As I’m typing this, I’m having serious issues with my throat. It’s been feeling parched all day, and I have a nagging feeling that it’s not because I haven’t been drinking my fluids. But don’t you just hate sore throats? It feels like your throat is constantly being scrubbed with sandpaper, and no matter how much water you drink, it doesn’t seem to quench that parched feeling.   

But moving on to better things – let’s talk hydration for the skin.   

There’s no denying the importance of keeping skin well-hydrated, and here’s the clincher – even if you might not have all the usual signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles and dark spots, dehydrated skin is more prone to signs of premature aging!    

This month sees new products that fight this problem – the first is the new Estee Lauder’s Hydrationist Moisture Barrier Fortifier serum, and Hydrationist Maximum Moisturizer.   

Now you know this – one of the best ways to keep skin healthy and youthful is to keep it well hydrated. According to the scientists at Estee Lauder, Asian women have a thinner moisture barrier (woe for us), and because of this, it is vital to keep it strong so that the skin’s moisture level isn’t jeopardised. Weakened moisture barrier not only causes dehydration, but will also lead to damage that will accelerate the appearance of visible aging.   

The Moisture Barrier Fortifier serum targets this – and repairs and restores the skin’s weakened moisture barrier, while the Maximum Moisturizer boosts and maintains the skin’s optimum moisture level.    

The secret is an exclusive Bio-Mimetic Water that, according to EL, infuses skin with moisture right up to 24 hours. Then, there’s an exclusive Sustainable Moisture Complex to strengthen the skin’s existing moisture barrier. There’s more – a Ceramide Activating Complex to help the skin boost its own production of ceramides to keep that barrier strong.   

Next we have Biotherm’s hydration solution, which promises glow in a jar! The latest additions to Biotherm’s wildly popular Aquasource range (more than three jars of the Aquasource Non Stop is sold every minute since its launch in 1997!) are the Skin Perfection moisturiser, and Eye Perfection.   

The line’s claim to fame is that applying the cream to your skin is similar to having the goodness of 5,000 litres of thermal spring water!   

Skin Perfection comes with a sorbet-like texture that delivers an instant cooling sensation the minute you apply it on. In fact, Biotherm claims that your skin temperature will decrease by 2 degrees Celsius for a full 16 minutes! I must admit, that this got me wondering if I would be comfortable walking around with my skin tingling that long.   

Lastly, there’s the Eye Perfection is packaged with a tri-ball nozzle that is now a familiar sight with eye products that reduce dark circles and eye bags. All that same goodness is there, and this also moisturises the skin around the eyes to keep your peepers perky!   

The Hydrationist Moisture Barrier Fortifier is RM275, while the Maximum Moisturizer is RM190. Both are now available at Estee Lauder counters nationwide.   

Aquasource Skin Perfection is RM165, and the Aquasource Eye Perfection is RM150. Both are available at Biotherm counters nationwide.