Sparkling water may seem like the next beauty fad to emerge, but its fizzy fizz is actually an essential ingredient to maintaining healthy, glowing skin. We all know water’s importance in purifying pores and increasing skin elasticity–it even reduces wrinkles! What’s key about carbonated water, however, is not its fizziness but what it actually does: “[Carbonated water acts as] a vasodilator which brings blood supply directly to tissue,” as explained by NYC-based cosmetic dermatologist Dendy Engelman; “This increases oxygen delivery which improves oxygen delivery which results in brighter skin appearance that looks healthier.”
There is certainly a correlation between what we drink and the health of our skin (beyond simply being hydrated; drinking too much can even contribute to dehydration), yet Engelman and Suozzi note that simply increasing water consumption won’t automatically make your complexion any brighter or make it shine more. Too much hydration may draw out vital fluid from tissues holding toxins and impurities from deep within, leaving skin looking puffy, dry or oily.
Therefore, it’s essential that we find a balance when drinking H2O. As a general guideline, try to start hydrating an hour before leaving home, and aim for 8-10 glasses total per day (plus other drinks or foods consumed).
Sparkling water may also help flush away gunk that accumulates on our pores, and beauty industry innovators have taken notice. Micellar waters and herb-infused cleansing solutions have all used carbonated water as a cleansing agent. According to Madhuri Agarwal from Yavana Aesthetics Clinic in Delhi–washing with carbonated water is an effective way of unclogging pores by clearing away dirt, makeup residue and oil build-up in them as well as breaking up impurities trapped within them for an overall deeper clean.”
And for those who prefer soda as their choice for cleansing their skin, a quick spray of bubbly stuff may do just as good a job–in addition to helping moisturizers soak in more efficiently. Engelman notes that sparkling water’s acidity may emulsify some oils, making it especially helpful in dealing with excess sebum production. “While it can sting a bit,” Engelman adds, it has worked wonderfully on her clients who were experiencing excessive sebum production: “the sparkling water dissolves the oils so it allows your cleanser to do its magic faster (here are 5 reasons you should start washing your face with soda). Follow Marci on Instagram or Twitter for daily beauty news updates or sign up for Allure’s daily newsletter for beauty updates from Allure!