The Wonder of H2O

My Holy Grail is not an expensive moisturizer that costs the same as the weekly grocery shopping. It's not an exclusive hair serum made from ingredients that sound like that they've been lifted by the pages of a science-fiction novel. It's not a fancy grooming gadget that has more functions than my smartphone.

Instead, it's remarkably basic.

It's the most plentiful substance on our planet.

It's the very same substance that makes up over 60% of the human body.

It's water.

H2O.

Water is my Holy Grail beauty product.

The beautifying effects of water are well-documented. If you want good skin, you should start by simply drinking more water.

Dehydrated skin will not only be itchy, and dry, it will also be look dull, patchy, uneven in tone, and wrinkles will be more visible. It could even result in an eczema-like flakiness. Why?

The key to this is 'cell turnover.' This is when your skin sheds its dead, outer layer, allowing a newer, healthier layer underneath to emerge. If this process isn't occurring, that dead skin simply accumulates on the top layer, leading to clogged pores, and an inconsistent, washed-out pallor.

However, with proper hydration, your skin will 'turnover' adequately. Taking on more water allows your body to shed the dead skin, and reveal the more radiant, even, and smoother layer underneath.

It's simple biology.

However, that is (literally) only skin-deep. The real magic of H2O doesn't lay in the purely cosmetic benefits it bestows, its true power lies in how it makes the human body operate at optimal capacity.

How you feel 'inside' affects you feel 'externally' - ensuring our bodies are sufficiently stocked up with water will ensure all our internal machinery is in prime condition, and will give you a boost that few expensive grooming products could match.

Water delivers oxygen throughout the body - it's the ultimate courier system.

It helps maintain blood pressure - without it, blood will thicken, and pressure rates rocket.

It helps keeps our nasal cavities open - without it, airways tighten, making breathing harder.

It lubricates our joints - without it, the ability of cartilage to absorb shock is diminished, leading to muscular pain.

It regulates body temperature - it cools us, preventing our skin and internal organs from over-heating.

It help form mucus and saliva in our mouths - without which we can't break-down food.

In turn, our bowels use it digest that same food - without which we'd suffer stomach ulcers, and heartburn.

It then helps us to flush out bodily waster - without it we wouldn't sweat, or urinate, and would endure constipation.

But water also increases cognitive function. There's a reason why students are advised to keep hydrated whilst studying; water assists in the production of hormones, and neurotransmitters, which play a key role in our ability to process, and remember information.

However, it's not just cognitive function; water can affect our mood. It's too simplistic to say that if you want to keep your spirits high, drink more H2O, but keeping hydrated can alleviate the symptoms associated with low mood.

Happiness is essentially is a chemical reaction in our brain, and occurs when our mind produces adequate quantities of the 'D.O.S.E' chemicals (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins). We can all do a huge amount to artificially stimulate the production of these chemicals, such as exercising, cuddling, and achieving tasks. But, biologically, our brains need to be sufficiently hydrated for the chemical reaction to take place.

For example, our brains create serotonin using the amino acid tryptophan. But, that can only be transformed into serotonin if enough water is present. Less water = less serotonin = less happiness.

But, dehydration can also adversely impact the effectiveness of other amino acids. And they don't simply ward off sadness, they also fight off related feelings such as stress, anxiety, irritability, and dejection.

Drinking water - literally - gives our brains the fuel to produce those chemicals that make us happier.

I could go on, and on, and on...

Physical health is directly related to mental well-being - if everything listed above is being done, the benefits you'll feel will far outweigh any superficial boost you'll get from whatever extortionate product L'Oreal are pushing today.

Water will make you feel you better, inside and out. It's our vital life-force.

Water won't enable you to life forever, but it will make your current life happier, and healthier. It'll do wonders for your skin, your internal organs, and all-round mental well-being. How many moisturizers, shampoos, and grooming appliances can claim that?

And that's why water is my ultimate beauty Holy Grail.

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