Skin Hydration & Kate's Essential Products
I've just been lucky enough to enjoy a two-week holiday in Indonesia, but with a grueling 24-hour journey to get there and back, I knew my skin was unlikely to be looking its best post-holiday.
Although there's little actual evidence to show that drinking water has a huge impact on skin health, we all know that water helps with circulation, digestion, absorption and excretion. So it makes sense to ensure good hydration, not just for a lovely glowing complexion but also for overall general health.I definitely know my dehydration signs, usually beginning with a dull headache and brain fog and ending with a severe migraine if I don't start drinking that lovely H20. My skin also tends to look dull and because I'm prone to dry skin, it loses its glow and starts to feel tight.The skin is an organ - in fact the largest organ of the body - and like all other cells in the body, skin cells are made up of a significant amount of water. If we don't have enough water on board, it's likely that these cells won't be functioning at their optimum level, leading to dehydrated, tight and dry skin.How much water should we drink?
The European Food Safety Authority recommends 2.5 litres of water a day for men and 2.0 litres a day for woman. This water intake can come from both food and drink but it is recommend that 70 - 80% should come from drinks.The British Nutritional Foundation offers guidelines for the type of fluid we should drink and water is the only fluid they recommend drinking 'plenty' of, as it contains no sugar, calories or additives. Patients often ask me if sparkling water is OK and the answer is 'yes' both still and sparkling water will keep you hydrated.Kate's holiday skin essentials
Well I definitely stuck to the recommended water intake, in fact I probably drank significantly more than 2 litres a day as I was in a hot and humid climate. Plus, I'm pretty sure I was sweating (sorry perspiringladies, of course, perspire) water out at a ridiculous rate!I like to pack light and although I religiously look after my skin and use a number of fantastic cosmeceutical products, I don't take many of them on holiday with me. I keep it really simple and just use products that will give me added protection from UV rays and help keep my skin looking well rested.
I always take a Vitamin C based antioxidant product with me. My favourite for the last couple of years has been Mesoestetic AOX Ferulic - although I did also sneak my sample sized SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic in my travel bag too, as it's such a perfect size for travelling!Alongside my favourite antioxidant serum, I also took with me another lovely product from Mesoestetic, HA Densimatrix is a Hyaluronic Acid concentrate that acts as a little moisture magnet, helping to hydrate skin, making it feel softer and plumped.
Of course, no vacation is complete without SPF. I took the Mesoestetic Mesoprotech Light Water Antiaging Veil with me, which offers very high levels of sun protection whilst also helping to prevent the recurrence of my Melasma.My skin felt great while I was away and despite my ridiculously long 24-hour journey back, it's still looking really healthy and hydrated. Whether it's fact or fiction, I know that for me, water and keeping hydrated is just another important step in my daily skincare routine and the more I drink, the better my skin looks.
