Beauty Benefits of Humidifiers

Most people have heard of using a home humidifier during the cold winter months for health benefits, like fighting dry air sinus attacks and dry eyes. What is less well known is how humidifiers help dry skin, which is why it has gained an increased following in the beauty world for help maintaining glowing skin even during those cold dry winters.

Do Humidifiers Help Dry Skin?

Most people reach for their favorite lotion or moisturizer without a second thought. Using lotion for dry skin is a great first step to keeping it healthy and to maintain skin looking great. The thing most people don’t think about is how to prevent your hands feeling dry in the first place. Humidifiers are great at keeping a room or home at healthy humidity level. Humidifiers are great at putting humidity, or water, into the air, that water acts as a natural moisturizer, helping keep your skin healthy. Keeping your home at a healthy humidity level is an excellent way to maintain hydrated and supple skin.

Do Humidifiers Help?

Humidifiers definitely help, infusing air with moisture to soothe itchy, dry skin provides a lot of relief. The ideal humidity levels range for health and beauty is from 30 to 50%. Anything over 50% can be unhealthy and would be pretty uncomfortable and feel swampy. If you’re not really sure on what your home’s humidity levels, then it’s best to think about picking up a hygrometer. Hygrometer is  a thermometer like device that measures humidity in the air. Many of the best humidifiers have an internal hygrometer that they use to measure the humidity in a room, and will often shut off when it gets too high.

Which is Best, Warm vs Cool Mist Humidifier for Dry Skin?

Cool Mist Humidifiers, or evaporation humidifiers, make mist that is at room temperature, by blowing the air with a fan. They can usually be the loudest option because of the sound of the fan.

Warm Mist Humidifiers, or steam or hot water humidifiers, put water into the air by heating it. They can add warmth to a room and a lot of people find them soothing. Warm mist humidifiers typically take the most maintenance since they have to be regularly cleaned due to possible bacterial growth. They are the most dangerous for pets and small children because there is a risk of being scalded or burned.

Ultrasonic Warm/Cool Mist Humidifiers are a great middle option, they can produce warm (though usually not to a boil) or cool mist and can operate just as quietly as a warm mist humidifiers, but far more safely. They put water into the air by shooting the water into a stream of mist.

If you have any further questions about humidifier types, feel free to check the post on our blog. Which type of humidifier is best for dry skin, really depends on your preference, all humidifiers add water to the air which helps your skin.

Is a Humidifier Good for Your Skin?

Yes, definitely during the dry winter, you want to be sure to seal in all the moisture you can into your skin and keep it hydrated. Using a humidifier in your home a great option to keep your skin hydrated. It’s best to try bathing or showering with warm versus hot water, as hot water can further dry out parched skin. You can also consider decreasing the use of soap on body parts that don’t make natural oils, like outer arms, stomach, chest and legs. Soap removes oils that otherwise help hold moisture. If you do use soap on those areas, consider a gentle product free of irritating fragrances. Then post-shower, apply a lotion to hold in moisture. Excited about humidifiers check out this Humidifier Buying Guide to choose the right one for your home.