Fashion

How To Keep Your Skin Hydrated Throughout The Day

by Faz Abdul Gaffa-Marsh

If you've ever tried intermittent fasting, you might have the teensiest gist of what some Muslims go through for 30 days once a year during Ramadan. Ramadan is a month where Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and other physical needs from dawn to dusk. The ninth month of the Muslim calendar is intended to refocus a believer's attention back onto their beliefs, and to teach Muslims about self-sacrifice.

During Ramadan, I go through revelations, much like those people who attempt the Master Cleanse. I work from home, so I don't get tempted or drool over a co-worker's poké bowl, or something like that. I don't eat breakfast or lunch, and I do get hungry by about 3 p.m. By 5 p.m., I get a sense of clarity and realize that I don't even need food or drink, but by the time the sun sets, which is about 8 p.m. in LA, I'm ready to eat everything in sight.

I am a veteran faster, but going without water when I drink close a gallon everyday, however, is a whole different matter. For people obsessed water consumption like me, you know that hydration is a very important part of a healthy skincare routine, particularly when you're pushing to an age where your collagen production starts to decrease.

Here are some ways to keep your skin stay hydrated throughout the day. These tips are great for anyone fasting, or anyone who just doesn't drink enough water during their busy day.

1. Start by dry-proofing your skincare regimen

Dermalogica's Skin Hydrating Booster, $59, DermalogicaSkin Inc's Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $45, Skin Inc

If you're already using moisturizer on a daily basis, it's time to up the ante. After washing your face, use a hydrating serum before your moisturizer, like Dermalogica's Skin Hydrating Booster, or Skin Inc's Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Once that's done, layer it with your regular moisturizer, before sunscreen. Remember that, like sun protection, there can be no such thing as too much moisturizing, especially when you're not drinking water throughout the day.

2. Carry a spray-on bottle of moisturizer

Vaseline Heaven-Sent Spray & Go Moisturizer (2-Pk), $16, AmazonHadanomy Collagen Mist, $13, Amazon

Don't fight Vaseline's heaven-sent spray & go moisturizer. You can stash it in your car, or your bag that you carry every day, for sure. I also like a face spray, and I'm obsessed with Hadanomy's collagen mist. Trust me when I say Hadanomy will take over any facial mist that you've tried in your life.

3. Take your hydration down to the digits

ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images

Remember this equation (take your weight, divide by two, and that's how many ounces of water you should allegedly drink a day) to figure out how much water you need to drink depending on your body weight. While it's common for your pee to be darker than usual because of the lack of water, make sure you make up for the water consumption after fasting, or whenever you finally get around to hydrating. If you sip on water throughout the evening and the night, your pee should go back to its normal color by the morning.

4. Eat foods with high water content

You know food that quenches your thirst in the summer? Those are the foods that you should throw into your salad. Think watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers — perfect ingredients for a summer salad. In the morning, throw these type of foods into your smoothies so your body stays hydrated throughout the day.

Images: Faz Abdul Gaffa (3); Getty Images; Ramnath Bhat/Flickr