One of the most common skincare misconceptions, often propagated by fitness and beauty magazines, is that drinking at least 8 glasses of a water a day improves skin in several ways: it hydrates it, tones it and makes it look dewy. But is that really true?
Skin needs water
There is no doubt that skin needs water. On average, water makes about 60% of our weight and every system in the body, skin included, needs it to function properly. The recommended intake of water for an adult is about 2 liters a day, but what most people seem to forget is that we already get most of that from foods and other beverages. So, there really is no need for a person to drink a two liter bottle of a water a day.
Not that there is anything wrong in doing that anyway. I’m an avid water drinker myself. I always keep a bottle of water near me and sip from it throughout the day and on average, I drink about 8 glasses a day. But I drink because I feel thirsty, not to improve my skin (and by the way my skin doesn’t look better because of it). The amount of water you drink simply depends on your needs and if you drink too much, you won’t hydrate your skin more, but will spend a lot of time in the bathroom instead.
What matters is keeping the barrier intact
How much water a day you drink is not important to get great skin. What is really important, instead, is that skin is able to retain moisture well. Our skin has a natural barrier that locks moisture in and prevents it from evaporating. When this barrier is intact, skin is soft, supple and hydrated.
But several factors like sun exposure, cold weather, harsh and irritating products can damage this barrier, causing skin to become dry. That’s why it is very important to apply moisturizers daily as they contain ingredients that add moisture and create a protective barrier that will lock water in. Avoid those that contain alcohol in high concentrations, though, as they contribute to destroy this barrier and dry out skin.
The bottom line
There is no scientific study or research showing that drinking 8 glasses of water a day hydrates skin. If that was true, no one would have dry skin anymore! Instead of forcing yourself to drink water when you don’t want to, which won’t do you much good, just eat a healthy diet and take proper care of your skin to avoid its protective barrier from getting damaged. That’ll make your skin look good. 
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Hahaa more beauty gimmicks, thanks to the media and all. Of course drinking sufficient amount of water is important, but if water is all I need, I wouldn’t spend too many time trying out moisturizers nor applying it 2x daily.
So, does those ‘designer’ water like evian or Perrier any different?
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The recommended 2 liters of water per day does not constitute only the amount of water we drink. You are right. The food we eat esp fruits and vegetables also contributes to the recommended 2 liters.
While drinking that much water does not have a direct effect on preventing dry skin, it does help by flushing out wastes and toxins from our body which when accumulated over long term in our body, would be a contributing factor to poor skin condition such as dullness, yellowish skin tone.
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Hanna, exactly! If water was all that was needed to hydrate skin, no one would use moisturizers and no one would have dry skin anymore! Designers water aren’t much better either. They contain more magnesium or calcium, which the body needs, than other brands of water, but for the skin they won’t do much. And calcium and magnesium can be found in food too so I don’t really feel the need to spend more money to buy these expensive waters either.
Vonvon, you are right. Water helps the kidneys to work properly and flush out toxins from the body, which would have a negative effect on the skin. I’m not sure that drinking too much water would help that though. Of course, you’d be running to the bathroom all the time, but since that is one of the many functions water has in our body, I always though the recommended amount of water we need (2 liters ingested with both food and drinks) was enough to help the kidneys do their job.
I totally agree with this. When I’m sitting in front of my PC all day, I keep a bottle with water near me all the time and by the end of the day it’s all empty.
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Tavia, I do that too. When you keep a bottl near you all day, it’s easy to finish it up.
I think it helps with skincare and other things but it cant just moisturize. It does not moisturize your skin. Thats why lotions and creams and stuff are here.
Prettykitty, I think water definitely helps keep skin in good condition,but to a certain extent. It’s not a substitute for moisturizers especially if your skin is very dry.
Well it moisturizes a bit maybe???
Prettykitty, I know it helps but I’m not sure it moisturizes. I know that in beauty products it is usually used as a solvent for other ingredients rather than to moisturize skin.