Is Water Necessary in a Skincare Routine?
The Truth About Hydration, Moisturization, and How to Support Dehydrated Skin
There’s quite a bit of confusion in the world of skincare when it comes to the terms hydration and moisturization. They’re often used interchangeably but they aren’t the same thing.
So let’s ask the honest question: is water necessary in a skincare routine?
Our answer is a wholehearted yes. But not necessarily in the way you might think. Understanding why hydration matters, and how to layer your products with intention, is key to supporting skin that is resilient, radiant, and nourished from the inside out.
Hydration vs. Moisturization — What's the Difference?
Let’s begin here, because the difference is foundational:
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Hydration is about increasing the water content in your skin.
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Moisturization is about sealing that hydration in and softening the skin with oils or emollients.
Oils and fats are deeply beneficial, many are considered emollients, meaning they help soften and smooth the skin by supporting the natural lipid barrier. But they do not hydrate on their own. Without water present in or on the skin, oils may simply sit on the surface and give the illusion of nourishment without actually supporting deep hydration.
This is why you can apply a beautifully crafted oil and still feel dry or tight later. You’re moisturizing, but your skin may still be dehydrated.
If you have ever applied makeup to dry skin vs prepped skin then you have seen the difference for yourself. One results in patchy, uneven coverage that does not cover evenly or look natural. However, applying it to prepared skin will allow even coverage and a more natural, alive finish.
It can be a fun experiment to do this with an orange peel to sort of mimic pores and see the effects close up.
Why Dehydrated Skin Needs Water — Internally and Externally
Dehydrated skin lacks water, not oil. And even if you drink plenty of water, that doesn't always translate to hydration in the skin. Why?
Modern water sources are often stripped of minerals through aggressive filtration or processing. Our ancestors drank spring water rich in natural electrolytes and trace minerals, elements that helped water absorb and move efficiently through the body.
If your internal hydration is off, your skin can reflect that, especially in dry seasons, during travel, or when the skin barrier has been compromised. That’s why both internal and external hydration are crucial and since we have another great deep dive on internal hydration today is about the essential nature of topical hydration.
"Oil and Water Don't Mix" — But Your Skin Needs Both
Despite the old adage, oil and water work beautifully together in skincare when used correctly.
Oils and butters form a seal that slows transepidermal water loss, which is a natural process where the skin loses moisture to the air. But if you apply oil to dry skin, there’s no water to seal in, so the oil simply coats the surface.
If you've ever applied a rich oil or balm and found it left a greasy residue, or that your skin still felt tight after using it, this might be why.
The solution? Apply oil-based products to damp skin. This single step can completely change how your skincare performs. When you apply to clean, slightly damp skin, you allow both hydration and moisturization to work together. The water nourishes the deeper layers of the skin, and the oils lock that hydration in, making it last longer.
Enter Tremella: The Mushroom of Hydration
If you’re looking for ways to hydrate the skin without relying on synthetic hyaluronic acid or water-heavy formulas with fillers, tremella mushroom is one of nature’s best-kept secrets.
Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries, tremella holds up to 500 times its weight in water and has a smaller molecular size than hyaluronic acid, making it excellent for penetrating into the skin’s layers. It supports the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid and enhances moisture retention.
At Flora x Fauna Skin, we use alcohol-extracted tremella in our hydrating facial serum, allowing this powerhouse mushroom to fully infuse into a base of nutrient-rich oils. When applied to damp skin, it delivers hydration in a way that is both deep and long-lasting, without relying on synthetic binders or unnecessary water as a filler.
Why Natural Skincare Brands Sometimes Miss the Mark
Some natural skincare brands use oils and butters exclusively, which can be wonderful for barrier repair and calming inflammation, but they often leave out hydration. If you’re only using oil-based products without a hydration step, your skin may still feel dry, flaky, or tight. That’s because water is still a critical component of skin function.
What’s missing in many routines is a layering practice, one that begins with clean, damp skin, and continues with a hydrating serum or mist, followed by a cream or oil to seal it in.
This is why we always educate around application rituals. It’s about smarter steps, done with intention.
Building a Routine for Lasting Hydration
If you suspect your skin is dehydrated, here’s a simple, effective routine to restore hydration naturally:
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Cleanse gently. Avoid foaming cleansers that often strip the skin. Oil cleansing is a great way to support the barrier while cleansing effectively.
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Apply a hydrating mist or splash with clean water. Don’t skip this step, it’s the foundation for everything else.
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Use a hydrating facial serum like our Bio Escent Serum with tremella to deliver deep water-binding compounds, which need water to deliver the benefits.
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Seal with an emollient like our Cloud Cream Moisturizer — a blend of grass-finished tallow, emu oil, jojoba, botanicals and resins — applied while skin is still damp.
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Consider internal hydration too. Sip herbal infusions (like hibiscus, marshmallow root, or rose), bone broth, eat water-rich fruits and vegetables, and replenish electrolytes through mineral-rich water.
Final Thoughts: You Can’t Have One Without the Other
Water and oil are both necessary for healthy skin. And when paired thoughtfully, they can completely transform your routine.
As a brand committed to non-toxic skincare, we believe your skin deserves both moisture and hydration, without compromise. We use ingredients like tremella, biocompatible oils, and ancestral fats not because they’re trendy, but because they work. Not just for today, but for the long run.
So yes, water absolutely belongs in your skincare, in ways that are intentional, clean, and aligned with the way your body was designed to heal.
