Hydration vs. Moisture: What Your Skin Really Needs This Summer

in Jun 23, 2025

Summer skincare starts with two essentials: hydration and moisture. But what’s the difference—and how do you know which your skin needs most? Let’s dive in and build the perfect routine with Organic LEIGH’s standout products.

What’s the Difference Between Hydration and Moisture?

  • Hydration refers to the water content in your skin—it’s the plumping, bouncy feel humectants provide.
  • Moisture refers to locking that water in—a strong barrier powered by emollients and occlusives.

Visualize it like this: hydration = filling a glass, moisture = putting a lid on it. You need both, especially when the summer heat and sun try to dehydrate your skin.

Signs That Your Skin Needs Care

Skin Need and Signs You Might Feel

Hydration - Tightness, dull complexion, fine lines more visible, and breakouts despite lightweight products.

Moisture - Flakiness, rough or itchy patches, hydrating products feel “not enough”

Even skin that is oily or prone to breakouts can still experience dehydration.

Top Hydrating Ingredients + Organic LEIGH Picks

Look for humectants that pull in water:

  • Hyaluronic Acid (deep hydration, plumps skin)
  • Panthenol (Vitamin B5) (calms redness and locks in hydration)
  • Niacinamide (deep hydration, softening, and smoothing)
  • Aloe Vera (soothing + hydrating post-sun)
  • Marshmallow Root (hydrating, softening, and soothing)

Try: Essence Face Mist – a pH-balancing hydrator with cucumber hydrosol, low- + high-weight HA, niacinamide, marshmallow root, aloe & vitamin B5. It delivers immediate refreshment, hydration, and redness reduction. 

Bonus:  it’s perfect for on-the-go hydration - carry it to the beach, yoga, or wherever your summer takes you.

Try: Facelift in a Bottle - a luxurious oil-free gel serum that utilizes high- and low-molecule-weight hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and visibly reduce wrinkles, creating a remarkable lifting effect, with added Vitamin B5 for skin barrier repair and Pea Peptide for increased firmness and an even complexion.

Build Your Summer Routine

AM Routine: Lightweight & Protective

  1. Alternate Oil to Milk Cleaning Oil / Foaming Facial Cleaning Powder, or use them together. They gently remove impurities without stripping moisture. Oil to Milk Cleanser is enzyme-enriched with papaya, ginger, and cucumber for a clean, soft base. Foaming Facial Cleansing Powder is a unique formula that gently cleanses and polishes your skin, leaving it refreshed and radiant without stripping away its natural protective layer. Mix with water, Essence Face Mist, or Cleansing Oil to create a cleansing foam. Mix with raw honey for an ultra-hydrating cleanse or mask. 
  2. Essence Face Mist – immediately hydrate and prep skin.
  3. Facelift in a Bottle - plumps, smooths, and hydrates the skin.
  4. Nourish Face Cream – lock in hydration and boost brightness.

PM Routine: Repair & Restore

  1. Cleanse with Oil to Milk Cleansing Oil / Foaming Facial Cleansing Powder
  2. Essence Face Mist to rehydrate
  3. Optional: add Brighten + Correct Serum to fade summer spots with bakuchiol + vitamin C
  4. Nourish Face Cream for moisture repair.

Why Hydration + Moisture = Summer Skin Win

This dual-action approach - moisture retention and protective seal - not only defends your skin against heat, chlorine, wind, and air conditioning, but also prevents oiliness and breakouts that can result from dehydration.

Furthermore, it features a clean and minimalist aesthetic, perfect for those warmer months when your skin needs to breathe.

Shop the Summer Skincare Bundle and enjoy 15% off.