12/18/2025
Say “EXPERT” in the comments and I’ll send you the details!
THIS or THAT: Hydration Edition - Are You Actually Moisturizing or Just Masking? 💧
As a nurse practitioner, I see so many patients who think they're hydrating their skin but are actually making it worse with toxic ingredients and barrier-disrupting formulas.
Let's break down real hydration vs. the illusion of it:
Hydrating Gels: ❌ Aveeno Calm + Restore (synthetic polymers, preservatives that can irritate sensitive skin, temporary soothing) ✅ ICD Calming Balance Gel (clean hydration, supports skin barrier function, reduces inflammation at the source)
Aveeno creates a film that FEELS calming but doesn't address why your skin is irritated. ICD works with your skin's natural moisture barrier to actually restore balance from within.
Facial Mists: ❌ Mario Badescu Facial Spray (mostly water, synthetic fragrance, alcohol that actually DEHYDRATES, minimal active ingredients) ✅ RIMAN Two-Phase Oil Mist (lipid-rich formula, locks in moisture, delivers both water and oil-soluble nutrients)
Here's what most people don't know: spraying water on your skin without sealing it in actually draws moisture OUT through evaporation. Mario Badescu is basically expensive, fragranced water that leaves your skin drier than before.
Real hydration requires THREE things:
Water-based hydration (humectants)
Oil-based moisture (lipids to seal it in)
A healthy skin barrier (so you don't lose what you apply)
Conventional products focus on #1 and ignore #2 and #3. That's why your skin feels tight an hour after applying them.
The Nurse Practitioner perspective: True hydration supports your skin's natural lipid barrier with clean, bioavailable ingredients - not synthetic fillers that create short-term comfort while causing long-term damage.
Stop masking dehydration. Start actually healing it. 💚