Most of us grow up thinking of a humidifier as something our mom would put in our room when we were sick. In fact, humidifiers are useful for a lot more than that, especially when it comes to our skin. They’re actually wonderful skin care tools that not only help your skin look better but feel better, too. That’s why, in this article, we’ll talk about what humidifiers are, what humidifiers do for the skin (especially dry skin), and go over some great humidifiers you can purchase for use at home.
IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: Humidifiers are tremendously helpful in restoring hydration to dry, uncomfortable skin, especially in the winter months.
Good to Know: Humidifiers don’t replace skin care products like moisturizers, so make sure you’re still following your regular skin care routine.
Recommended Products: H2 Oh Yeah Hydrating Moisturizer.
What Does a Humidifier Do?
As you may or may not know, a humidifier is basically a device that turns water into steam with the purpose of increasing the amount of water in the air. Most of us probably know of it as something used to hydrate the air when we’re sick to help clear out our sinus and respiratory systems, but humidifier benefits for skin are numerous, as we’ll see below.
Humidifier Benefits for Skin
Even if you don’t have dry skin, you probably know the feeling–the weather turns cold and suddenly your skin feels like sandpaper. Dry, itchy, maybe even flakey. Between the cold air outside and the way heating systems dry out the air indoors, it’s hard to escape the feeling. That’s where a humidifier comes in handy. It can help restore water in the air, thus benefiting your dry, dehydrated skin. It’s also a great anti-aging tool, because whenever hydration is restored to the skin, it helps make fine lines and wrinkles less visible. Finally, if you’ve ever used a humidifier, you know it can also help restore your skin’s natural glow!
Are Humidifiers and Facial Steamers the Same Thing?
Not really. Facial steamers are really meant to prepare the skin for a deep cleansing, while humidifiers are meant to add humidity to the air. That doesn’t mean that humidifiers don’t help your skin–they do, tremendously, by restoring hydration to the skin. They just don’t work the same way as a facial steamer and are not meant to be used the same way you might use a facial steamer.
How To Use a Humidifier for Skin Care
Here’s the great news about how to use a humidifier for skin care: all you have to do — literally — is fill it with water and turn it on! You can keep it on at night and let it work while you’re sleeping or put it on a desk and let it work while you’re working. Just make sure it’s far away from your electronics , as it essentially sprays water into the air.
Who Should Use a Humidifier?
The easy answer here is everyone, as we could benefit from well-hydrating skin during dry, cold weather. Even those with oily will benefit from using a humidifier, as oil-rich skin can still become dehydrated (aka, lacking water)! A humidifier for people with dry skin in particular is crucial, especially during the winter, as cold weather can exacerbate dry skin. That said, it’s also crucial to use a great moisturizer regularly, such as our new, H2 Oh Yeah hydrating moisturizer which delivers deep, long-lasting hydration. Made with aloe vera, glycerin, and sea buckthorn oil, it’s the perfect moisturizer to calm and relieve dry, dehydrated skin.
Great Humidifier Options To Buy
Humidifiers come in just about every style and option you can think of, and at just about every price point. Here are a few of our favorite humidifiers :
1. HoMedics: TotalComfort Deluxe Ultrasonic Humidifier
One of the best ways to use a humidifier is to leave it overnight while you sleep & your skin can absorb the hydration, which is why we love this version. Complete with a nightlight and an automatic shut-off feature, you can set it and forget it. Not only that, but it’s very quiet so it won’t disturb your sleep.
2. Objecto: W7 Hybrid Humidifier
If you’re looking for a design-conscious option, this humidifier is for you! With a sleek, modern design that looks like it came from a museum shop, this humidifier is the perfect solution.
3. Color You: Cool Mist Humidifier
If you need a humidifier that doubles as a diffuser, this is a great choice. Not only does it have a diffuser for the aroma of your choice, but it even has a color-changing night light and an “intermittent mist” feature that lets you distribute hydration in spurts so it works longer. In addition to a great design, it’s also small enough to move from room to room.
4. Papoper: Portable Small Humidifier
Looking for a cute little diffuser to keep on your desk at work? This one is perfect! It’s small, but mighty and is known for being super quiet so you don’t disturb your co-workers. It will mist continuously for six hours so you can just about make it through the work day without refilling.
5. Pure Enrichment: MistAire Cloud
Believe it or not, kids get dry skin, too, which is why it’s so important to keep their rooms hydrated. To keep them from resisting using one, try this little cloud-shaped humidifier that lasts up to 24 hours.
6. MiLiN Cool Mist Humidifier
If you need a humidifier for a large space like a family room or living room, this is a great choice. With an 8-hour timer, sleep mode, and three different mist levels, it’s perfect for family use. Not only that, but it runs for 40 hours so you can almost literally keep it on for days at a time. It’s also very easy to see when the water levels are low so you don’t run out unexpectedly.
7. OURRY Mini Portable Humidifier
If you want to take your humidifier everywhere–and we mean everywhere–the car, work, camping, etc.–this is perfect! This tiny battery-operated humidifier will fill any small area with moisture and is super quiet so it won’t disturb the people around you. It even plugs into a USB port so you always have a way to recharge it. Once it’s charged, all you have to do is put it in a glass or water (or even a water bottle) and you’re all set.
8. Hupro LED Humidifiers
If you’re looking for something with both warm and cool air, this is a great solution! This humidifier also has an air ionization process that removes dust, pollen, smoke, and other allergens from the air. It comes with a remote control and a feature that tracks the humidity in the room and keeps it between 40% and 70%.
We hope this article explains why humidifiers for skin work so well; perhaps we’ve even inspired you to get one. It really is one of those items everyone should have in their skin care toolbox!
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