You ask any supermodel what their beauty secret is and they’ll robotically answer, water and sleep”. While they may have been talking about water as a drink, there’s a lot of credit needing to be given to this miracle ingredient, with aqua found in virtually every type of cosmetic and personal care product on the market. And it’s little surprise - nobody wants chapped skin or dry hair. But when it comes to having high hydration in beauty products (think skincare, hair, make-up and even nail care), water’s not the only hard-working moisturising ingredient. bd takes a look at the hydrating heroes everyone needs to know about.
Aloe vera
Packed with active compounds that benefit the skin, aloe vera deeply penetrates the skin to moisturise where the body is actually making the skin cells – not on the outside where the cells are already dead. It nourishes the skin with vitamins E and C.
Found in: 100% Pure Aloe Vera Spray
Apple extract
Rich in antioxidants and omega-3 to help cell membranes keep their suppleness and vitality, hydration and epidermal cohesion are boosted to ensure skin is intensely hydrated.
Found in: and .
Avocado oil
Often described as the youth mineral”, avocado oil contains high levels of potassium, fatty acids and vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E. Its unique combination of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals means avocado oil is able to keep skin well hydrated.
Found in: Baby Face (vegan) and Avado Organics All Natural Body Lotion.
Beetroot extract
Rich in polysaccharides (complex sugar molecules) and sugars, beetroot extract works as an effective moisturiser for the skin by the polysaccharides forming a film to lock in moisture. Beet sugars also draw moisture from the air close to the skin where it is most needed.
Found in: .
Clary sage
Able to survive the harsh environment of the windswept hills of the Mediterranean, clary sage was discovered to also have a great ability to trap and maintain moisture on the skin.
Found in: Intense Hydration Day Lotion.
Coconut
Coconuts have definitely been having their time in the spotlight recently when it comes to health and wellbeing. Containing a naturally high nutrient content of vitamins A, B, C and E as well as antioxidants, coconut oil heavily hydrates skin, reduces protein loss when used in hair and is easily accepted into the skin.
Found in: Pure Fiji Exotic Bath & Body Massage Oil and Palmer's Coconut Milk Formula Body Butter.
Evening primrose
Evening primrose increases hydration and helps regulate the water loss in the skin. It is especially beneficial to skin susceptible to barrier disorders.
Found in: .
Glycerin
An effective moisturiser that’s been proven to improve smoothness, provide lubrication and act as a humectant, glycerin is a popular ingredient that helps deliver softness and hydration to the skin.
Found in: .
Grape stem cells
Designed to help revitalise, protect, nourish and renew skin cells, grape stem cells not only have a regenerative effect on skin cells but they also contain a very high amount of antioxidants.
Found in: emerginC Vitamin C Eye Serum.
Hyaluronic acid
Able to hold hundreds of times its weight in water, hyaluronic acid provides effective skin surface hydration by drawing water into the skin. It also naturally supports the structure of the dermis, filling the space between collage and elastin fibers, and hydrating skin by trapping water.
Found in: , DermaQuest Skin Rehydrating Serum and Focus Care Moisture+ HA Intensive Hydrating Serum.
Hydra IQ
Hydrating the skin both above and below the surface level due to its components of glycerin and glucose, Hydra IQ also has an active ingredient technology that is able to stimulate the skin’s moisture network for 24-hour moisturisation.
Found in: .
Hydrastructurine
Forming structures on the skin’s surface that resemble cellular bylayers, Hydrastructurine gives the skin effective absorbing and retention properties that do not compete with the skin’s natural mechanism. This ingredient also works to strengthen the skin’s barrier properties to prevent loss of water.
Found in: Guinot Cell Moisturising Serum - "Hydra Cellulaire Serum".
Hydro-boost micropatch
The micropatch is made up of an organised network of macromolecules containing the moisturising molecule serine, which is slowly released throughout the day to ensure skin receives optimal hydration for longer periods of time.
Found in: Line Smoothing Complex S8 Hydrating Day Cream.
Jojoba
Skin health is maintained by sebum, with 25-30 per cent of the skin’s sebum made up of wax esters that work to hold moisture to the skin. The older we get, the production of wax esters starts to decline, allowing moisture to escape from our skin cells. Jojoba produces wax esters similar to those in our skin, with application thus providing the same nurturing and moisturising properties as our own sebum. Because skin recognises jojoba as its own, it allows the active ingredients to be delivered deeper into the skin.
Found in: and .
Kaolin
A green clay, kaolin is an extract from a special New Zealand clay that absorbs oil and gently cleanses skin. The clay contains beneficial minerals and trace elements that help refresh and hydrate the skin.
Found in: Xtend-Life Deep Active Cleansing Mask.
Lanolin
A natural oil found in sheep wool, lanolin works by creating a barrier on the skin’s surface to help prevent water from evaporating. When environmental factors are too much for your skin’s natural oils to handle (such as wind or dry weather), the extra oil from lanolin helps give extra protection. Lanolin is easily absorbed by the skin.
Found in: Carmex.
Liquid crystals
An active emulsifier derived from olive oil, liquid crystals mimic skin’s natural moisturising factors and provide a perfect affinity with the outermost layer of the epidermis. This allows it to protect and restore the skin barrier, have improved penetration and deliver sustained hydration.
Found in: O Cosmedics Repair Serum.
Niacinamide
A water-soluble vitamin that is part of the vitamin B group, niacinamide has been found to increase hydration and barrier function of the uppermost layer of the skin. By improving the skin’s moisture barrier, this ingredient helps allow for the natural production of collagen and therefore speeding up skin’s renewal rate.
Found in: Olay Total Effects Day Cream Normal.
Oatmeal
Containing a high concentration of proteins, lipids and sugars, oatmeal flour forms a watertight barrier when applied to the skin. This water-binding ingredient holds moisture in the top layers of the skin and improves dry skin conditions.
Found in: Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion Fragrance-Free and Daily Nourish Moisturising Cream.
Olive squalene
Olive squalene resembles skin’s own built-in moisturiser, squalene, with the ingredient’s biocompatibility allowing it to penetrate into the deepest layers of the skin for intense hydration and rejuvenation. Squalene is a major component of human skin surface lipids (oils).
Found in: Botáni Olive Skin Serum.
Orange
Among a whole slew of benefits, orange fruit extract and oil helps stimulate new cell growth, replenish moisturisation and improve the thickness of the epidermis. Packed with alpha hydroxy acids, orange fruit extract helps stimulate collagen and elastin syntheses.
Found in: Geoskincare Hydrating Water.
Pitera
This ingredient contains components of Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) that skin possesses and penetrates deep into the outermost layer of the epidermis. As well as providing moisture to the skin, Pitera helps achieve a balance between moisture and sebum and therefore helps to reduce shine.
Found in: .
Red Algae
One of the ocean’s richest sources of minerals, the nutrients found in red algae provide firming, smoothing and retexturing benefits. The algae’s colourful pigment, known as astaxanthin, is a powerful antioxidant that improves elasticity and moisture retention.
Found in: and .
Rose
The natural sugars contained in rose petals help soothe, soften and moisturise the skin. Its natural oils trap moisture in the skin to have it feeling and looking smoother. Rose oil is also used to strengthen the collagen-elastin network.
Found in: , and Oasis Beauty Guava & Mango Tonic.
Shea Butter
Extracted from the fat of the nut of the wild African Shea-Karite tree, its high content of essential fatty acids and natural antioxidant compounds provides both moisturising benefits and cellular restoration. It contains vitamins A, E and F and easily penetrates the skin.
Found in: , Moisturisers & Sun Protection - Quench Intense Hydrator and I love… Mango & Papaya Body Butter.
Thermal spring water
Yes, most cosmetics contain aqua, but the Thermal Spring Water found in Avéne products is especially special as it has a high number of skincare benefits due to its neutral pH and combination of essential trace elements and silica.
Found in: .
Trehalose
Trehalose is a sugar-like molecule and desert plant that helps to provide intense moisture. A water replacement, Trehalose keeps skin supple and flexible.
Found in: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift & Firm Day Cream.
Yuzu seed extract
Taken from the seed of the Asian citrus fruit Yuzu, this extract has the ability to help skin maintain optimal levels of moisturisation by encouraging it to produce hyaluronic acid. It also helps stimulate the production of collagen.
Found in: Shiseido Global Body Replenishing Body Cream.
Zostera
Also known as sea grass or eel grass, Zostera contains sugars that form a hydrating net over the skin’s surface that helps cushion and protect.
Found in: Daily Resurfacer.