3 Skin Hydration Mistakes You Might Be Making & How To Instantly Fix Them

Well, it turns out, a few innocent mistakes can easily sabotage a dewy glow. If you're slathering on creams and hyaluronic acid serums to no avail, do be sure you're not unknowingly making one of the following faux pas: 

But completely ignoring body care is a shame, namely because the market has practically exploded over the years—with formulas that rival facial care counterparts. You can find a body lotion that's just as decadent as a pillow-soft night cream, a hand treatment that helps fade dark spots like a brightening serum would. And of course: Your skin barrier doesn't stop at your neck, and moisture plays a vital role in its function. Ignore full-body hydration, compromise your barrier, and your skin won't be as protected from external aggressors—over time, this can lead to premature aging, fine lines, and crepey skin.

Our formula also contains pre- and postbiotics to help the skin microbiome flourish, as well as coenzyme Q10 and a fruit complex to help fight free radicals and welcome brighter skin. It's a must-have for locking in full-body hydration, if we do say so ourselves.  

Scalding water also has the ability to strip the natural oils and lipids from your skin, compromising your skin barrier—and this, as we mentioned, can lead to cracked, itchy skin. 

Many derms recommend sticking to lukewarm or slightly warm water when showering or washing your face, if you can. Especially during the winter months, as cold weather can weaken your skin barrier function already, so you don't want to aggravate it further. 

Plus, you may have a slightly smaller window to lock in hydration, especially if you're partial to long, hot showers, and completely toweling off sacrifices some of those precious minutes you do have (board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., recommends waiting no longer than two minutes to slather on moisturizer). 

As you can probably guess: Apply your hydrating products on damp skin. After cleansing, simply pat your skin with a towel until it's damp (you can still blot your skin, just not until it's completely dry), then apply a humectant-filled cream to lock in the hydration. "I promise it will leave you glowy and gorgeous," Landriscina says. 

Sometimes it helps to get granular, especially if it feels like all your hydration efforts are for naught. These three hydration mistakes above may seem simple, but they can easily steal your glow. But don't fret too much: The fixes are genuinely straightforward.