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How to
moisturize your face

Whether your skin is dry, combination, normal, or oily, it’s important to hydrate your face every day—twice a day—preferably in the morning, and at night before bed. Contrary to popular belief, moisturizer is not only for dry skin.

Every type of skin can become dehydrated and thirsty—a condition resulting from sudden temperature changes, rain, cold, indoor heating, air conditioning, and pollution…environmental aggressors that can leave it feeling dry, uncomfortable, and tight.

Watch for the signs—like fine lines, redness, and loss of radiance—and opt for Clarins creams, serums, oils, and masks to give your skin exactly what it needs to achieve a healthy-looking glow all year long.

Ready for a quick lesson on hydration? Here’s what The Clarins Experts have to say:

01 What are the telltale signs of dehydrated skin?

Face fact: Dehydrated skin does not always mean dry skin.

Whatever your skin type, dehydrated skin is skin that is lacking water—leading to roughness, itchiness, dullness, fine lines, and surface wrinkles. Luckily, this is only a temporary problem that occurs when the skin tissue has been weakened, and is not able to retain a sufficient amount of moisture—a condition that is corrected once moisture has been restored.

Clarins Research has discovered how to boost the skin’s natural hydration process with the power of Organic Leaf of Life—a plant succulent that quenches thirsty skin with precious moisture, leaving it pump, radiant, and perfectly hydrated for hours.

02 What is the difference between dehydrated and dry skin?

The signs of dehydrated and dry skin can be very similar. The skin is tight, the face feels an overall sense of discomfort, the complexion lacks radiance, and red patches may appear.

How to tell the difference? Dry skin feels uncomfortable, irritated, and tight all day long, but dehydrated skin rebounds once moisture has been replenished. When cells are nourished with the right hydrating ingredients, the skin’s hydrolipidic film forms a protective barrier that retains moisture—leaving dehydrated skin soft, smooth, and radiant.

When combination or oily skin becomes dehydrated—the solution is not to over-moisturize. Choose a product with a lightweight or gel texture and use it in combination with makeup that is made for oily skin issues like excess sebum and dilated pores.

03 How do I know if my skin is dry or dehydrated?

Dry skin is a permanent condition, an actual skin type—like having dry hair. It requires moisture and nourishment morning and night, with a lipid-rich cream or nutrient-dense oil—two ingredients that are necessary to restore softness and comfort. Dry skin is usually sensitive and highly vulnerable to environmental stressors. Clarins’ range of anti-aging skincare products for the face provides a wide selection of formulas for dry skin’s nutritional and moisturizing needs.

Dehydrated skin only lacks water, and the condition is short-term—two different situations in terms of physiology. Dehydration occurs when there is a change to the skin’s hydrolipidic layer that allows water to evaporate.

Here’s a little trick for determining if your face is dry or dehydrated: using two fingers, gently pinch the space between the top of your cheek and eye. If you see fine dehydration lines, or your skin doesn’t snap right back, it is dehydrated.

04 What are the factors that cause dehydration?

There are lots of them, and they are everywhere! On an average of 17 times a day, your skin is exposed to a variety of thermic shocks—sudden temperature swings, sun, cold, indoor, and outdoor pollutants, dry air, humidity and other environmental aggressors—that leave it dehydrated, rough, and uncomfortable.

Things that seem harmless—like walking outside, taking public transportation, 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 make skin at any age thirsty, uncomfortable, and lackluster. Tobacco, alcohol, stress, and fatigue only add to the problem, as do some medical procedures, cleansers with high pH levels, harsh cosmetics, and heavy, pore-clogging makeup.

Even overdoing screen time on computers and smart phones can cause the moisture in your skin to evaporate. There’s no escaping these harsh external influences—as well as internal factors like normal skin aging, genetics, menopause, certain illnesses, and some medications.

05 How can I help my skin recover from dehydration?

Protect and moisture-correct with a deeply hydrating serum and cream that boosts your skin’s natural hydration process.

Clarins Laboratories’ have created the moisturizing Hydra-Essentiel range—the best way to replenish lost moisture and visibly reverse the signs of dehydration. Enriched with super-quenching Organic Leaf of Life extract, these facial skincare products kickstart the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid—the molecule that helps skin retain moisture to keep it looking soft and plump. Start with Hydra Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum to intensely hydrate, refresh, smooth, and renew skin’s radiance. Just a few drops does all that—while boosting the performance of the Hydra-Essential moisturizer for your skin type.

06 How do I choose the right Hydra-Essentiel moisturizer?

Hydra-Essential has a targeted moisturizer for every skin type: dry, very dry, normal, or combination—in sensorial textures your skin will love.

Normal to dry skin drinks up the soothing and smoothing benefits of Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream. Very dry skin soaks up intensely hydrating and comforting Rich Cream. Normal or combination skin types crave ice-blue Matte Gel for the perfect burst of moisture with a shine-free finish. All* Hydra-Essential formulas contain our NEW Hyaluronic Power Complex. It combines super-quenching Organic Leaf of Life extract, which provides a long-lasting boost of hydration, with [HA²]—a double dose of Hyaluronic Acid in both high and low molecular weights to visibly plump skin instantly while supporting its barrier to keep moisture in and lock environmental aggressors out.

*Not found in Hydra Essentiel Bi-phase Serum.

07 What is Clarins’ latest super-quenching skin care innovation?

Discover the latest product in the Hydra-Essentiel range: Hydra-Essentiel Hydrating Multi-Protection Mist.

Just a quick spritz of this ultra-fine hydrating mist moisturizes, refreshes, and helps protect skin from the elements. Formulated with 98% natural ingredients, this dual-action treatment contains Clarins’ Multi-Hydrating Complex—a potent blend of hyaluronic acid, Organic Leaf of Life extract, and Organic Houseleek extract—to leave skin plump, radiant, and incredibly comfortable in the face of harsh environmental influences. Use it as a daily moisturizer, or spray over makeup for a soft, dewy-fresh finish. It’s the go-to formula for every skin type.

08 What’s the Hydra Essentiel skin care routine for dehydration?

To soothe your skin, smooth your lips, and gently eliminate impurities and dead skin cells, exfoliate once or twice a week with gentle Comfort Scrub Nourishing Oil Scrub.

When your skin saying it’s thirsty, reach for Hydra-Essentiel Mask—a deeply hydrating, 10-minute face mask that visibly smoothes fine lines, soothes irritations, and renews radiance—a quick fix for any moisture emergency. Mix in a drop or two of Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, with 100% plant extracts, to visibly reduce fine lines. Follow with Hydra-Essentiel Bi-phase Serum for an extra layer of comfort and protection; then follow with your targeted Hydra-Essential moisturizing cream, gel, or spray. Layering: that’s Clarins’ secret to replenishing dull, dehydrated skin so that it glows with renewed vitality and the look of youth.

But don’t forget to dot your eyes with a touch of Total Eye Hydrate applied to upper and lower lids, and around eye contours. Leave this cream-gel hydrating eye mask on for 10 minutes to soothe and revive tired-looking eyes. It’s enriched with Organic Leaf of Life extract to reduce the appearance of dehydration lines, and Horse Chestnut escin to target dark circles. Use this multi-purpose product as your daily eye care, apply it as a 10-minute express mask, or use it as an intensive overnight treatment for radiant-looking eyes by morning.

While you’re at it, don’t leave out your lips. Treat them to a swipe or two of Hydra-Essentiel Replenishing Lip Balm. This nourishing formula—with soothing Blue Lotus Essential Wax—gets lips into soft, smooth, kissable condition…visibly plumper, with a natural rosy glow, so your lips look luscious with lipstick or without.

One last piece of advice: don’t wait until you're thirsty to hydrate your body. Drink at least 6 glasses of water a day, all year round! Make no mistake—what you put into your body shows up on your skin, so staying well hydrated creates the picture of wellness, health, and youthful beauty.