Most of us may not be giving our skin the hydration it needs, after a recent survey found that a mere 18 per cent of women include a dedicated hydrator in their daily skincare routine.
Properly hydrated skin looks healthier, feels softer, and has a youthful bounce – yet despite knowing this, the vast majority of us aren’t prioritising moisture.
While nearly eight in ten women reach for a moisturiser, far fewer understand that hydration goes deeper than surface-level creams.
The gap between what we’re doing and what our skin actually needs is pretty striking.
Factors like sun exposure and smoking speed up the signs of ageing
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Dr Janine David, a GP and women’s health specialist, puts it simply: “Hydration is one of the most important aspects of healthy, glowing, soft, youthful skin, which is why we all need to be thinking much more ‘mochi mochi skincare’ each day.”
She explains that as we get older, hormonal shifts and sun damage start showing up on our faces.
Fine lines and wrinkles appear faster when moisture escapes through every layer of our skin – something experts call transepidermal water loss.
While 77 per cent of women surveyed use moisturiser, only 63 per cent bother with a cleanser. And just 38 per cent reach for a serum.
Dr Janine David describes hyaluronic acid as a naturally occurring molecule found throughout our bodies, with the highest concentration in our skin. It’s brilliant for hydration and healing.
“Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it can bind to and hold water molecules to help keep skin hydrated and bouncy,” she explained.
We naturally lose the wonder ingredient as we age, with factors like sun exposure and smoking speeding up the process and leaving us with dryness, wrinkles and fine lines.
Research shows that a form called super hyaluronic acid penetrates skin layers more effectively and delivers noticeable anti-wrinkle benefits within just 28 days.
Beyond hyaluronic acid, there are other ingredients worth knowing about.
Collagen gives skin its structure and elasticity, but our bodies produce roughly 1 to 1.5 per cent less of it each year. Pollution, smoking and UV rays make matters worse.
Then there’s retinol, which Which? confirmed can reduce fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation after just 12 weeks of use.
Panthenol, a B-vitamin, helps with elasticity and boosts how well other products absorb.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule found throughout our bodies
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Finally, there is sun protection, which Dr Nisa Aslam, a GP with dermatology expertise, warns that everyday sun exposure creates free radicals that weaken our skin barrier over time.
Worryingly, 13 per cent of women skip SPF entirely, while 80 per cent have ventured out without suncream on warm, sunny days.
