Not All Waters Hydrate Your Skin The Same
Are you loyal to one specific type of water? Have you ever noticed or felt any differences in your body upon drinking a different type of water than you’re used to? All real water drinkers know not all water is created equal — and that’s in the way they taste and hydrate. And come to find out, some waters do hydrate better than others. And that’s on science. According to the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, ionized alkaline water with a pH of 9.5 or higher, like Essentia (@essentiawater), rehydrates almost two times better than a standard bottled purified water. Meaning? Alkaline water is also better at hydrating and retaining moisture in the skin than your standard purified waters.
So what is the connection between alkaline waters and sunless tanning? Any spray tan artist or sunless tan-lover knows, the active ingredient in sunless solutions which makes you tan is DHA (dihydroxyacetone), and DHA can be drying on the skin. And all sunless users also know that hydrating your insides also hydrates your skin, and thus, makes for a long-lasting sunless tan Why? Because your skin is an organ made up of cells that need to be replenished with water, when the skin cells aren’t properly hydrated they will appear dry and flaky and ultimately cause the tan on the top layer of your skin to flake off. Well, as someone who douses their skin in DHA on a weekly basis, I wanted to make the connection between the type of water I drank and how long my tan lasted. So, in the name of science and sunless tanning, I did a study over a two week period using the same self tanner and skincare routine. Week one, I drank nothing but regular purified water water and watched as my sunless tan lasted for about four days before fading and becoming patchy. Week two, I drank nothing but Essentia water and watched my sunless tan last for a solid seven days before showing signs of fading on my hands (the first place a tan usually fades). Drinking solely alkaline water truly made a difference in my skin’s appearance and the life of my sunless tan.
To really get into the science of why this happened to me and how hydration from alkaline waters will benefit your skin, I enlisted the help of Jessica Bippen, Nutrition and Wellness Advisor for Essentia Water. Jessica shared how important it is to drink water if you want hydrated skin, but also how better tasting water ultimately leads to better hydration, plus skincare benefits she’s personally experienced since drinking Essentia. “You can buy all the creams and serums imaginable, but if you aren’t hydrating from the inside out you’ll never get the optimal skin results you're looking for,” says Jessica.
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“Your skin is an organ and like other parts of your body, it is made up of cells that are made up of water and need to be replenished throughout the day,” she shares. “If your skin is not getting the water it needs, the lack of hydration may cause it to be dry, tight and flaky. On the other hand, when you keep your skin adequately hydrated, you’re preventing signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. As a result, your skin will appear plump and smooth.” Case in point = drink your water for healthy looking and feeling skin.
Next, Jessica shared the science behind how Essentia’s purification process makes it more hydrating and better tasting than other waters. “Essentia’s unique proprietary ionization process sets it apart from other alkaline waters. The process begins with purification through reverse osmosis to remove contaminants – making the water 99.9% pure – and is followed by the infusion of a proprietary mineral blend in trace amounts, formulated to complement the body’s natural mix. Finally, the ionization process removes bitter-tasting acidic ions, which results in a water with a pH of 9.5 or higher with a clean, smooth taste.” So not only does Essentia’s high pH level help to hydrate and thus, balance out the skin’s naturally acidic pH level, but it tastes great while doing so.
“I notice that my skin stays soft, plump, and glowing when drinking Essentia,” says Jessica. “I attribute this to the fact that not only does Essentia hydrate better, but it also makes it easy to get enough water throughout the day. Since I enjoy the clean, pure taste of the water, it makes staying hydrated feel less like a chore.” So although specific research hasn’t been conducted on Essentia’s hydration on the skin, Jessica personally also notices a major difference in not only how she feels, but how her skin looks as well.
So the next time you think all water is created equal; think again — especially when you’re trying to preserve the life of your sunless tan. And remember, a hydrated inside makes for a hydrated outside and skin that looks and feels healthier.