skin concerns even before they’re visible to the naked eye. Although this unique technological innovation features a combination of four smart actives to target a range of key concerns, I’m going to primarily focus on its skin-hydrating active. So, how exactly does this formula work out that your skin is thirsty even before you can see that it’s parched?
The serum works by detecting a weakened skin barrier and steps in to stop dehydrated skin in its tracks. Oligosaccharides from hydrolyzed beta glucan respond to the dehydration signals found in skin and help to maintain optimal hydration levels for a fresh, healthy and comfortable complexion. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the formula activates the additional key ingredients on different areas of the face as the skin undergoes tiny changes, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to target multiple concerns all at once; it targets everything from redness and dehydration to fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
