Painful foot cramps recently reminded me of how important it is to stay hydrated. When I’m under-hydrating, I also see the telltale signs in my skin condition and the harsher-than-usual appearance of the fine lines under my eyes. Nothing like foot cramps and vanity to motivate me to drink more water!

So, What Does It Mean to Be Hydrated?

Hydration is the balance of fluids in the body, also known as water homeostasis.The body takes in and maintains a steady level of water in its tissues and organs, down to the level of the cell. When you use or lose more fluids than you take in, dehydration occurs.

Why is proper hydration important? Because our internal water supply serves many functions, including nourishing our cells, muscles, tissues, and skin. It lubricates our joints and helps us get rid of body waste. It also regulates our body temperature. The average percentage of water in the human body reports that we are mostly water, with an average of roughly 60%.

Why does hydration awareness become even more important as we age? For one, our thirst and hunger signals diminish as we get older, so we may be less likely to take in enough fluids to maintain hydration. Those with dementia or brain injuries, like stroke, may experience a loss in their ability to feel thirst. Also, changes in our body composition (less muscle/more fat) result in less water in our bodies. Medicines that affect fluid imbalance in the body factor into our hydration status as well.

Even Mild Dehydration Affects Our Brain and Body

Many studies have found even mild dehydration can affect our strength, endurance and cognitive performance. Clearly, proper hydration is a key component of our health. Here are a few symptoms one could experience when under-hydrated:

• Muscle weakness
• Tiredness
• Light-headedness
• Constipation
• Dry Mouth
• Inability to focus
• Short-term memory loss
• Lack of alertness
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Dark-colored urine/low output
• Dry skin/reduced elasticity/dry lips

A simple way to check your hydration status is to pinch the skin on top of your fingers. If sufficiently hydrated, it should return to normal within about 5 seconds.

How Much Do We Need and What Counts as Fluid?

Many have heard the myth that you need to drink 8 (8 oz.) glasses of water a day, but one size doesn’t fit all. According to Active Aging the daily amount of water a senior should drink depends on body weight, age, medication use, and fitness and activity levels. As a general guideline, divide your weight in half to calculate your daily water intake in ounces.

Another easy and useful guide in evaluating proper hydration is to observe the color of your urine. Shoot for a pale straw yellow color. And don’t forget to increase your fluid intake when you sweat more because of hotter temps or intense exercise.

You may not realize that fluids other than water also count towards daily hydration goals, including your morning cup of coffee or tea. While you may have heard caffeinated beverages (like coffee and tea) have a diuretic effect (makes you pee), research suggests the effects are too mild to cause dehydration.

Liquids in foods with high water content, including fruits and vegetables such as oranges, watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and zucchini, also count toward replenishing our internal water supply.

Whether you’re a sipper or a gulper (sipping may provide more benefit), do your best to meet your hydration goals throughout the course of the day. It’s a good practice to consume most of your fluids prior to 3 to 4 hours before bedtime to avoid frequent bathroom visits in the middle of the night. Also, if you take part in high-intensity exercise and sweat a lot, you may need to replace electrolytes as well.

A Word or Two on Water Quality

Be mindful of the quality of the water you consume. Even something as simple as cleaning the faucet head you’re drinking from (helps water pressure as well) can be helpful in maintaining water quality. The following hyperlinks provide additional information that may assist you in evaluating your water sources:

• CDC Drinking Water Frequently Asked Questions.
• Choosing Home Water Filters & Other Water Treatment Systems.
• Is Bottled or Tap Water Better for Your Health?

All Living Things on Earth Need Water

Water is essential for life, our physical and mental health, and our general well-being. Hopefully, this post has accomplished the intended effect of increasing awareness around hydrating for optimal health!

Author’s Note: The hyperlinks contained within this article (or their subsequent hyperlinks) are for information and convenience only. The author of this article makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy of their content or the safety of their use.

Please Join in the Conversation:

Has dehydration ever affected your health and if so, how? Are you making an effort to properly hydrate daily? What tips can you share to help meet daily hydration needs?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Most claims on anti-aging creams sound like a sham, and for many of them, it rings true. This area of the skincare market is oversaturated with formulas that promise far too much and deliver far too little. That’s why it’s dire to rely not just on the brand’s product descriptions, but also on the feedback from fellow consumers who have already given a product a fair shot. 

PÜR’s Get a Lift Firming Facial Cream is one of the few I’ve come across lately that has received positively glowing remarks from shoppers across the board. Many users are comparing its formula to that of $200 creams they’ve used in the past, with some even preferring the more affordable find overall. People also genuinely just love they way it feels on their skin; one reviewer described it as “a feeling that is the perfect balance between a freshly washed face, and the feeling after a face mask.” 

Another fan that rarely writes product reviews said the cream “impressed them so much” that they just had to. “I have generally been a premium skincare snob for the past twenty years. Meaning if it did not cost at least $200, then it must be mediocre,” they wrote. “…now [Get a Lift] is my go to moisturizer. It feels rich on my skin and does give me a tighter and more even toned appearance. I get compliments at least two to three times a week. Lesson learned that great quality skincare does not always come with a hefty price tag.”

PÜR

PÜR Get a Lift Firming Facial Cream

The Get a Lift Firming Facial Cream is a ceramide-rich formula that swiftly addresses signs of aging while helping to keep congestion under control. It won’t ever clog pores and brings a lightweight, non-greasy feel to the skin. Better yet, it also doubles as a neck treatment, so you’re basically getting two products in one. 

RELATED: TikTok Made This ‘French Girl’ Perfume a Rarity at Retailers—Here’s Where It’s Low-Key Available

Its unique blend of key ingredients is what sets it apart from other formulas out there. Medicago sativa (alfalfa) extract protects skin from premature wrinkles, manihot esculenta tuber extract brightens and firms the complexion while linoleic fatty acids and oat kernel extract soften texture for a smoother, softer surface. Not to mention, 99 percent of users after a six-week clinical study reported firming-looking skin.

Make sure to check out with other bestsellers from the brand in your cart.

PÜR

PÜR Pressed Powder Foundation

For less than $30, you’re basically getting four products in one; it’s a foundation, concealer, setting powder and has SPF 15. It’s also packed with skin-soothing ingredients that help the complexion appear plumper and more lifted looking overtime.

Courtesy of PÜR.

PÜR 4-in-1 Sculpting Concealer

The concealer has the “wake up” effect for eyes, thanks to the added ingredient of caffeine in the formula. It helps revive even the most tired-looking eyes, instantly making it look like you got eight hours of sleep when you might have only gotten four.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

One of the best parts about scented body oil—besides the obvious skin-soothing advantages—is the pleasing scent it can leave behind. Aromatherapy is an easy way to soothe your nerves and calm anxiety (even if it’s just for a moment) on a regular basis, and slathering on a perfumed body oil post-shower is an easy way to tap into its benefits. Plus, you’ll just smell damn good to others.

NativaSpa’s Madagascar Vanilla Body Oil is a top-tier option; if you ever crave a “cozy, warm and unique vanilla scent” across your skin, consider it your next purchase. Not only does it contain sustainably sourced Madagascar Vanilla, but it also is packed with the brand’s hero ingredient, pure quinoa oil. The oil rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats and more, which deeply nourish dry, aging skin and bring it back to life. 

Per NativaSpa, the brand’s patented quinoa oil is capable of firming and evening out the skin within 28 days, since it brings a hefty surge of moisture and antioxidants back into the skin. While you can reap the same benefits with the Quinoa Firming Body Oil and Quinoa Firming Body Lotion, this vanilla-scented option leaves behind a sweet aroma in its wake.

NativaSpa

Madagascar Vanilla Soothing Body Oil

The Madagascar Vanilla Body Oil is “heaven in a bottle” according to one reviewer. “Yesterday, I tried the oil for the first time, and I could not believe it! The scent and texture of this oil is incredible, it is not cloying, and the oil is exceptionally lightweight,” they wrote. “I am in LOVE with this oil, and I will purchase it as long as it is in existence. This is a winner. If you are contemplating buying a bottle or two, take the plunge.

One 69-year-old shopper called the body oil the “best they’ve ever used” on their dry skin, while another reviewer said it “leaves the skin radiating.” Others confirm the aroma “improves their mood” while another said its the “perfect thing to add after a shower at the end of a busy day.”

Smell like vanilla all-day, everyday with the help of NativaSpa’s Madagascar Vanilla Body Oil, which is available for just $23. Make sure to scoop other hot sellers from the brand that are on sale.

NativaSpa

Quinoa Firming Body Oil

Nativa Spa

Quinoa Firming Body Lotion

Rachel Fuda’s Tropical Print Top and Skirt Set

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 13 Episode 7 Fashion

I recently received an invitation to an event where the dress code is listed as “Semi Formal”. To me, that can be interpreted many ways, which makes it a tough call on exactly what to wear. But after seeing the ladies outfits at Missy G’s Luau, I’m beginning to think that invitation was more specific. Like “Super Cute Tropical Print Top and Skirt Sets” required. And Rachel Fuda definitely understood the assignment very, very clearly.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop Her Show Me Your Mumu Top

Click Here to Shop the Matching Skirt

Photo + Info = @RachelFuda

Originally posted at: Rachel Fuda’s Tropical Print Top and Skirt Set

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Anyone with stubborn lashes knows the struggle of finding a mascara that actually makes a difference. Plenty of formulas out there boast “false-lash effects,” and while that may prove to be true for some, these options don’t necessarily deliver on short, stubby lashes (like my own). Finding a mascara that holds a lasting curl without weighing down the lashes throughout wear is the ultimate goal.

Shoppers with similar concerns consider the above achieved with butter LONDON’s Double Decker Mascara. It’s able to hold a curl that won’t budge on their “stick-straight” lashes, and can build layers that offer a “dramatic lengthening effect” without clumping. The formula brings a 200 percent increase in thickness and a 314 percent increase in curl with just one coat. In fact, it delivers on its promises so well that it’s currently sold out on the brand’s website—luckily, anyone can still snag a tube at Amazon.

butter LONDON

butter LONDON Double Decker Lashes Mascara

The transformative mascara leaves the need for falsies at the door; its interlocking nylon fiber brush latches onto each individual lash to length, curl and enhance thickness from the roots all the way out to the tip. It boasts a lightweight texture that won’t weigh down lashes, but perhaps the most intriguing aspect is that it is made with a unique curl technology that ensures any curled effects (like from using an eyelash curler) stay in place throughout the day. 

RELATED: This Facial Exfoliator Returns Rough, Dry Skin to ‘Baby Soft’—Even Shoppers Over 70 Swear by It

As one reviewer wrote on the brand’s website, “Just bought Double Decker Lashes mascara after trying every brand out there. I don’t write reviews, but this mascara is great. It does what it says it will do and definitely makes my lashes look thicker and better than anything I’ve used in a long time. Try it…..You won’t regret it. (Try the nail polishes too…Amazing!)”

The product also carries a 4.2 star rating at Amazon, where fans note it makes their lashes “pop” and that alongside its long-wearing capabilities, it’s super easy to remove at the end of the day.

“This mascara is pure MAGIC!! I get compliments on my lashes all the time since I switched over to this mascara,” shared one. “It makes my eyelashes look a mile long! I do have pretty good lashes already, but they have blonde tips. This stuff darkens and adds length to each lash. It looks prettier than when I had eyelash extensions.”

If nothing else has worked on your own lashes, consider giving the butter LONDON best-seller a chance.