There is quite a bit of confusion between moisturization and hydration within the realm of skincare. Because of this it begs the question, is water in a skincare routine necessary?
Our answer to this is a resounding yes, lets get into why that may be.
While oils and fats are excellent at providing moisturization to soften and smooth the skin they do not automatically translate to hydration. This is because water is what delivers true hydration.
If you have ever tried applying oil or fat based products and felt that they did not provide lasting hydration, it may be for one of two reasons.
First being, certain oils are less effective at penetrating and moisturizing the skin and may leave a greasy residue.
The other being, if applied dry it may feel as if it sits on top of the skin without fully penetrating leaving your skin feeling dry again a short time later.
The difference is remarkable when applying oil and fat based skincare to clean, damp skin. You will noticed that these steps lock in the moisture and provide lasting hydration.
Despite the phrase "oil and water don't mix", you can't have one without the other in an optimized skincare routine.