Understanding The Science Behind Skin Hydration Test

“24-Hr Skin Hydration!”, “Instant Hydration”, “Deep Hydration”, “Hydration Boost” are some of the many similar taglines you see on top of most of your skin care products. But what exactly does it mean? And how do you know if your product is actually hydrating your skin? Are they just claims or are the products actually lab tested? Lab tests? If so, what kind of lab tests? That is what we are here to learn about today! 

But first, let’s start with the basics.

Skin Hydration: An Intro

Skin hydration is one of the most important factors of skincare and is essential for skin’s health, appearance and its overall function. Optimal skin hydration is necessary for your skin to keep looking and feeling plump, radiant and rejuvenated! 

The skin is considered hydrated if it can maintain moisture levels, resulting in good texture, elasticity, and resilience. Inadequate hydration leads to dry, dull, flaky, irritated and aged skin. ^{1 2}  

Why Is Skin Hydration Important?

Skin hydration is important as it ^{1 3 4 5}

• Supports The Skin: by maintaining the structural integrity of the skin by protecting keratin, collagen and elastin fibres that makes skin firm and elastic.
• Enhances Skin Barrier Function: Skin that is well-hydrated has a greater defence against germs and other environmental aggressors, such as pollution, which lowers the risk of irritation and infection.
• Promotes Skin Healing: Because hydrated skin is better able to mend itself, cuts, scratches and other injuries are less likely to cause damage.
• Improves Appearance: Skin that is properly hydrated appears smooth, radiant and plump, which helps to minimise the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
• Induces Enzyme Activity: Hydration ensures optimal enzyme function, which is necessary for healthy skin processes.

In short, hydrated skin is extra resistant to the effects of aging and environmental stressors. For moms, maintaining skin hydration can help manage the changes that come with pregnancy and motherhood, while for babies, it supports the delicate balance of their developing skin.

How Can One Achieve Well-Hydrated Skin?

Achieving and maintaining well-hydrated skin involves a combination of good skincare practices, healthy habits and using the right products. Here are some essential tips ^{6 7 8}:

• Use Hydrating Skincare Products: Choose products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and natural oils to attract and retain moisture.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink at least eight glasses of water daily for overall skin health.
• Healthy Diet: Eat fruits and vegetables high in water content to hydrate from the inside out and provide essential nutrients.
• Avoid Harsh Products: Avoid skincare products with alcohol or drying agents; opt for gentle, hydrating formulas instead.
• Use Humidifiers: In dry climates or during winter, use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and prevent dry, flaky skin.

Speaking of using hydrating skincare products, how do you find one that is cellularly proven to hydrate your skin? Here’s where AreoVeda steps in. We perform the skin hydration test on lab grown human skin cells. This test is the best way to prove the long-lasting, hydrating and rejuvenating effects our products have on the skin.

AreoVeda’s Skin Hydration Test

At AreoVeda, to ensure our skincare formulations deliver exceptional hydration, comprehensive tests using lab-grown human skin cells are performed. Here’s an in-depth look at the skin hydration testing process:

Step 1: Preparing the 'Skin' ^{9, 10,11,12}

We begin with a special membrane called OpSite flexigrid membrane  (an adhesive film), which serves as a stand-in for the outermost layer of human skin. This film is waterproof but allows vapour to pass through, mimicking the behaviour of real skin. To prepare it for testing, we create a supportive base layer consisting of:

• Agarose: This substance acts as the sub-surface, providing support to the film.
• Glycerol: This ingredient prevents the base from drying out.
• Phenoxyethanol: This is used as a preservative to maintain the integrity of the base layer

Step 2: Applying the Test Products ^13,14

Once the base is prepared, we place the adhesive film on top and apply our test product. AreoVeda products are formulated as oil-in-water emulsions. This means that when we apply the product, the adhesive film absorbs the moisture content without binding to it, thanks to the oil component. The oil helps retain the water in the film, just as it does in the outermost layer of your skin, known as the stratum corneum.

Step 3: Measuring Hydration Levels

To determine how well the film retains moisture, we use a device called a corneometer. This tool measures the hydration levels of the stratum corneum, allowing us to track how effectively our products hydrate the skin over time. We take readings at different intervals to ensure the product provides long-lasting moisture. 

The Results
Under controlled conditions (20°C & 40-60% humidity), corneometer readings are categorised as follows:

• < 30 au: Dry
• 30-45 au: Normal
• > 45 au: Well moisturised

For our products to pass the test, they must consistently show readings above 40, indicating that they provide sufficient hydration. At AreoVeda, our tested products consistently meet and exceed this benchmark, ensuring your skin stays well-hydrated. 

Here’s a list of AreoVeda products that undergo the skin hydration test:

• Under Eye Serum
• Skin Clarifying Serum
• Skin Brightening Serum
• Moisturising Baby Spray Lotion
• Hydrating Body Foam Wash
• Deep Moisturising Baby Cream
• Baby Head-To-Toe Foam Wash
• Foam Face Wash
• Moisturising Spray Lotion

In Conclusion

Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and at AreoVeda, we are dedicated to ensuring our products deliver the best possible results. Our thorough skin hydration testing process guarantees that every product you use is clinically proven to keep your skin moisturised, radiant and healthy! Hope this blog has given you the transparency on how we test our products and how our claims are backed with real proof! 

Stay tuned for more insights, tips and updates on keeping your skin at its best!

FAQs

• Why Is Skin Hydration Important For Skin?

Hydrated skin can maintain skin's texture, firmness and plumpness while preventing skin irritation and dryness. ¹ 

• Does Hydrated Skin Mean Reduced Appearance Of Wrinkles? 

Yes, hydrated skin leads to a plumper and smoother skin which minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. ¹ 

• How Can I Tell If The Products I Use Are Actually Hydrating My Skin?

Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and pentavitin in your products. Notice improvements in your skin hydration. Clinical tests, like those by AreoVeda, also verify hydration.

• Are Hydration Claims On Skincare Products Tested? 

Some might just be claims with no real proof. But at AreoVeda we use lab-grown human skin cells to verify hydration effectiveness.

• What Lab Tests Ensure A Product's Hydration Effectiveness?

Cellular skin hydration tests can measure skin moisture levels after product application. AreoVeda also uses a corneometer to measure hydration. 

• How Do Areoveda Products Ensure Hydration? 

AreoVeda products are tested on a special membrane that mimics human skin, with hydration levels measured by a corneometer, consistently meeting high hydration benchmarks.