Most of my life, I have been what I refer to as…a dehydrated sufferer. I have chronically dealt with dehydration and done absolutely nothing about it. Drinking water is too basic for me. It’s monotonous, I have to pee, and it’s one of those annoying daily habits that just never stuck. I have been in a cycle of over-caffeinating, under-watering - then crashing, unable to concentrate because I end up opting for another coffee instead of doing the thing my body is screaming for - drinking WATER! And then I have anxiety and wonder why! Does this sound familiar?
Plus, I live in Vegas. Just walking outside, my skin dries out faster than you can spell Sahara. Did you know the most popular reason tourists get admitted to the ER is dehydration? Dehydrated sufferers are everywhere! And they forget. They bring their bad habits of dehydrating themselves and create the perfect storm optimizing for organ failure and total body shutdown.
The more insidious effect of dehydration is chronic fatigue. It seems like America is pathologically tired, constantly reaching for a tonic that will give us a little bit more energy than the last. Mental clarity and focus are marketed towards us to no end in the form of pharmaceuticals and other synthetics. And instead of reaching for water, we opt for things like soda, candy, sugar, and more caffeine. Cravings for things like these can actually be an indicator that you are actually just dehydrated!
As an esthetician, people always ask me how they can make themselves look more beautiful and the number one thing that I tell them is to DRINK MORE WATER. And I see it in their face when I tell them. They’re not going to do it. I mean, it’s too simple! I get it, I’d rather pay a bunch of money for a cream or a lotion than to make an actual lifestyle change too! Drinking more water can’t be the answer.
Here is my take on it. Our skin is our largest organ. And I know from experience with my own skin, as well as treating clients, that the skin will tell a story on the outside of what is going on on the inside. Breakouts in different areas correlate to different conditions. This is the basic principle behind Chinese medicine, reflexology, acupuncture, and even chiropractic work. Our bodies are all one entity and how we fuel them has an effect on every single cell. Have you ever noticed a pimple after a sugar binge or dry spots after a long night of drinking? Imagine the effect of not giving your pores the basic building blocks they need to carry out their functions!
Not only do we have our skin, but we have all the fluid in our body, our mucous, and our eyes. Every single cell of our body needs water to operate.
But as estheticians, we are all about the skin. Drinking more water causes the skin to be plump, hydrated and can even delay the physical effects of aging by preventing wrinkles! Dry skin and aging skin are the two most common skin conditions that I have seen here in Las Vegas. Both of these conditions carry a similar treatment plan and the same prescription - drink more water.
I am inspired to simplify my routine recently by Alan Stein Jr, Lebron James’ mentor. He asserts that for any goal or outcome you wish to achieve, you should pick the top 3 or 4 daily habits that will help you achieve that goal and commit to doing those things every single day. Simple and effective. My goal with my skin is to be slippery, smooth, hydrated, and clear. And for some reason when it comes to water, I would think, “Yeah yeah yeah but then you have to pee all the time, you have to carry a water bottle, I mean the INCONVENIENCE. The audacity for someone to tell me to drink water all day every day!” But it is a fundamental aspect of any beauty routine. It is a building block that without it, we will all suffer the physical and mental effects of not having enough.
So here are my top water drinking tips! - (from a stubborn girl who does not enjoy drinking water)
Wake up - tongue scrape - water. Water is the first thing that goes into my body. It coats the stomach and really helps to get things going. Hydrating after hours and hours of sleeping is important. Plus, it sets the tone for the day.
Buy a cute water bottle. Having a cute water bottle makes all the difference. Mine has cute stickers all over it that are good conversation starters. You’re going to want to bring it with you everywhere. And a straw is by far the most important part of this equation, it just hits differently.
When starting out, keep track of how much water you’ve drank throughout the day. There are all kinds of estimates about how much you should drink. But instead of creating a commitment that you can’t keep or making some big declaration, just commit to drinking a cup or two more than what you drank the day before. Slow progress is lasting progress.
Get a humidifier - especially if you live in a dry climate. Water on the outside can be just as impactful as water on the inside when talking about beauty and the skin!
I break my water drinking into 3 phases: morning, afternoon, and night. I load most of the water I need in the morning because I don’t want to have to get up in the middle of the night.
Drinking water could very well be the single most important habit for long-term health and beauty! Comment below any tips that you may have!