Hydrating vs Moisturizing: Difference and Comparison

Everyone wants clear and glowing skin, and to acquire that, we follow some skincare regime, but how many of us know the purpose of different skincare products?

Key Takeaways

1. Hydrating refers to adding water or moisture to the skin, while moisturizing involves trapping existing moisture within the skin.
2. Hydrating is achieved through water-based products while moisturizing is achieved through oil-based products.
3. Hydrating is more focused on providing immediate relief to dehydrated skin, while moisturizing provides long-lasting protection against dryness and helps to maintain skin health.

Hydrating vs Moisturizing

Hydrating means giving water to the skin so that it does not become dehydrated, as this can damage the glow of the skin, and there are products for this. Moisturizing means to lock moisture in the skin to stop water loss and keep the skin from being dry. Skincare products are able to do this.

Hydrating products give the needed water to the skin. With the loss of water, the skin can become dehydrated, and it damages the glow of the skin.

Moisturizing products lock the moisture in the skin to prevent water loss. A dry type of skin can be fixed up with the use of a moisturizer.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Hydrating	Moisturizing
Definition	Hydrating skincare includes products that hydrate skin cells boosting the water content of the skin.	Moisturising skin means enriching the condition of the skin by reducing water loss.
Benefit	Hydrating helps to provide moisture.	Moisturising helps to hold the moisture of the skin.
Weight	Hydrating products are known to be lightweight as it mostly contains water.	Moisturising products are thicker than hydrating products and heavier as well.
Aftereffect	Hydrating products make the skin look radiant.	Moisturising products make the skin soft and smooth.
Suited for	Hydrating skincare is for people with dehydrated skin.	Moisturising skincare is for people who have dry skin.
Working method	Hydrating products stoop deep into the skin.	Moisturising stays afloat on the skin.

What is Hydrating?

Hydrating your skin is one of the basic and most needed care for your skin. Hydrating products give the skin cells water and cure dehydration of the skin.

Not only does dry skin experience dehydration, but even oily skin can become dehydrated. And in such cases, hydrating skin creams come to the rescue.

Skincare products that contain aloe vera, honey, and skin-friendly acids such as hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid work as wonderful hydrating substances.

What is Moisturizing?

Moisturizing skin means locking the moisture in the skin provided by the hydrating. Moisturising skin is important for people who have dry skin.

Flaky, dry skin gets its repair with the help of moisturizing creams. These creams contain glycerin or ceramides to provide the best results.

People use moisturiser in the winter to prevent dry and rough skin. But all types of skin need moisturiser. Creams with vitamins and antioxidants work as a complete moisturizer that locks the water in the skin to make it glow.

Main Differences Between Hydrating and Moisturizing

1. Hydrating skincare helps to cure the harms of dehydrated skin, whereas a moisturising skincare routine should be followed by people with dry skin.
2. Hydrating products make the skin glow, but moisturising products make the skin soft.

References

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2008.00436.x
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocd.13543