When you're feeling dehydrated, your first instinct is to feed your body water, but what about your skin? Korean beauty's latest water-free skincare trend is reminding people that products with water don't actually hydrate your skin more. In fact, it does the opposite. According to Christine Chang and Sarah Lee, founders of natural Korean beauty site Glow Recipe, water-based skincare products actually, "take more away from your skin than they do keep you feeling hydrated and glowing." It may not make sense at first, but once you realize what too much water can really do to your skin, it makes total sense.
So, here's the deal. Your skin naturally secretes oil to protect itself, while delivering the good stuff (being antioxidants and vitamins) to the outermost layer of your skin, keeping it strong and hydrated. When you use water-based products (or even over-cleanse your skin with water), it can sometimes strip away this good-for-you layer of oil that's actually working to protect your skin. What's more? A lot of skincare products that have water in it can expire, so manufacturers use preservatives, which can not only irritate your skin, but can also dilute the product.
Enter, waterless skincare products. Chang and Lee believe that waterless formulas will revolutionize the beauty industry due to the simple fact that they are jam-packed with all the botanical extracts or oils that you are expecting to find in a moisturizer, cream, or essence. Instead of being diluted with H20, waterless products contain a high concentration of the vitamins and antioxidants you're looking for to help your skin become more moisturized, stronger, and of course, glowier.
If that's not enough reason to jump on this newest Korean beauty trend bandwagon, how about the fact that water-free products are more eco-friendly and sustainable than its alternatives? "Waterless products are more concentrated and less product is needed for each application. This makes for a longer replenishment cycle and allows for customers to use one product for a longer time instead of constantly repurchasing," says Chang. Not only are you doing good for your skin, you're also doing good for the earth! Can't beat that.
Here are 3 water-free products to shop right now in honor of earth day and your future glowier complexion.
1. LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence
LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence, $27, Amazon
This potent, water-free serum is 90% Tea Tree extract and works to soothe blemishes, calm redness, and brighten acne scarring, without stripping your skin.
2. Organic Flowers Olive Leaf Mist
Organic Flowers Olive Leaf Mist, $35, Amazon
Sure, it's a mist, but that doesn't mean there's water in it. This product is 92.5% organic and is a blend of olive, green tea extract, and aloe vera — all wonderful things to help renew your skin.
3. Whamisa Organic Flowers Water Cream with Natto
Whamisa Organic Flowers Water Cream With Natto Gum, $32, Amazon
This water-free water cream feels more like a whipped soufflé in your fingers than it does a moisturizer, thanks to a blend of fermented botanical extracts like Natto Gum, organic rice, and olive oil. It smells fresh and clean, and will leave your skin feeling tingly, in the best way possible. ($35, glowrecipe.com)
Images: Courtesy Of Glow Recipe (3)
