BEAUTY WATER
The Latest Trend in Consumable Beauty Products
By Olivia Miller
Beauty isn’t only skin deep. An emerging beauty trend suggests that we should consume our beauty products, too. No, we’re not talking about eating your lipstick or drinking your toner.
We’ve been told that we need to drink eight glasses of water per day. But, what if that’s not enough?
There is a connection between nutrition and skincare. Water hydrates the skin, which plumps the cells giving us a younger appearance. Through the juicing movement, we’ve gained awareness about our ability to consume nutrition that are a boon to our health. People are more conscious of what they are putting in their bodies.
A new beauty category is filling up with options to satisfy our need to drink to our health. The trick is discovering the right products and striking the right balance for our unique body chemistry.
Basic Water
I’m not talking about the type of water that comes out of your tap directly from the local municipality. Basic Water refers to a pH level, a measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions.
Solutions with a high concentration of hydrogen ions are known as acidic solutions like battery acid or lemon juice. At the other end of the pH scale are the basics with a low concentration of hydrogen ions like olive oil and bleach.
Tap water is typically a neutral, which has a pH level around seven. While purified water drops into the acidic range at six.
It’s recommended that we consume water at a pH level of 7.5 to balance our inner environment. Our diet and environment affect our inner pH levels.
With a basic water, the idea is that we will be able to balance our system back to neutral.
The average American diet is heavy in processed and fried foods, which are overbearingly acidic. Neutralizing the body’s systems has the claimed benefits ranging from clearing acne to fighting aging signs including wrinkles. The combined health benefits contribute to a more youthful appearance.
5 Beauty Benefits
Basic water is more commonly referred to as alkaline water, which gives it a high pH number. This increase makes the water taste a bit smoother and sweeter.
- Weight Loss
Alkaline water aids in weight loss by cleansing the body of accumulated waste and acidity. Cleansing the colon is a tried and true way to lose weight. But doing so with a gentle change of acidity levels will lessen shock to your body.
As we all know, losing weight slowly is always best. Reducing constipation and fecal waste in your system will boost your energy levels as well to help encourage movement and additional weight loss.
- Immune System
Reducing acidity additionally boosts the immune system. When your organs are in balance, you will be less likely to catch the cold or flu.
Being healthy gives your body the ability to focus on improving your health that gives you the glow you crave.
- Hydration
Skin needs hydration to keep it healthy and to create elasticity to keep it looking youthful. When water is ionized, it not only creates a higher pH, but also reduces the size of water clusters.
The electrolysis process makes it easier for our bodies to absorb alkaline water at a cellular level. When our body and skin can hydrate easier, it glows!
- Antioxidant
Drinking antioxidants has been popular for many years, and for good reason. Antioxidants promote anti-aging by slowing down cellular breakdown.
The body absorbs vitamins most completely when it is in liquid form. Same goes for antioxidants. Healthy cells are less likely to turn cancerous, as well as show signs of aging.
- Detox
Once your body is neutralized, your system can naturally focus on what it needs to. Your body wants to optimize its efficiency. Let it!
Everyday we come in contact with dirt and pollution. If we are healthy, our bodies will be able to detox itself and rid the system of the pollutants. Once your system has pushed them out, your hair and skin will be cleaner and show the wonderful effects. You will look more refreshed.
Be a Science Experiment
Don’t worry! I’m not going to ask you to create a hypothesis, but if you just guessed that you are an acidic or a base, your hypothesis has been formed. Now, it’s just a trip to drug store. Simple, right?
Too much of a good thing also applies to alkaline water. The purpose is balance. So if your body is already higher than a 7.5 pH balance, you do not need alkaline water. The best water for someone with a basic pH level, is a neutral water or even an acidic water.
While, the science behind alkaline water is in its infancy since it is such a new idea. People with acidic problems like kidney disease, acid reflux, or kidney stones could benefit from alkaline water.
There is no one right answer for the ultimate health, but with acids and basics, you can easily figure out the balance that is right for your body and your beauty.
Before investing in and installing an at-home alkaline water system, test how alkaline water affects your body with bottled water. Most brands advertise their pH level on the bottle. Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water, Iceland Springs, and Essentia have the highest pH levels available.
Essentia is created by using reverse osmosis and rolling the water over ions to activate ionization thus artificially raising the pH to 9.5. Such a high pH is not found in nature enough to source for consumption.
Iceland Springs is sourced from a nature reserve with 8.8 pH water. The natural ionization occurs from a natural chemical reaction when the water runs through porous calcium and potassium. When it is sourced, it has been fully filtered.
At the drugstore, pick-up a pack of pH level test strips. Note what you are consuming and test your pH with the strips throughout the day. Test your saliva pH two hours after eating. Fill your mouth with saliva, swallow, repeat, and then place some on the pH strip. Your goal is to balance yourself enough that your morning urine and saliva pH is between 6.5 and 7.5 for several days.
What pH is your tap water?
Each county and city has a different filtration system for their individual source water. Test your TAP water with the pH strips, too.
Most likely your public water is a bit acidic or neutral.
Beyond Coconut Water
Beauty waters’ common factor is almost all of them use alkaline water. The pitch for beauty water is certain minerals and vitamins are hard for the body to absorb.
In water form, your skin and hair will be able to benefit fully from them so you can glow and shine. A nutritionist can tell what vitamins you are missing by looking at your skin. So, it makes sense to feed your skin from the inside out.
In the last decade, coconut water has grown to become a $1 billion industry. Coconut water was the first produce drink to take off as a sports drink replacement. Naturally occurring electrolytes hydrate the body just as fast as artificial ones without the calories or harmful residues, particularly red or orange food coloring.
The variations include beauty water, fat water, maple water, rose water, aloe water, coconut water, and alkaline water. Health gurus laud their potential and benefits. But, do they really live up to all of the hype? Or, are they just the newest Vitamin Water owned by Pepsi?
Maple Water
The second most popular hydration water, after coconut water, is maple water. Unlike maple syrup, maple water is all natural and comes directly from a maple tree. Syrup is created by creating a concentration aka removing the water and natural movement of sap. Sap in its natural state has antioxidants, vitamins, as well as a relatively low sugar that can be used as an electrolyte. Compared to coconut water, maple water has half the calories, as well as a lower sugar count and taste. Manganese for strong bones and B vitamins to improve metabolism. Naturally filtered water with a sweet taste.
Tip: drink maple water as closely as it would come out of the tree. Keep it in a cool and dark place at about forty degrees.
DRINKmaple (Saint Albans, VT)
Two Ironman triathletes, Kate Weiler and Jeff Rose, opened the company after discovering maple water while racing in Quebec, Canada. Both natives of the Northeast, they found the drink to be hydrating, refreshing, and naturally nutritious. (drinkmaple.com)
Vertical Water (New York, NY)
Feronia Forests, a Certified B Corporation awarded “Best for the World Environment Impact” in both 2013 and 2014, believes their water will impact the planet tree by tree. Sourcing from forest owners ensures a financial incentive to keep trees vertical. (verticalwater.com)
Happy Tree (Grahamsville, NY)
Brothers Ari and Chaim Tolwin founded Happy Tree in 2014. They offer cold pressed/HPP, organic raw maple water in lemon, ginger, and cold brew coffee. Happy Tree also offers all of their employees a living wage. (drinkhappytree.com)
Cactus Water
Cactus water is actually made from prickly pear concentrate, prickly pear extract, and water. A study at Tulane Health Science Center by Jeff Weise recruited 55 adults to drink in the name of science. They drank prickly pear five hours before consuming alcohol. The study revealed that an antioxidant in prickly pear extract known as betalains eases hangover symptoms like dry-mouth and nausea by dampening the body’s inflammatory response.
CALIWATER (Los Angeles, CA)
Inspired by the varied landscapes of California, CALIWATER founders, Melissa Reed and Matt McKee, sought to source prickly pear cactus fruit from local desert regions. The beauty editor of Allure magazine, Anne Bauso, knew the power of prickly pear extract and wanted to know its effects from the inside – out. She challenged herself to drink it for seven days and these were her results: “dewier, calmer… healthier and more glow-y” skin. (drinkcaliwater.com)
Watermelon Water
Watermelon water is like a cold-pressed watermelon juice. Watermelon is 92% water, high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, lycopene, and potassium, as well as citrulline, which helps build blood vessel health. Without adding any water, watermelon juice is naturally alkaline with a pH level of nine.
WTRMLN (New York, NY)
Jody and Harlan were seeking to smash their passion with their desire to make an impact. They soon realized that ugly, unwanted watermelons were discarded. Desiring to enter the healthy consumer beverage market, they discovered a product that also helped create a more sustainable planet, and turned a farmer’s loss into a profit. (wtrmlnwtr.com)
[EDITOR’S NOTE: As this edition went to press it was announced that Beyonce became an investor. “I invested in WTRMLN WTR because it’s the future of clean, natural hydration; as partners, we share a simple mission to deliver accessible wellness to the world,” Beyoncé said in a statement. “This is more than an investment in a brand, it’s an investment in female leaders, fitness, American farmers and the health of people and our planet.”]
Nothing in Excess is Good
Consumable beauty products should be used in balance with your body. Be careful not to consume too much sugar, which could throw your pH levels off.
It’s important to consume electrolytes when your body needs help recovering from exertion. Electrolytes are potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium and they need to be replenished when you sweat. Consuming excessive electrolytes can cause kidney failure, dizziness, fatigue, or seizures.
Every water is different and each has a different chemical makeup and benefit. Learn what best benefits your body from the inside – out.
About Olivia Miller