– Water – 

It’s interesting to think that the water on Earth never leaves the atmosphere, and there is also no new water coming into the Earth from space. That means although the water may take different forms like frozen ice caps or being held in clouds there is always the same amount of water on Earth. There is also geological evidence that the water has been on Earth for 3.8 billion years! That means we are drinking the same water that dinosaurs used to drink.

So why are we making such a big deal about water? We are glad you asked! Did you know that up to 60% of the human adult body is water? We believe that the health of your skin is connected to your health and water intake.

Drinking water provides many health benefits to our body and our skin. In general it is recommended to drink half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound that you weigh. If you weigh 150 pounds that would mean you should drink 75-150 oz a day. Studies show that just two glasses of water can increase blood flow to the skin which provides a more even tone. Staying hydrated also helps the skin stay moist which increases the elasticity in the skin.

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and its main function is to provide a protective barrier between the outside world and our body. The pH level of your skin plays a main role in that protective barrier. Let’s take you back to high school chemistry for a bit of a refresher course. pH stands for potential hydrogen and refers to the acidity level of a substance. The scale ranges from 1-14, with 8 and above being alkaline and below 6 is acidic. A pH level of 7 is considered neutral. Our skin’s natural pH level ranges from 5.0 to 5.5 which means our skin is slightly acidic. That pH level can be changed by so many factors including the products we use, the weather outside, what we eat or even the pH level of the water we wash our face with. A 0.5 swing in pH either direction can cause negative fluctuations in your skin’s complexion. If your skin moves higher towards the alkaline side your skin will appear tight and dry. This can lead to further irritation and a lack of protection against acne-causing bacteria. On the other hand if your skin moves in the acidic direction the lipid barrier becomes compromised and your body will lose natural oils that help maintain hydration. An easy fix for this could be to use a toner that has Aloe in it for the soothing properties.

There are so many factors that affect your skin it is hard to keep track of what you should and shouldn’t do. Always try and keep a watchful eye on your cosmetic products. Anything with artificial fragrance, parabens, or phthalates should have gone extinct with the dinosaurs. However, there are so many benefits to both your skin and your entire body that we haven’t even touched on in this article that it is generally always a good idea to drink water.