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Maintaining healthy, hydrated skin is key to a radiant complexion, but there's an invisible process that can quietly undermine even the most diligent skincare routine: transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Understanding TEWL and how to minimize it is crucial for keeping your skin plump, smooth, and glowing.
What is Transepidermal Water Loss?
Transepidermal water loss refers to the process where water naturally evaporates from the skin's outermost layer, the stratum corneum, into the surrounding environment. This is a normal physiological function that helps regulate skin hydration. However, when TEWL occurs excessively, it can lead to dehydration, dryness, sensitivity, and compromised skin barrier function. Several factors can exacerbate TEWL, including:
Environmental Conditions: Low humidity, harsh winds, and extreme temperatures can strip moisture from the skin.
Skin Barrier Damage: Over-exfoliation, harsh skincare products, or skin conditions like eczema can impair the skin’s protective barrier.
Aging: As we age, the skin's natural lipid production decreases, making it more prone to moisture loss.
Lifestyle Factors: Frequent hot showers, exposure to pollutants, and inadequate hydration can all contribute to increased TEWL.
How to Minimize TEWL
While TEWL can't be entirely prevented, it can be effectively managed with the right skincare practices:
Strengthen the Skin Barrier: Use products rich in fatty acids to reinforce the skin's natural protective barrier. Tsubaki Oil found in Serum/Primer is rich in Omega-9 that helps strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier, preventing moisture from escaping.
Incorporate Humectants: Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to attract water to the skin, helping to maintain hydration levels.
Protect and Regulate: Protect the skins barrier with Serum/ Primer which contains ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil to create a protective layer that reduces water evaporation. Jojoba oil also helps to regulate and balance your skin's own natural oil production. Camellia Seed Oil mimics the skin’s sebum, creating a protective layer that locks in moisture. It helps repair and reinforce the skin barrier to reduce TEWL. Milk Thistle Extract contains powerful antioxidants that protects the skin from environmental stressors, which can degrade the skin barrier.
Gentle Cleansing: Opt for mild, sulfate-free cleansers to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils.
Avoid Over-Exfoliation: While exfoliation is helpful with cell turnover, overdoing it can damage the skin barrier and increase TEWL.
Hydrate from Within: Drink plenty of water and maintain a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids to support skin health from the inside out.
Protect Against Environmental Stressors: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to protect against UV damage, which can weaken the skin barrier.
Supporting the skin's natural function is simple with clean, multi-functional products designed to nourish and protect. Many of our formulations include hydrating humectants and barrier-strengthening ingredients, making them perfect allies in your fight against TEWL.
