It’s the main ingredient in most beauty products and a crucial element of every skin care regimen. But I still encounter lots of misconceptions when it comes to plain water!

Yes, water is essential to all of our biological processes. When it comes to skin, H20 is necessary for the proper functioning of enzymes that enable skin to continually replace itself and slough off old, dead cells. And yes, if the body is severely dehydrated, you will see changes in your skin, mostly in the form of fine lines and wrinkles. But true dehydration is very different from the occasional need for a tall glass of water.

In the vast majority of cases, then, dehydrated skin is not indicative of a dehydrated body – and drinking more water will not have a significant impact on your skin’s hydration. Remember, when it’s healthy, it is responsible for keeping moisture in your skin, and irritants out. But when your skin loses water to the environment, resulting in dry skin, and is also more susceptible to allergic reactions and irritation. As a result, cell’s edges begin to curl up, resulting in dry skin’s rough, lifeless appearance.