The Difference Between Hydrating vs Moisturising Skincare

Wondering what the difference is between hydration vs moisture? Discover what it really means to hydrate and moisturise in the world of skincare.

Darlings, did you know that hydrating and moisturising don’t mean the same thing when it comes to skincare? Believe it or not, they’re two completely different things!

Discover the difference between hydrating and moisturising and explore the best ingredients to look out for each. Read on to UNLOCK the secrets to keeping your skin looking and feeling both HAPPY and HEALTHY with hydrating and moisturising MAGIC!

Shop all skincare

Magic Cream still life

What is Hydration?

Hydration is how much water content there is in your skin cells. If there’s plenty, your skin will appear PLUMP, BOUNCY and GLOWING! If there’s a lack of water in your skin, your cells will become dehydrated, leading to dry and lacklustre-looking skin. In this case, fine lines and wrinkles can become more noticeable. Thankfully, there are so many ways to help with hydration.

Drinking plenty of water can help to hydrate your skin, but water doesn’t stay in your skin cells for long. Applying HYDRATING, HIGH-PERFORMANCE products as part of your skincare and beauty routine is therefore essential. These products provide your skin with the hydration it needs and keep it feeling SOFT, SUPPLE and GORGEOUS!

What is Moisturising?

Moisturising is also important for PLUMP, RADIANT-LOOKING skin. It works by giving your skin’s surface a protective layer to LOCK IN that moisture and prevent it from evaporating. Hydration and moisture work best together, creating a MAGIC FORMULA for a DEWY-LOOKING, GLOWING complexion.

Hydration without moisture can negatively affect your skin’s moisture-retention which could allow the water to disappear from your skin, and while moisture without hydration may help your skin to feel temporarily smooth, it doesn’t solve the problem of dull undertones and you may still experience a feeling of tightness around the skin. That’s why both hydration and moisture are vital for skin that looks RADIANT!

How To Hydrate Your Skin

Your skin needs hydration to function well and look its BEST! Drinking plenty of water is really important but hydrating products called humectants are MIRACLE MAKERS! Using humectants in your skincare routine can help to reduce the loss of moisture in your skin and can be found in anything from cleansers and creams to serums and makeup.

Look for products containing hyaluronic acid, honey, aloe, alpha hydroxy acids and marine extracts. Hyaluronic acid carries up to 1000 times its weight in water and can help to regulate cell growth. Some of Charlotte’s skincare and makeup products containing this hydrating ingredient include the AWARD-WINNING Charlotte’s Magic Cream, Charlotte's Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer and for the lips, Hyaluronic Happikiss!

Another hydration powerhouse ingredient is polyglutamic acid, which is 4X more hydrating that hyaluronic acid! This is found in Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, a HYDRATING, RESEARCH-POWERED face serum for a brighter complexion and hydrated-looking skin!

Shop all hyaluronic acid-infused makeup and skincare

Learn more about polyglutamic acid

How To Moisturise Your Skin

When it comes to moisturisers, the best ones depend on your skin type. Lightweight moisturisers are best for balancing out oily skin, while dry skin requires all the moisture it can get with richer, more emollient creams. If you have normal or combination skin, you can afford to play around with different lotions and cream-based formulas to find the ones that work best for YOU!

The time of year also plays a part in finding the best moisturiser for your skin. During spring and summer months, you might prefer a lighter-textured lotion formulas, while heavier lotions may work best for cold and wintry conditions. In the autumn and winter, look out for products containing ceramides, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, almond oil or dimethicone.

Charlotte’s WORLD-FAMOUS moisturisers including the GLOBALLY-LOVED, AWARD-WINNING Charlotte’s Magic Cream, are perfect for moisturising your complexion. By making them a part of your daily skincare routine, you can enjoy moisturised skin that looks and feels both YOUTHFUL and RADIANT!

Shop moisturisers

Discover Moisturising 101

1x1 serum eye cream magic cream

Discover Your Perfect Skincare Routine

Charlotte recommends using Charlotte’s Goddess Cleansing Ritual to double cleanse your skin. Then, if you have time, treat yourself to a luxury face mask to SMOOTH and BRIGHTEN your skin’s appearance before applying Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir for a dose of INTENSE HYDRATION. Next, it’s time to flood your skin with MOISTURE. The AWARD-WINNING Charlotte’s Magic Cream really is MAGICAL. It’s no wonder it’s loved by stars and supermodels all over the world! Then, apply Charlotte’s Magic Eye Rescue cream to your under-eyes and Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir to your lips.

Build Your Own Skincare kit

Shop all skincare

Share article

Related Posts