Does Drinking More Water Really Give You Glowing Skin? | Beauty Myths And The Truth

From Jennifer Aniston’s SmartWater campaign and models  to multiple other bloggers, a lot of people are always going on about how drinking more water makes their skin look and feel so much better. I would have to admit, I was curious and I have tried to drink more water in the past.

A little bit of history: Since I was still in school during A Levels, approximately 4 years ago, I’ve aimed to drink the recommended 2 litres of water a day. I’ve actively been trying to drink this much water in order to get better skin, but also to make myself healthier for exams and revision. Now, it’s been 4 years and I still see people claiming their good skin is down to water intake and I have to say that it’s both true and false.

The 2 litres that are recommended per day are firstly, gained through not just drinking water but also through food, and most healthy diets include fruits and veggies which have high water percentages. Other beverages also count towards it. Secondly, this intake is recommended to ensure your whole body is working the way it should. We are 60% water and we need it for simple functions such as carrying nutrients to organs and lubricating joints. This intake is not just for healthy skin, and actually the skin is one of the last organs your body will hydrate, especially if there’s not enough water.

Therefore, not drinking enough water will mean your skin will be left dehydrated as other organs are more important and need it more. This can cause dryness, tightness and flakiness as the skin will be less resilient without water, as it reduces functions such as new cell growth. Dehydrated skin also produces more oil, in order to protect the skin and this is what can cause breakouts. All of these skin issues often do result in dull skin tone, which is what many people complain about before going on their miracle water skincare routine.

There’s very little scientific evidence which shows water helps skin to look aesthetically better, but it does need the water for normal functioning. The issue is most people don’t drink enough water in the first place. So they when they start to actively drink more water their skin does start to ‘glow’ as it’s now healthier and has the water it needs to fully protect itself. However, once this becomes a daily habit you won’t see any differences by increasing intake, although if you become dehydrated again by not drinking or drinking too much alcohol for example, your skin will often get worse until it’s rehydrated again.

So if you’re someone who already drinks enough water, and doesn’t understand why their skin isn’t glowing when you’re increasing your intake – don’t fret. It’s not you, and your skin is most likely just as healthy as those people who claim water is their skin saviour. Just remember that these people are often using extensive skincare routines as well as makeup which can create better looking textures. Whilst they are technically right in that water has improved their skin, it was probably only because they weren’t drinking enough in the first place.