By Anny Chow

Cute face Asian girl in Portland Oregon with straight black hair, sharing skin product tips.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog post sharing some winter skincare tips with my winter brides-to-be on how to get better skin without breaking the bank.

This week I would like to continue the topic on winter skincare and share one product you can add to your skincare routine to boost hydration. If you already have a basic skincare routine (wash and moisturize), you can add a hydrating serum if you experience dryness. As I had mentioned in my earlier blog post, makeup is only as good as the skin it’s on. Hydrated skin is happy skin. Hydrated skin provides the best canvas for makeup.

WHAT IS HYDRATING SERUM?

The purpose of hydrating serum is to enhance our skin’s hydration and to improve its moisture retention. For the winter brides with dry skin or dehydrated skin, I always recommend they incorporate hydrating serum to be part of the skincare routine prior to their wedding days. Hydrating serum leaves skin feeling plump to the touch and helps repair skin by replenishing the natural moisture barrier.

Hyaluronic acid is commonly found in most hydrating serum. Apply it after toner and before moisturizer. The key is to apply it to damp skin.

WHAT IS HYALURONIC ACID AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO APPLY IT ON DAMP SKIN?

Think of hyaluronic acid like a sponge. It attracts and retains moisture.

If you apply hyaluronic acid on dry skin, it will actually pull moisture away from your skin which could result in drier skin. That is why it’s important to apply it on damp skin to lock in the moisture. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of using it.

Here is one fun fact for you: one gram of hyaluronic acid can hold up to six liters of water.

The followings are three of my favorite hydrating serum:

LA ROCHE POSAY HYALU B5 PURE HYALURONIC ACID SERUM

anti-aging ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid serum

This anti-aging ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid serum is an excellent choice for sensitive skin. This product is one of the staple items in my work kit. I like to use it on my clients who have dehydrated skin as part of skin prep before makeup application. Many of my brides have very sensitive skin, all of my clients can use this formula without causing any sensitivities. In additional to concentrated pure hyaluronic acid, this serum combines madecassoside and vitamin B5 for optimal effectiveness.

SKINCEUTICALS HYALURONIC ACID INTENSIFIER

This formula from Skinceuticals contains a high concentration of pure hyaluronic acid, proxylane™, and botanical extracts of licorice root and purple rice to amplify skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by 30%. This serum support skin’s hyaluronic acid levels and delivers surface hydration, helping improve the visible appearance of firmness, smoothness, and facial plumpness.

JORDAN SAMUEL SKIN HYDRATE FACIAL SERUM

This formula from Jordan Samuel Skin contains Sodium Hyaluronate, tamarind extract, and aloe leaf extract. Sodium Hyaluronate is another form of hyaluronic acid, a humectant that holds 1,000 times its weight in water. Tamarind extract helps to aid in skin smoothness and hydration. Aloe leaf extract hydrates and softens skin while it soothes and calm skin.

If you are a winter bride who is getting married this winter and is looking for way to alleviate skin dryness, I hope you find this blog post useful!

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Winter Skincare Tips Part 2