Moisturizers and hydrators share the same goal, increasing your skin's hydration, but they get there in different ways.
Moisturizing helps the skin's lipid barrier work well as a protective layer and prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Moisturizers help reduce TEWL by replenishing the skin's lipids and supporting their barrier function with an occlusive layer.
Hydrating replenishes the water content of the stratum corneum, the skin's outermost layer. It relies on hygroscopic (water-attracting) ingredients called humectants, which attract and hold more water within the skin to improve overall hydration.
Which do you need?
The choice between moisturizing and hydrating products depends on your skin's needs, your age and environment, and both external factors (like how much water you drink) and internal ones (like genetics).
Very dry skin is low on water. Moisturizers alone usually won't raise your skin's water levels enough to stop the dryness, so you need to hydrate the skin in addition to moisturizing it.
A water-based serum before your moisturizer is an excellent solution, especially an active-rich serum that delivers key nutrients. Lightweight serums are an ideal vehicle for dense actives because their small molecules absorb easily. Follow with a moisturizer to seal in the hydration.
Always apply products from lightest to heaviest: water-based products first, then creams and butters, whose lipids form a protective barrier against transepidermal water loss and seal in the hydrating ingredients. For example:
cleanser > toner > serum > moisturizer
Another option is a hydrating moisturizer with water-binding and water-attracting ingredients. It will raise your skin's hydration more than a regular moisturizer, though less than adding a serum. You may find you need more hydration in winter, while a hydrating moisturizer is enough in summer. Experimenting with what your skin needs is key.
Hydration matters even more for mature or very dry skin. Humectants are essential for hydration and are common in both serums and moisturizers.
Super-hydrating humectants
Humectants work by drawing water from the environment into the skin and binding it to the skin's surface. Depending on the humidity in the air, they may also draw water from deeper layers of the skin up to the stratum corneum. Either way, the humectant helps improve your skin's overall hydration and keeps it looking plump. Some of the most common humectants in skincare include:
Glycerin is a natural, plant-derived humectant widely used in skincare for its ability to attract and retain moisture. It draws water from the environment and from deeper layers of the skin to the surface, improving overall hydration.
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. That makes it an excellent hydrating ingredient that can improve overall hydration and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Propanediol is a natural humectant derived from corn sugar that also works as a moisturizer. It's seen as a natural alternative to the synthetic humectant propylene glycol. Because it isn't sticky, it's especially useful in products where skin feel matters, like micellar waters and mists.
Other common humectants include aloe, honey, urea and sodium lactate.
Build your hydration routine
Looking for a hydrating serum to layer under your moisturizer? RoyalB5 Facial HydroGel pairs hyaluronic acid with peptides, and SakeB3 Glass Skin GlowGel adds lightweight, dewy hydration. Seal it in with a cream from our moisturizers collection.
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