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How to
moisturise your face?

Whether your skin is dry, normal, combination or oily, your face needs to be deeply hydrated each day, and sometimes several times a day! It's not only dry skin that needs moisture!

All skin types can suffer from temporary dehydration. Just like your body needs water, it’s only natural that your face feels the same need to be hydrated. That “thirst” or lack of hydration feels like discomfort, tightness, skin that is dried out and dehydrated. Seasonal changes, air conditioning and pollution are just some of the daily external factors that can damage the natural hydration of your skin and make your face feel dehydrated. We're all exposed to these temperature variations several times a day, at home, in the street, or out shopping! Whilst these changes aren't extreme, they can cause discomfort for our skin.

LISTEN TO YOUR SKIN AND KEEP IT PROPERLY HYDRATED.

Follow the advice of our beauty experts to understand how to recognise its needs. Use moisturising products that give your face the ingredients required to keep your skin healthy. The Clarins range has a wealth of creams, oils and masks... Your skin can’t speak, but it does give unmistakeable signs! It’s up to you to recognise the symptoms and maintain the right routine to avoid dehydration and keep your skin healthy. Prevention is better than cure.

Ready for a little lesson on hydration?

01 How can I recognise dehydrated skin?

Kalanchoe leaf with water moelcules

Dehydrated skin doesn’t necessarily mean dry skin!  Whether your skin is dry, normal, combination or oily, its water needs must be met.

When it's thirsty, it shows as the skin tissue is weakened and cannot retain the water it contains.This situation is not permanent but temporary. It passes as soon as the skin is sufficiently hydrated.

Clarins Research pushes the limits of hydration with the creation of the Hyaluronic Power Complex. A double dose of hyaluronic acid for an immediate and long-term hydration boost. Combined with an exlusive leaf of life extract which is full of rich moisturising benefits, Clarins products containing this Hyaluronic Power Complex can be applied generously.

02 What are the symptoms of dehydrated skin?

2 young women drinking water and laughing

Dehydrated skin and dry skin often present the same symptoms.

The skin feels tight, there is a feeling of discomfort on the face, the complexion lacks radiance and redness may appear...

However, dehydrated skin regains its suppleness once deeply hydrated with moisturising and nourishing products. Once the skin cells are nourished with the necessary hydrating ingredients, the hydrolipidic film is reinforced and forms a barrier to retain water. Once the temporary lack of water has been compensated, the skin is once again soft and radiating a healthy glow.

For dehydrated combination to oily skin, the moisturising treatment must not overwhelm the skin. Use products that deliver hydration with a lightweight texture, and that don't compromise on the additional benefits of tackling oily skin concerns like excess sebum and large pores.

03 How can I tell if my skin is dry or dehydrated?

A mature women applying facial cream

Dry skin is a permanent situation, a skin type, like having dry hair.

Dry skin needs to be moisturised and nourished every day, morning and night, with a lipid-rich cream or nutrient-dense oil. Lipids and water are the two ingredients required to restore softness and comfort. Dry skin is often sensitive and particularly vulnerable to external stressors. Clarins skincare provides a wide range of anti-ageing products formulated for dry skin and adapted to its specific nutritional and moisturising needs.

Dehydrated skin is just lacking water, and is a temporary situation. They are two different situations in terms of physiology. Dehydration can be caused by a change in the skin's hydrolipidic layer that causes the water it contains to evaporate.

Here's a little tip to help you tell when your face needs to be hydrated: your skin will show fine dehydration lines when you pinch your cheek gently between two fingers, just below the eye. Try it for yourself!

04 What are the factors that cause dehydration?

Clarins Hydration Range

There are lots of them and they're all around you!

At any age, skin is sensitive to external stressors due to the sun, cold and pollution. On average it is exposed to approximately 17 thermal fluctuations a day, caused by temperature and humidity changes! Things that seem harmless like going outside, using public transport, entering a room that's too hot or too cold, exercising or sitting on the patio after a day at the office are enough to deplete moisture levels in the skin, causing it to become uncomfortable and lose its glow.

Tobacco and alcohol are aggravating factors, as are stress and fatigue. Some medical treatments or cleansing products with high pH levels, overly harsh cosmetics and too much make-up can also trigger these issues and occasionally leave the skin feeling uncomfortable and less supple.

Too much screen time on computers and phones can also make water evaporate. There’s no escape!

In addition to these unavoidable external factors, internal culprits add up over time, like skin ageing, genes, menopause and certain illnesses

05 What can I do to fight skin dehydration?

Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] range - visuel 1

Protect and replenish your face.

Since it unfortunately has to deal with stressors every day, it needs to be carefully hydrated with an oil or cream that contains moisturising properties.

Clarins Laboratories has found a way to boost the natural hydration process and compensate for the lack of water and skin dryness. The moisturising Hydra Essentiel [HA²] range is the perfect ally for dehydrated skin.

Enriched with organic leaf of life extract and a powerful duo of hyaluronic acids, these facial skincare products activate natural hydration and boost the production of hyaluronic acid, to help the skin to retain water. And because the skin has different needs depending on the time of day, Clarins has developed expertise in skin chronobiology to offer targeted skin care.

The Hydra Essentiel [HA²] range offers formulas adapted to the skin's rhythm. In the morning, hydrate and protect to the skin against external aggressors. At night, the Night Cream intensely replenishes thirsty skin, while reducing dehydration lines for smooth, plump and radiant skin in the morning.

06 How do I choose a Hydra Essentiel [HA²] moisturising product?

Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] range - visuel 2

Depending on your skin type, whether it's dry, very dry, normal or combination, there are plenty of options in the Hydra Essentiel [HA²] range!

Finding the perfect thirst-quenching product that responds to the needs of your skin is so easy! The skin has its thirst quenched by fresh and velvety textures that create a sense of instant rejuvenation.

Normal to dry skin can enjoy the freshness of the fine and sumptuous Silky Cream. Very dry skin is enveloped in the light and creamy balm of Rich Cream. Your skin is immediately soothed and replenished. Normal to combination skin will love SPF15 Cream which also protects it from the sun's harmful effects.

Thanks to the Clarins Anti-Pollution Complex*, Hydra Essentiel [HA²] products help to protect the skin from pollution, which are responsible for the premature ageing of skin cells. All skin types regain radiance, softness and freshness thanks to the regenerative effect of leaf of life, a powerful hydration activator, combined with Callicarpa, known for its effect on the complexion. Reinforcing the skin barrier and the capacity to retain water allows the skin to remain beautiful and intensely hydrated throughout the day. That's pure happiness!

*not present in Hydra-Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum

07 Which routine is best for dehydrated skin?

3 young women laughing

To regenerate the skin, gently remove impurities and eliminate dead cells, exfoliate once or twice a week with gentle Comfort Scrub Cream.

If you're short on time, you can compensate for the lack of hydration with a SOS Hydra Refreshing Hydration Mask. This express treatment plunges the face into a pool of freshness and intense hydration. You just need a few minutes, morning or night, to deeply hydrate your skin and make it beautifully, supple and radiant again.
A beauty tip for maximising the results of your mask and making it work better: add 1 or 2 drops of natural rebalancing oil Blue orchid with 100% pure plant extracts and essential oils.

Make a spritz of Hydrating Multi-Protection Mist a part of your daily routine to refresh, hydrate and prepare your skin properly before applying moisturiser.

Boost hydration with a few drops of a thirst-quenching emulsion, then hydrate intensely with a suitable moisturiser - that's the Clarins experts’ beauty secret to pampering a dehydrated face! In the evening, complete your routine with the night cream for plump, glowing skin in the morning.

Take the time to hydrate and rest your eyes with an Eye Mask. In just 10 minutes, your eye contour regains a fresh, relaxed look. The skin is smoother, dark circles appear reduced thanks to horse chestnut aescin, and signs of tiredness fade away. Apply in the evening and leave to work overnight if you like.

To finish off this extreme hydration programme, Apply Lip Balm with blue lotus wax as it repairs and moisturises the lips with a nourishing film, and gives your smile a pretty pink colour.

Finish with a little touch of Clarins make-up and your face is radiant all over!

One last piece of advice, in both summer and winter you should drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day! Don't wait until you feel thirsty to hydrate your body. Inside and out, properly hydrated skin shows all the signs of well-being, health and beauty.

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Questions in the same category

How to identify & treat dehydrated skin?

Dehydrated skin is a condition where your skin lacks water, making it appear dull, tight, and prone to fine lines.

What are the signs of sensitive skin?

Clarins helps you determine whether you have sensitive skin and guides you through choosing the right products and beauty routine to banish tightness and discomfort.