Why drinking enough water isn’t going to change your skin
Hydration is vital—but so is the way it’s delivered. We created the equivalent of a tall glass of water, specifically for your skin.
Skin is the largest organ in the human body and has many functions: acting as a barrier to protect your body from water, germs and damage from UV light; regulating temperature and water loss; synthesizing hormones including essential Vitamin D; enabling sensation to touch, heat, cold, and pain; storing water, fat and metabolic products; and is the first site of immunological defence.
Although drinking water in abundance is often referred to as ‘the secret to good skin’ by celebrities and beauty magazines, it’s long been scientifically unfounded that a direct correlation exists. This is due to doubts over whether ingesting water can reach the skin with significant visible impact, despite water’s role in flushing toxins from the body and aiding blood flow that carries nutrients to the skin.
However, a recent study made initial findings to suggest that higher water inputs in our diet might positively affect skin physiology, especially for those of us who aren’t meeting our daily requirements. Drinking water can only get us so far though since it reaches many other organs first, and so for those of us who are already gulping down water to survive 2020’s heat waves without any hydrating benefits to our skin, it’s stated that “the use of topical emollients will improve skin barrier function and improve the look and feel of dry skin”.
The skin contains approximately 30% water, which contributes to plumpness, elasticity, and resiliency. Beyond aesthetic appeal, keeping skin healthy and hydrated is essential as “the skin is important for maintaining body water levels and preventing water loss into the environment.” Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is the measurement of the water loss from a body that passes through the skin epidermis through diffusion, which then evaporates. Reduction of TEWL (i.e. lower TEWL readings) indicates that the skin barrier is more effective in retaining moisture in the skin, allowing it to feel more moisturised.
While dry skin is a skin type inherited from genetics where the skin is lacking in oils known as lipids, dehydrated skin is a skin condition which can affect anyone and be caused by external factors such as hard or hot water, air-conditioning or central heating, ageing or insufficient skincare.
Our new all-in-one serum THE PILL combats dry and dehydrated skin through a blend of four humectants—a category of skincare ingredients that are hygroscopic—meaning they draw moisture from their surroundings. These are Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Galactoarabinan (GA / Larch Extract) and Sodium PCA, which boost the skin’s NMF (natural moisturizing factor), working in combination to hydrate the skin while helping it to repair long-term by protecting the skin’s lipid barrier.
Galactoarabinan (GA) has been shown to reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL) as well as increase skin cell turnover. One study conducted across 21 subjects which measured TEWL after one application of a product containing 2% GA as against a placebo showed a statistically significant reduction in TEWL levels after only 2 and 4 hours, indicating that GA successfully helped to maintain skin barrier function.
In addition to being a humectant, Hyaluronic Acid is also a glycosaminoglycan, a naturally-occurring substance that is part of the skin’s youth-supporting matrix. Studies have shown that Hyaluronic Acid can improve the appearance of fine lines and improve skin hydration within 15 minutes of application, and after 6-8 weeks can significantly improve skin hydration and elasticity.
Shop THE PILL all-in-one serum now.