The terms "hydration" and "moisturization" are often used synonymously in the beauty space, but they mean different things. At the core, Medical News Today notes that hydration is more related to water, while moisture is more related to oil. Hydration, as you can tell by the word itself, refers to drawing water to the skin, while moisturization is all about ensuring that the skin actually retains water.
The same thing goes for products that claim to deliver hydrating and moisturizing benefits. Board-certified dermatologist and Mount Sinai Department of Dermatology instructor Meghan Feely told Shape the key difference between the two. "Hydrating products hydrate your skin cells, i.e. increase their water content," she said, adding that, on the other hand, products that promise to deliver moisture primarily work to prevent what is called "trans-epidermal water loss" or water that evaporates from the skin due to external factors.
It's also worth noting that rather than thinking hydrating and moisturizing products perform different functions, remember that they work in conjunction with one another. They work hand in hand to keep your skin barrier healthy.
