Don't Get Low on That h2O

Let’s talk water. I know, I know… seems so boring unless there is a shot of vodka and a squeezed lemon in it, but seriously, drinking water is SO important. I know it seems like consuming water should be habitual and almost an unconscious decision, but the truth is- you are most likely not consuming enough.

Through the hustle and bustle of life, we end up letting the simple yet crucial necessities slide. Regulating our water intake seems silly and unnecessary, because, when our body tells us “I’m thirsty”, our reaction is to quench the thirst. Badda bing badda boom, done. Unfortunately, that is not enough. The goal is to not allow ourselves to reach a level of dehydration where our bodies need to let us know it’s thirsty in the first place.

As learned in third grade, our bodies are made up of 50-70% water. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t remember that, I totally understand. Who remembers anything from 3rd grade anyway? I was too busy making sure my Limited Too outfit was on point and planning out my life with Lance Bass and our five kids who would ultimately start a sibling pop band that I would manage, maybe even be the lead singer of, I don’t know. Doesn’t matter now, Lance clearly crushed that dream for me years later, so, whatever. Anyways… H2O. Since our bodies are made up of so much water, it only makes sense that we are constantly refueling. We are continuously losing water from our bodies through urine, breathing, sweating and our stool (grow up, jk I said ew too). Without enough water consumption, our body struggles to keep up with our daily activities and support vital functions. Staying hydrated helps your body properly release toxins and also helps your major organs function properly. What is going on inside of our bodies reflects immensely on our skin. For instance, Kidneys. Kidneys play a huge part in properly releasing toxins. Without releasing toxins through our kidneys or liver, we begin to release them through our skin. Not good. Think of your Kidneys as a car, and water as gasoline. As long as we are staying hydrated, our Kidneys do a great job at cleansing toxins out of our body through urine. If you’re not hydrating your body enough, the Kidneys begin to trap as much fluid as it can to support other bodily functions. You’re basically doing JUST enough to get by. Do you want to be basic, or do you want to be a bombshell? It’s your call.

-Benefits of h2O for your skin-

-As stated before, releasing toxins properly. Instead of releasing toxins through our skin, our body is able to release toxins the proper way keeping our skin safe from blemishes.

-Delaying the signs of aging. We all know this is one of my favorite benefits for anything. Consuming water helps our skin stay hydrated. One of the most common reasons for wrinkles is dry skin. Moisture is one of the most important things for aging skin. Also, by drinking a substantial amount of water, we are replenishing skin tissue which results in stronger elasticity. We want to keep the skin tight, duh. I don’t know one single situation where the word “sagging” is used positively. It’s a gross word, it’s a gross thing, and I refuse to accept it into my world. I’m not ashamed to admit that my goal later on in life is for someone to one day mistake my daughter for my sister. In a perfect world.

-Sporting a Radiant glow. Our skin is unfortunately the last organ to see water. Having enough water leftover to keep the skin hydrated is key to having soft and glowing skin. Water enhances our complexion for a heck of a lot cheaper than any cream or serum will!

-Using water externally- When washing your face or body, it is important to rinse with lukewarm water. This allows dirt to loosen up and achieve a deeper cleaning. Contrary to belief, too hot of water can actually be harsh on the skin causing drying. After cleansing with lukewarm water, you can do a final rinse with cold water. Doesn’t sound fun, but it's very beneficial for tightening pores back up once they have been cleaned. This will prevent them from getting clogged. Cold water also decreases redness of the skin for people with active acne or rosacea AND helps with puffiness around the eyes, creating a fast solution for dull and tired skin!

-Tips to Stay Hydrated-

Listen. Don’t make this simple task complicated. The golden(glow) rule is 8 glasses of water a day. That is about 2 liters and is a completely obtainable goal. Factors to consider however, are things like exercise and living environment. If you are sweating because of physical activity, or live in a warmer climate where you are sweating more, then increasing your water intake from the standard 8 glasses is necessary.

I personally consume a LOT of water. It wasn’t always like this and it wasn’t easy at first. I can say however, that my overall health and appearance of my skin has improved greatly since I made this a daily habit. My fatigue is MUCH less intrusive than it used to be and my skin looks so much more vibrant and overall healthy! To make sure I am consuming enough water I make sure I bring a water bottle EVERYWHERE with me. If I leave my house without one, I feel incomplete. I also purchased a water bottle that I love and can easily drink while laying down. I’m sorry, but there is nothing better than being able to drink water without having to lift your head or having to worry about spilling on your bed. ESPECIALLY if you’re hungover. We all know the thirst is REAL after a night of drinking alcohol. I’ve honestly woken up after a night of a few too many tequila shots, SO thirsty that I was crushing an aquafina bottle in my hands like the incredible hulk because I was drinking it so fast. Not cute, but it happens. Here is my camel bak, it’s basically an adult sippy cup, and I love it as if it is my child.

Another helpful, but weird thing I do to regulate my hydration level, is analyzing my urine. I’m sorry, this is a disturbing visual but it really does help. Your urine should be odorless and a very pale, basically clear yellow. If you are dehydrated, your urine will not only carry an odor (ew) but it will also be very yellow, and possibly gold if you have reached extreme dehydration. Do not allow this to happen.

Moral of the story is- stay hydrated, stay beautiful babes.

Peace.Love&Beauty