Esente Skincare

Short answer: Screens give off blue light, but far less than the sun does. Research on screens and skin is still limited, and so far it has not identified everyday device use as a hazard to skin, although researchers say larger and better studies are needed. Visible light from the sun is a different matter: in controlled studies, strong visible light, especially blue-violet light, darkened medium and deeper skin tones. Sunscreen labeled Broad Spectrum is tested for ultraviolet protection, not visible light. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, shade and covering up remain the practical priorities.

The research on screens is still young, and the sun remains the far stronger source of light.

What blue light is

Ultraviolet light, which you cannot see, sits at one end of the sunlight spectrum. Next to it is visible light, the part your eyes pick up as color. Blue and violet light sit at the end of the visible range closest to ultraviolet, which is why they are sometimes called high-energy visible light.

Phone, tablet and computer screens give off visible light too, including blue light. For everyday exposure, sunlight is a far stronger source of visible and blue light than typical electronic screens, which is why sun protection remains the more established concern, particularly for people prone to pigmentation.

Visible light from the sun

In controlled studies, researchers have shone strong lamps on small areas of volunteers’ skin. Visible light, and blue-violet light in particular, darkened the skin of volunteers with medium and deeper skin tones, and the darkening lasted longer than that from the ultraviolet exposure it was compared with.

These studies used concentrated doses, so they show what visible light can do rather than what everyday indoor light does. The everyday source that matters is the sun, which is one reason sun protection deserves attention from anyone with pigmentation concerns. Dark Spots and Uneven Skin Tone covers the common causes of uneven color.

What about screens?

Researchers have started to test this directly, on a small scale. In one study, 12 people with melasma, a pigmentation condition in which visible light is known to play a part, had one side of the face exposed to blue light matched to screen output for five days, at a daily dose equal to a full working day close to a bright screen. The exposed and covered sides showed no difference in pigmentation.

A 2022 systematic review found only a handful of relevant studies. On that limited evidence, it did not identify blue light from devices as a hazard to skin pigmentation or skin aging, and it called for larger, higher-quality studies. So the current picture is reassuring but not final. The studies are few and short, and longer-term exposure has not been well studied.

UV protection and visible-light protection are different

The label term Broad Spectrum refers to ultraviolet protection: the test behind it measures protection across the UVA and UVB range. UVA vs UVB explains the difference. A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.

Broad Spectrum does not describe protection against visible light. Researchers who review this area note that for a sunscreen to filter visible light, it has to be visible on the skin. As a general category, tinted sunscreens colored with iron oxides are formulated with that in mind. If pigmentation is a particular concern for you, a dermatologist can advise whether a tinted product suits your skin.

What this means in practice

Keep your sun habits steady. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face, neck and the backs of your hands, following the label for how much to apply and when to reapply. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? covers the daily habit.

Use the other measures too. Shade, a hat and clothing reduce the light reaching your skin, whatever part of the spectrum you are thinking about.

Remember the window. Glass lets through visible light and, depending on the type of glass, some UVA. Long hours by a sunny window or in the car add to your sun exposure.

Think of antioxidants as a complement. Antioxidant skincare can sit alongside sun protection, but it does not replace it. What Antioxidants Do for Your Skin explains how the two differ.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria applies daily broad-spectrum sunscreen to the backs of her hands, and when driving she wears lightweight white linen gloves to help reduce continued sun exposure. That is her own preventive practice rather than a requirement for everyone.

Esenté offers two sunscreens: Derma-Defense SPF 30 in the Legacy Skincare collection and Derma Defense Z-Cote SPF30 in the Elite Skincare collection. Both are labeled Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and are untinted. They are sold for Broad Spectrum sun protection and are not marketed as protection from screens or blue light. They are examples, and the right sunscreen for you depends on your skin and preferences. Follow the label directions for whichever you use, including how much to apply and when to reapply. If you want help fitting sun protection into your routine, you can reach Victoria through the Ask Victoria page.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: Drinking enough fluid supports your whole body, and your skin is part of that. A small body of research suggests that drinking more water may increase hydration in the skin’s outer layer, particularly in people who usually drink relatively little. How hydrated the surface of your skin looks also depends on your skincare and your environment: how you cleanse, how you moisturize and the air you spend your day in. The two work together. Adequate fluid intake supports you from within, and a suitable skincare routine looks after the surface.

Fluid intake and skincare are partners, each doing a different job.

How water reaches your skin

Water reaches your skin from the inside, as it reaches every other tissue, and your body relies on a steady supply to keep working well. At the same time, the outer layer of your skin loses water to the air all day long. How quickly depends on the condition of that layer, the air around you and your daily habits. What Is the Skin Barrier? explains the layer that slows that loss.

What the research shows

A 2018 systematic review looked for studies on fluid intake and skin in healthy adults and found six that met its criteria. Across those studies, drinking additional water was linked with a slight increase in hydration of the skin’s outer layer, particularly in people who had been drinking relatively little before, and some studies also recorded less visible dryness and roughness. The reviewers described the evidence as limited in quantity and quality and called for more research, and what they found is consistent with drinking enough as part of looking after your skin.

Drinking well beyond what your body needs will not resolve every cause of dryness or smooth away wrinkles, because dryness often has outside causes too. That is where skincare and your environment come in.

How much should you drink?

There is no skin-specific number. How much fluid you need depends on your age, your body, your activity level, the climate and your health, and you need more in hot weather, during exercise or when you are unwell. Food, especially fruit and vegetables with a high water content, adds to your intake too. Some medical conditions call for limiting fluids, and if your doctor has given you advice about how much to drink, follow it. If you have questions about your own intake, ask your doctor.

Looking after the surface

The air. Dry air draws water from exposed skin, and heated or air-conditioned rooms, dry climates, wind and long flights all add to it. Skincare in a Dry Climate covers skin that lives in dry air all year. In particularly dry indoor environments, a humidifier may help increase the moisture in the air.

Cleansing. Lukewarm water, shorter showers and gentle cleansing with a soft professional facial sponge or clean fingertips take less from the surface than hot water and scrubbing.

Your routine. A sensible order is cleanse, an appropriate toner or mist, serum, then moisturizer, each according to the product’s directions, plus daytime sun protection. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps. A moisturizer usually combines ingredients that attract water, smooth the surface and slow evaporation. Hyaluronic Acid Is Not a Moisturizer explains why one hydrating ingredient is not the whole story.

Exfoliation. Exfoliating more often or more aggressively than your skin needs can disrupt the skin barrier and contribute to dryness, irritation and increased water loss.

Dehydrated is not the same as dry

Dehydrated skin is short of water at the surface, often temporarily, and any skin type can have it. Dry skin tends to make relatively little oil. The two often overlap. For either, adequate fluid intake belongs alongside suitable skincare, attention to the skin barrier and your environment. Dehydrated Skin vs Dry Skin covers how to tell them apart.

When dryness is more than a hydration question

Dryness that persists despite a sensible routine, or that comes with itching, cracking, soreness or a rash, is worth showing to a dermatologist or another appropriate healthcare professional. So is any change in your skin you cannot account for.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria’s philosophy has always extended beyond what goes into a jar. “Mindful Living, Ageless Skin” reflects her belief that maintaining healthy-looking skin over a lifetime involves both appropriate skincare and thoughtful lifestyle habits. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, appropriate hydration, balanced nutrition and sensible sun protection all form part of that broader approach. None replaces a well-designed skincare regimen, and skincare doesn’t replace healthy living.

For the skincare side, examples from Esenté’s range include the Hyaluronic Hydration Crème, Hydro Mist and the Matrix Repair Crème, each with its own role. Hydro Mist is an antioxidant hydrating mist that can be used after cleansing before other skincare products and makeup, after makeup to help set it, and throughout the day as desired. The Hyaluronic Hydration Crème is a moisturizer applied to clean skin. Hydro Mist and the Matrix Repair Crème help support skin hydration, and the Matrix Repair Crème’s directions suggest nighttime use, with morning use also possible. Both crèmes come in jars, so take out what you need with a clean spatula and apply it with clean fingertips. These are examples among other suitable Esenté formulations, chosen for your skin, preferences and budget, and none of them replaces adequate fluid intake. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. If your skin still feels dry, the Ask Victoria page is open.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: In broad strokes, yes. Your skin is built and maintained from the nutrients you eat, so a balanced, varied diet supports it as part of supporting your whole body. Research also points to some useful patterns: a few studies suggest that plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables may help protect against damage associated with premature skin aging, while diets high in added sugar and refined carbohydrates have been associated with processes that may contribute to skin aging. No single food does the work alone. Good nutrition sits alongside appropriate skincare and daily sun protection, and each supports the others.

Eating well is one part of caring for your skin that you can work on every day.

Skin is built from what you eat

Skin is living tissue, made and maintained from the protein, fats, vitamins and minerals that come from food. Serious deficiencies show the connection clearly. Severe vitamin C deficiency, for example, can cause small red or purple spots on the skin, along with other symptoms. They are uncommon with a varied diet and are a matter for your doctor.

What the research suggests

Many studies of diet and skin are observational. They find patterns across large groups rather than proving cause and effect, and diet travels with other habits such as sun exposure, smoking and sleep. Within those limits, dermatology guidance on premature skin aging includes eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, and notes that a few studies suggest plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables may help protect against damage associated with premature skin aging. Research also suggests that diets high in added sugar and refined carbohydrates have been associated with processes that may contribute to skin aging. These are tendencies across groups of people, not promises for any one face.

Sugar, glycation and collagen

One reason researchers connect sugar with skin aging is a process called glycation. Sugars such as glucose and fructose can bond with proteins, forming compounds called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. In skin, AGEs can link fibers of collagen and elastin together. These structural proteins help give skin its firmness and spring, and once linked this way they become stiffer and harder for the body to renew.

Glycation happens naturally as we age, and it tends to increase when blood sugar runs high. Sun exposure adds to it in the skin. Researchers are still working out how large a part AGEs play in skin aging overall.

None of this means sugar alone causes wrinkles, or that avoiding it guarantees you will not get them. The sensible step is to limit excess added sugar, such as sweetened drinks, sweets and many packaged desserts, rather than trying to cut out every source of sugar. Whole fruit is part of a balanced diet in current nutrition guidance, and there is no reason to restrict it for your skin unless a doctor or registered dietitian advises you to.

Nutrition, skincare and sun protection work together

Balanced nutrition supports your skin from within, while appropriate skincare and daily sun protection look after it from the outside.

Sun exposure is a major influence on how skin ages. A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? covers the daily habit.

Restriction versus finding your own triggers

Extreme restriction, such as dropping whole food groups to change your skin, can leave you short of nutrients your body needs.

Identifying an individual trigger is a different matter. If a particular food seems to affect your skin, look into it with appropriate professional advice. A doctor, a registered dietitian or, if you have a skin condition, your dermatologist can help you explore it without cutting out more than you need to. A reaction such as hives, swelling or itching after eating needs prompt medical advice.

Supplements

Collagen supplements are a common question, and Do Collagen Supplements Work? goes through that evidence. For anything else, including high-dose vitamins, ask your doctor or pharmacist, particularly if you take other medicines. A supplement does not replace a balanced diet.

What eating well looks like

Variety is the principle much nutrition guidance agrees on: plenty of vegetables and fruit, enough protein, whole grains and some healthy fats, eaten regularly, with added sugar and refined carbohydrates kept in check. Drinking enough fluid belongs in the same picture, and Does Drinking Water Hydrate Your Skin? looks at how it works alongside your skincare. Small, steady changes are easier to keep than a dramatic overhaul.

Sleep and movement matter too, as Sleep, Exercise and Your Skin explains.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria’s philosophy has always extended beyond what goes into a jar. “Mindful Living, Ageless Skin” reflects her belief that maintaining healthy-looking skin over a lifetime involves both appropriate skincare and thoughtful lifestyle habits. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, appropriate hydration, balanced nutrition and sensible sun protection all form part of that broader approach. None replaces a well-designed skincare regimen, and skincare doesn’t replace healthy living. For questions about the skincare side of that balance, the Ask Victoria page is open.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: Stress and skin are connected through several routes at once. Stress hormones such as cortisol act throughout the body, skin included. Stressful periods can coincide with flare-ups of existing skin conditions, and stress tends to change everyday habits, from sleep to how consistently you look after your skin. Stress is rarely the whole explanation for what you see in the mirror. A suitable, consistent routine, adjusted when your skin’s needs change, daily sun protection and healthy habits all help. A skin problem that persists or worsens belongs with a professional.

The connection is real, and much of it runs through habits you can influence.

What researchers have found

When you are under pressure, your body releases stress hormones, cortisol among them, and those signals affect how the body works, skin included.

One small 2001 study shows what has been measured. Among 27 students without skin disease, the skin’s outer layer recovered more slowly from a standard laboratory test during final exams, when the students reported more stress, than during calmer periods. The study measured barrier recovery in a small group, not how anyone’s skin looked. What Is the Skin Barrier? explains what that outer layer does.

Stress and existing skin conditions

Some people with long-term skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, notice flare-ups during hard stretches of life. Stress does not cause these conditions, but for some people it appears to be one of the triggers.

If you have a diagnosed condition that flares when life gets difficult, tell your dermatologist about the pattern and keep following the care plan you have been given. If you have no diagnosis and your skin is changing, a professional can help you understand what is going on.

The habits stress changes

Much of what stress does to skin travels through behavior, and habits are something you can work on.

Sleep. Stress and short nights often go together, and missed sleep can show in the face as puffier-looking eyes, darker circles and a paler complexion. Sleep, Exercise and Your Skin covers that link.

Hands on the face. People under pressure rub their eyes, lean on their hands and pick at blemishes. Picking can leave marks and dark spots that last longer than the blemish did. Notice when you do it, and give your hands something else to do.

The routine slips. The evening cleanse gets skipped and sunscreen gets forgotten on busy mornings.

Too much at once. A difficult week can send people looking for a quick fix, such as several new products or a harsher exfoliant. Introducing several things at once makes it hard to tell what is helping and what is irritating. How Long Should Skincare Take to Work? explains why one change at a time is easier to judge.

What helps at the skin level

Keep a suitable routine going. The steps that suit your skin usually still suit it during a hard week: cleanse, use an appropriate toner or mist, then serum and moisturizer, each according to the product’s directions, plus daytime sun protection.

Adjust when your skin’s needs change. If your skin feels drier or more reactive than usual, an adjustment can make sense, such as choosing a gentler cleanser or pausing non-prescription exfoliating products or treatments while the skin is irritated. Make one considered change at a time rather than overhauling everything, and seek appropriate professional advice if you are unsure.

Be gentle. Use lukewarm water and light pressure, with a soft professional facial sponge or clean fingertips and your cleanser. Avoid aggressive exfoliation and unnecessary friction, particularly while the skin is irritated.

Protect the evening cleanse. Whatever else slips, remove eye makeup with a dedicated eye makeup remover first, then cleanse your face gently, and go to bed with a completely clean face.

Keep up daily sun protection. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning to exposed skin, following the label directions for how much to use and when to reapply, and add shade, a hat and clothing when you are outdoors.

What helps beyond the skin

Sleep, regular exercise, balanced meals, appropriate hydration and people you trust all support your overall wellbeing. They work alongside skincare, and skincare does not replace them. If stress itself feels hard to manage, raise it with your doctor. It matters in its own right.

When to see a professional

See a dermatologist or another appropriate healthcare professional if a skin problem persists, keeps returning, is painful or is getting worse, or if a condition you already have is flaring more than usual. You do not need to work out first whether stress is the cause.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria’s philosophy has always extended beyond what goes into a jar. “Mindful Living, Ageless Skin” reflects her belief that maintaining healthy-looking skin over a lifetime involves both appropriate skincare and thoughtful lifestyle habits. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, appropriate hydration, balanced nutrition and sensible sun protection all form part of that broader approach. None replaces a well-designed skincare regimen, and skincare doesn’t replace healthy living. A professional can recognize when your skin’s needs are changing and help you decide what to keep and what, if anything, to adjust. For help keeping a suitable routine going through a stressful time, the Ask Victoria page is open.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: Long, hot showers can dry the skin. Hot water and long soaks take more of the skin’s natural oils with them, and that oil is part of what slows water loss from the surface, so skin can come out feeling tight, dry or itchy, especially on the body and in dry air. A shorter shower in warm rather than hot water, a gentle cleanser, patting dry and moisturizing afterward are the habits that count.

You do not have to give up a warm shower. You may want to change how you take it.

What hot water does to the surface of your skin

The outer layer of your skin is a thin sheet of cells held together by fats, with a film of natural oil on top, and together they slow water loss. What Is the Skin Barrier? explains more.

Long showers and hot water remove more of the skin’s natural oils than shorter showers in warm water, and harsh soaps add to the effect. When you step out, the surface has less of what holds water in. That is one reason for the tight feeling some people get after a hot shower, and in dry air it can turn into flaking and itching.

Shorter and warmer, not hot

General dermatology guidance is to keep showers and baths short and to use warm rather than hot water. There is no single right number of minutes for everyone. Aim for a shower that leaves your skin comfortable once you are dry.

Turn the water down. Warm means comfortable on your skin, not hot enough to leave it pink.

Shorten the shower. Notice how your skin feels afterward and adjust from there.

Where it shows first

The body. Oil glands are spread unevenly. The face and scalp have the most, and the palms and soles have none. Many people notice dryness on the arms, legs and hands first. Does Your Body Need a Skincare Routine Too? covers what those areas need.

The face. Heat can leave the face looking flushed for a while, and heat is a common trigger for people prone to facial redness. Redness on the Face covers the common causes.

Washing your face in the shower

Shower spray may be hotter and more forceful than the water you would choose at a sink, so some people prefer washing their face at the sink. If you use the shower, turn your face away from the hottest spray and keep your touch light. If you wear eye makeup, remove it first with a dedicated eye makeup remover.

After the shower

Pat dry. Press the towel against your skin rather than rubbing it.

Face. After cleansing, continue in order: an appropriate toner or mist, then serum, then moisturizer, each according to the product’s directions, plus daytime sun protection in the morning.

Body. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following the product’s directions, with clean fingertips.

If it persists. Itching that keeps going, a rash, cracking or soreness, or a change you cannot account for, is worth showing to a dermatologist.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Professional facial sponges are Victoria’s preferred tool for facial cleansing, used gently with an appropriate cleanser. Fingertips are acceptable, but she prefers sponges for more thorough cleansing.

After cleansing your face, Hydro Mist, Esenté’s antioxidant hydrating mist, can be used as a facial hydration step before the rest of your routine. It can also be used after makeup to help set it and throughout the day as desired. For the body, the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hydra Crème and the Cellaris Body Crème are two examples. Both come in jars, so take the crème out with a clean cosmetic spatula and follow the directions for whichever you use. These are examples from a broader range, to be chosen for your skin, preferences and budget. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. If your skin still feels dry after you have changed your shower habits, the Ask Victoria page is the place to ask.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: It may for some people, but the evidence is limited. Hard water carries more dissolved calcium and magnesium, and soap reacts with those minerals to form a residue, the familiar “soap scum”. Most research has involved people with eczema, and the key study tested a single cleansing ingredient, so it cannot tell you how every cleanser behaves. For most people, the useful steps suit any water: a gentle cleanser that fits your skin and your budget, lukewarm water, a thorough rinse and a moisturizer your skin is comfortable with.

The habits you control matter as much as the water that comes out of the tap.

What hard water is

Water hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves small amounts of naturally occurring minerals and carries them along. Hardness varies a great deal from one area to another.

You may already know if yours is hard. White, chalky scale in a kettle or around taps is a common sign, and so is soap that seems to take more effort to rinse away.

What happens when soap meets hard water

Soap reacts with the calcium in hard water and forms a residue, the familiar soap scum. In hard water it also takes more soap or detergent to get things clean. That is why washing in hard water can leave your hands feeling as though a film is still on them.

What the research shows, and what it does not

In a 2018 study of 80 people, some with eczema (atopic dermatitis) and some without, small patches of skin were washed with one common cleansing ingredient, sodium lauryl sulfate, in water of different hardness. Hard water left more of the ingredient on the skin, with more irritation, especially in people with eczema who carried certain gene variants linked to the skin barrier. Softened water reduced those effects. Because the study tested one ingredient on small areas under controlled conditions, it does not tell you how any particular cleanser behaves at home.

A 2011 UK trial asked whether a home water softener helps. Among 336 children with moderate to severe eczema in hard water areas, a softener plus usual care did no better after 12 weeks than usual care alone on the trial’s main measure of eczema severity.

Together, these studies suggest hard water may leave more cleansing residue on skin, and that this matters most for skin already prone to reacting. They do not show that hard water harms everyone’s skin. If you have eczema or skin that reacts easily, ask a dermatologist about your own situation.

Softeners and filters are not the same thing

A water softener, usually an ion-exchange unit, swaps the calcium and magnesium in hard water for sodium or potassium. Filters are a different category, and what they remove depends on the type. Activated carbon filters, for example, can reduce chlorine and some other substances, but they do not remove the calcium and magnesium that make water hard.

Installing either is a household decision with many factors beyond skin, and evidence for a skin benefit from softening is limited. If you are considering one, ask the supplier what it is designed to remove.

What you can do

Most of what helps with hard water is what helps with any water.

Choose a gentle cleanser that suits you and your budget. If your face feels tight long after washing, the cleanser is worth reconsidering. Suitability depends on the complete formulation and on your skin, not on price or on whether it foams. Why Your Cleanser Matters More Than You Think goes further, and Why Does Your Skin Feel Tight After Washing? covers that feeling in detail.

Use the amount the directions suggest. Hard water can make soap feel less effective, which tempts people to use more, and more cleanser means more to rinse away.

Rinse thoroughly. Take the time to rinse until your skin no longer feels slippery or filmy.

Use lukewarm water and a gentle touch. Hot water takes more of the skin’s natural oils with it, and rubbing adds friction. Choosing a cleansing tool compares the options, including the facial sponge Victoria prefers.

Pat dry, then continue your routine. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following the product’s directions.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Professional facial sponges are her preferred tool for facial cleansing and general makeup removal, used gently with an appropriate cleanser. Fingertips are acceptable, but she prefers sponges for more thorough cleansing. For eye makeup, she uses small sterile, non-impregnated gauze squares with a dedicated eye makeup remover, then discards them, before cleansing the face. Esenté regards the cleanser as a vital step, and Victoria believes an appropriate one can be found within your budget; the spending decision is yours. If you live with hard water and want to talk through your own cleansing routine, the Ask Victoria page is open.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: Time in a chlorinated pool or in the sea can leave skin feeling dry and tight, and the more often you swim, the more you may notice it. The sun is usually part of the same afternoon. A short routine helps: rinse off in fresh water soon after you get out, cleanse gently with lukewarm water, pat dry and moisturize your face and body. For the sun, use a Broad Spectrum sunscreen, check whether its label says it is water resistant, and reapply exactly as the label directs, including after towel drying.

Swimming is good exercise, and it also means time in water, disinfectant or salt, and sun.

What pool water does

Pools are disinfected, most often with chlorine, to keep the water safe to swim in. That same disinfected water can be drying to the skin. Many swimmers notice their skin feels tight or rough after a session, and the effect can add up if you swim often.

Sitting afterward with pool water drying on your skin prolongs the contact. What Is the Skin Barrier? explains why the outer layer of the skin matters for comfort.

A rash, persistent itching, or skin that reacts every time you swim is worth showing to a dermatologist rather than guessing at the cause.

What salt water does

Sea water leaves salt behind on the skin as it dries, and many people find their skin feels tight and dry after a day at the beach. Sand adds friction where it rubs, and wind on the shore can dry skin faster. Rinse off before you head home.

Rinse, cleanse, moisturize

Rinse soon after you get out. A fresh-water shower takes pool water or salt off your skin.

Cleanse gently. Use lukewarm water rather than hot, light pressure and a gentle cleanser to remove what a rinse leaves behind, including sunscreen. For the face, Victoria prefers a professional facial sponge used gently with an appropriate cleanser; clean fingertips are acceptable too. Are Hot Showers Bad for Your Skin? looks at water temperature.

Pat dry. Press your towel against your skin rather than rubbing.

Moisturize face and body. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following the product’s directions, with clean fingertips. Does Your Body Need a Skincare Routine Too? covers the body side.

Leave the scrub alone. Skin that feels tight or looks irritated after swimming is not a reason to exfoliate. Do not exfoliate skin that is sunburned, irritated or sore.

Sun at the pool and the beach

Being in the water does not take you out of the sun. Your face, shoulders and back are often above the surface for long stretches, and outdoor swimming often happens in the middle of the day, when UV runs high.

Around pools, at the beach or on open water, UV exposure can come from both direct sunlight and reflected radiation. Water, sand and some surrounding surfaces can reflect UV, adding to overall exposure. This matters whether you are swimming, relaxing beside a home or community pool, spending the day at the beach or boating for extended periods with limited shade. Shade, protective clothing, hats and sunglasses can complement broad-spectrum sunscreen used according to its label directions.

What “water resistant” means on a sunscreen label

In the United States, sunscreen is an over-the-counter drug, and its label wording is controlled. Not every sunscreen is water resistant, so read the label.

Water resistant (40 minutes) or (80 minutes). These are the water resistance claims a US sunscreen label may make. The number tells you how many minutes of water exposure the product was tested for.

Reapply as the label directs. A water resistant sunscreen’s label tells you to reapply after 40 or 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, as tested, immediately after towel drying, and at least every 2 hours. A sunscreen that is not water resistant says to reapply at least every 2 hours and to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.

SPF is not a timer. The SPF number does not tell you how many minutes you can stay in the sun. Applying more at once does not replace reapplying, and applying too little can reduce protection.

Apply before you go out. US labels direct you to apply liberally or generously 15 minutes before sun exposure. How Much Sunscreen to Use, and When to Reapply goes into amounts.

A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? explains the label terms.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria applies daily broad-spectrum sunscreen to the backs of her hands as her own preventive habit, and hands are easy to forget at the pool.

For moisturizing after a swim, the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hydra Crème and the Cellaris Body Crème are two examples from the Esenté range. Follow the directions for whichever you use. Both come in jars, so take the crème out with a clean cosmetic spatula. Other formulations may suit you, depending on your skin, your preferences and your budget. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. If swimming leaves your skin uncomfortable and you want advice on your own routine, the Ask Victoria page is the place to start.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: Aircraft cabin air is typically very dry, and a long flight keeps your skin in it for hours. Tight skin, flaking and chapped lips are common afterward. A few portable habits can help your skin feel more comfortable: start with clean skin and products you already know, look after your face, lips and hands during the flight, go easy on alcohol, and cleanse thoroughly before bed when you arrive. These steps will not prevent all travel dryness, so let the climate you land in, and how your skin feels, guide what comes next.

A few hours in very dry air is enough for your skin to notice.

Why cabin air dries skin

The air in an aircraft cabin is typically dry. The CDC’s guidance for travelers puts it usually at 10 to 20 percent humidity, and notes that it can dry the eyes and the upper airway. Your skin sits in the same air.

Water leaves exposed skin faster when the air holds little moisture, and on a long flight your face, lips and hands are uncovered for hours.

Lips and hands often feel it first. Lips lose water faster than the skin of your cheek and hold less of it at the surface. Hands tend to be washed or sanitized more often when you travel, and frequent washing and hand sanitizer can both leave hands dry.

Before you board

Start with clean skin. Cleanse gently before you leave, or as close to departure as you can.

Pack products you already know. A travel day is a poor time to try something new. Know what each product is for, whether it suits your skin and how to use it before it goes in your bag.

Prepare for the cabin environment. Apply the skincare and makeup you normally find comfortable for travel, and carry suitable products that can be used during the flight according to their directions.

During the flight

Look after face, lips and hands. Reapply a suitable hand cream when your hands feel tight, and use an appropriate lip product for your lips rather than your facial moisturizer. Clean your hands before you touch your face or a product, and moisturize them after using hand sanitizer.

Go easy on alcohol. Alcohol increases urination and fluid loss. UK aviation guidance for passengers also notes that drinking a lot of alcohol, tea or coffee can add to the dry feeling many people have after a flight. Limiting alcohol during the flight and keeping water within reach is a sensible, moderate habit.

Sun and the window seat

Most research on UV inside aircraft has looked at the cockpit, where the amount of UVA passing through the windshield varies with the aircraft. Passenger windows have been studied less. In one 2017 study that measured UV on 14 commercial flights, no UVA or UVB was detected in the passenger cabins tested.

Aircraft differ, so lowering the shade is a simple option if bright sun comes through your window. Your usual daytime sun protection still belongs in a travel day, since you will be outdoors at both ends of the trip, with a Broad Spectrum sunscreen used according to its label. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? makes the wider case.

Packing

Check the liquid rules. Airport security limits the size of liquids, gels and aerosols you can carry in the cabin, and some retail sizes are larger than those limits. Check the current rules, which differ between countries and can change, and the size of any spray or crème you want in your carry-on.

Jars and pots. Use a clean cosmetic spatula for anything taken from an open jar, including a small travel pot. The Spatula Rule explains why.

When you land

Cleanse before bed. However late you arrive, remove eye makeup first with a dedicated eye makeup remover, then cleanse your face gently and thoroughly, and go to bed with a completely clean face. How to Take Your Makeup Off Properly covers the gentle way to do it.

Then continue your routine. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following the product’s directions.

Respond to where you are. A humid destination and a dry one ask different things of your skin. Skincare in a Dry Climate covers the dry version.

Skin that stays sore, irritated or unusually dry after the trip, or changes in a way you cannot account for, is worth showing to a dermatologist.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria prefers to respond to the environment your skin is experiencing rather than following the calendar, and travel compresses that idea into a single day: hours of very dry cabin air, then whatever climate you land in. Her evening rule travels with you too. Whatever your routine, don’t go to sleep wearing makeup.

Two examples from the Esenté range suit a travel day. Hydro Mist, an antioxidant hydrating mist, is a convenient option during a flight. It can be used before makeup, after makeup to help set it, and throughout the day as desired. Victoria regularly uses Hydro Mist over her makeup during long flights to refresh her skin in the dry cabin environment. Check its size against current carry-on liquid limits before packing it in your cabin bag. For lips, the Bio-Boost Lip Enhancer nourishes, protects and hydrates, supporting a plumper appearance and helping soften dryness-related lip lines. It does not carry an SPF. Both are examples rather than the only suitable choices, and what suits you depends on your skin, preferences and budget. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. Planning a trip? The Ask Victoria page is open for questions about what to pack.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: In a dry climate, low humidity is part of every season, often with strong sun and indoor air that is heated or cooled. Dry air can leave skin feeling tight, rough or flaky. Steady habits help: gentle cleansing with lukewarm water, a moisturizer your skin is comfortable with, care for your lips, hands and body, and daily Broad Spectrum sunscreen used according to its label. In particularly dry indoor environments, a humidifier may help too. Let the condition of your skin, rather than the calendar, guide what you change.

Dry air asks for consistency more than for anything exotic.

What dry air does to skin

The outer layer of your skin slows the water inside it from escaping into the air. Water leaves exposed skin faster when the air holds little moisture, and your face, hands and lips are exposed all day. What Is the Skin Barrier? explains what that outer layer does.

It is not seasonal. In cooler, wetter places, dry air is mainly a winter concern. In a dry climate it can be there in every month.

Indoor air adds to it. Heating lowers the humidity of indoor air, and air conditioning removes moisture from the air as it cools it. Either way, the air indoors can be dry too.

Signs your skin is feeling it

• Tightness after washing that lingers.
• Flaking or rough patches that moisturizer does not settle.
• Products stinging that never used to.
• Chapped lips, rough hands, itchy shins.

These are common patterns rather than a diagnosis. Dehydrated Skin vs Dry Skin covers two things people often confuse. Skin that stays cracked, sore or itchy despite a sensible routine, or changes in a way you cannot account for, is worth showing to a dermatologist.

Cleanse gently

Long washes and hot water take more of the skin’s natural oils with them.

Lukewarm water. At the sink and in the shower, and keep showers short.

Eye makeup first. If you wear eye makeup, remove it with a dedicated eye makeup remover before you cleanse your face, and go to bed with a completely clean face.

A soft sponge and light pressure. Victoria’s preferred tool for facial cleansing is a professional facial sponge, used gently with an appropriate cleanser. Clean fingertips are acceptable, though she prefers a sponge for more thorough cleansing.

Pat dry. Press a towel against the skin; do not rub.

Judge the cleanser by how you feel afterward. If your face feels tight long after washing, the cleanser is worth reconsidering, whether or not it foams. Why Your Cleanser Matters More Than You Think goes further.

Keep the routine steady

A sensible order is to cleanse, use an appropriate toner or mist, then a serum, then a moisturizer, each according to the product’s directions, plus daytime sun protection. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following the product’s directions, with clean fingertips.

Choose by comfort. Some people in dry climates find a richer formulation more comfortable; others do well with a lighter one. Suitability depends on the complete formulation and your own skin, not on how thick it looks.

Layer, do not mix. Apply each product individually, in sequence, rather than blending products together first.

Do not forget the edges. Lips, hands, shins and feet often dry out before the face does, so give the body attention after a shower too.

Sun is part of the climate

Strong UV exposure can be a year-round concern in sunny, dry climates, and UV exposure also increases with altitude. Reflected UV from surfaces such as water and sand can add to overall exposure, making sun protection particularly important during activities such as boating or spending extended time at the beach. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen belongs in the routine all year. SPF 30 or higher is the usual dermatology recommendation. Follow the label for how much to apply and when to reapply. Applying more does not replace reapplying, and too little can reduce protection. Pair sunscreen with shade, hats and clothing. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? explains the reasons.

Flaking is not a reason to scrub

Dry weather is not a reason to exfoliate more often. How often suits you depends on your age, your skin’s condition, the method and how your skin responds. If skin becomes unusually dry or irritated, pause non-prescription exfoliating products or treatments and allow the skin to settle before reconsidering the frequency or intensity. Do not exfoliate cracked, irritated or sore skin. Winter Skin: What to Change When It Gets Cold covers the same dryness from the winter side.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria prefers to respond to the environment your skin is experiencing. Cold winter climates can increase dryness, but very dry climates may create similar concerns at other times of year, so the condition of your skin, rather than the calendar, should guide any adjustment.

For dry air, Victoria’s examples from the Esenté range are Hydro Mist, Red Volcanic Seaweed Complex and Matrix Repair Crème, and each plays a different role. Hydro Mist and Matrix Repair Crème help support skin hydration. Red Volcanic Seaweed Complex provides beneficial ingredients and is an occlusive formulation that helps retain moisture. Follow each product’s directions: Hydro Mist can be used after cleansing before other skincare products and makeup, after makeup to help set it, and throughout the day as desired; Red Volcanic Seaweed Complex is dispensed by pump; and Matrix Repair Crème comes in a jar, so take it out with a clean cosmetic spatula. These are examples from a broader range, and the right choice depends on your skin, your preferences and your budget. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. If dry air has your skin feeling tight and you are not sure what to change, ask through the Ask Victoria page.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.

Short answer: Summer changes the conditions your skin lives in: more UV, more heat and sweat, outdoor air that may be very dry or very humid depending on where you live, and cool, drier air in air-conditioned rooms. Whether your routine needs small or larger changes depends on what your skin is doing. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, applied and reapplied as the label directs, a gentle, thorough evening cleanse and a moisturizer your skin finds comfortable in the heat are the core. Let the condition of your skin decide the rest.

Summer can pull skin in more than one direction at once.

What summer does to skin

More UV. In mid-latitudes, UV levels generally run highest during the summer months, particularly around the middle of the day. Summer clothing may also leave more skin exposed.

Heat and sweat. Some people find their skin feels oilier or shinier in hot weather, and sweat mixes with sunscreen and makeup.

Dry heat or humid heat. Summer air is not the same everywhere. In a hot, dry desert climate such as Scottsdale’s, where Esenté is based, the air can be very dry, and skin may feel tight rather than oily. In humid regions, skin may feel slick by midday.

Air-conditioning. Air-conditioning reduces the moisture in indoor air as it cools it. Skin can feel tight after an afternoon in a chilled office.

Sunscreen comes first

Daily sunscreen is a year-round habit, and summer tests it hardest. A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. SPF 30 or higher is the usual recommendation. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? explains the label words.

Apply as the label directs. US sunscreen labels direct you to apply liberally or generously 15 minutes before sun exposure. Applying too little can reduce the protection you get, and a higher SPF number does not make up for applying too little.

Reapply as the label directs. The SPF number is not a measure of time: SPF 30 does not mean 30 minutes of protection. A sunscreen that is not water resistant directs you to reapply at least every 2 hours and to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. A water resistant label states 40 or 80 minutes and tells you when to reapply after swimming, sweating and towel drying. Putting on more in the morning does not replace reapplying later. How Much Sunscreen to Use, and When to Reapply goes through it.

Cover the places people miss. Ears, the back of the neck, the backs of the hands, the tops of the feet.

Sunscreen works alongside other protection

The US sunscreen label pairs sunscreen with other sun protection measures: limit time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats and sunglasses. Sun Protection Beyond Sunscreen goes further.

US sunscreen labels also tell you to protect the product from excessive heat and direct sun, so a car dashboard is a poor place to leave it. Why a Bathroom Is a Poor Place to Store Skincare covers heat and storage more broadly.

Cleansing when you sweat more

The evening cleanse earns its place in summer. By bedtime your face carries sunscreen designed to stay put, the day’s sweat and oil, and often makeup. Remove eye makeup first with a dedicated eye makeup remover, then cleanse your face gently, and go to bed with a completely clean face.

After exercise or a sweaty afternoon, a rinse or a gentle cleanse, whichever suits your skin, is reasonable. Let your skin’s response guide how often you wash.

Moisturizer and texture

Some people prefer a lighter-feeling moisturizer in humid heat, while skin in a dry climate or a cold, air-conditioned room may want more moisture in summer, not less. Others use one product all year. Whether a product suits you depends on the complete formulation and on your own skin, not on its texture.

Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following its directions. Winter Skin: What to Change When It Gets Cold covers the opposite season.

When skin has had too much sun

Sunburned skin is irritated skin. Protect it from further sun exposure and pause non-prescription retinol and exfoliating products until the skin settles. If you use a prescription retinoid or another prescribed topical treatment, follow the guidance of the healthcare professional who prescribed it. Large blisters, severe swelling, or feeling unwell after time in the sun, such as fever, chills, headache or nausea, are reasons to contact a healthcare provider.

Victoria’s approach

Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria emphasizes responding to the environment your skin is experiencing. Cold winter climates can increase dryness, but very dry climates may create similar concerns at other times of year, so seasonal adjustments should be guided by the condition of your skin rather than by the calendar. As her own preventive practice, not a requirement for everyone, Victoria applies daily broad-spectrum sunscreen to the backs of her hands, and when driving she wears lightweight white linen gloves to help reduce continued sun exposure.

For sun protection, the Esenté range includes Derma-Defense SPF 30 from the Legacy Skincare collection and Derma Defense Z-Cote SPF30 from the Elite Skincare collection, both labeled Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Follow the label directions for whichever you use, including how much to apply and when to reapply. Questions about your own summer routine can go to the Ask Victoria page.

Frequently asked questions

About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.

Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.