What to drink for very dry skin? A guide to hydrating from within

November 9, 2025 •

4 min read

Approximately 15% of the water in your body is concentrated in your skin, highlighting the crucial link between internal hydration and skin health. Understanding what to drink for very dry skin goes beyond simply increasing water intake, encompassing a range of nutrient-rich beverages that support the skin's barrier and elasticity.

Quick Summary

Address very dry skin from the inside out with hydrating drinks. Incorporate water, antioxidant-rich teas, and nutrient-packed juices and smoothies to support your skin's moisture barrier and elasticity. Avoid dehydrating beverages like excessive caffeine and alcohol for better results.

Key Points

Prioritize Water and Hydrating Drinks: While plain water is essential, enhance hydration with drinks like coconut water, aloe vera juice, and herbal teas for added benefits.
Leverage Antioxidants from Tea: Green, white, and rooibos teas are rich in antioxidants that protect skin cells from damage and support collagen production.
Incorporate Nutrient-Packed Juices and Smoothies: Use fresh juices from ingredients like beetroot, carrots, and cucumber to supply concentrated vitamins and minerals that improve skin health.
Boost Omega-3s with Chia Seeds: Chia seed water provides essential omega-3 fatty acids that help fortify the skin's natural lipid barrier and combat inflammation.
Limit Dehydrating Beverages: Reduce consumption of diuretics like alcohol and excessive caffeine, as they can worsen dehydration and compromise skin health.
Support Hydration with a Holistic Approach: For very dry skin, internal hydration from drinks must be complemented by topical care, humidifiers, and a balanced diet rich in healthy fats.

The Internal Approach to Skin Hydration

While topical moisturizers are essential, achieving and maintaining truly supple, hydrated skin requires attention to what you consume. Very dry skin often stems from a compromised skin barrier, which can be supported and repaired with the right dietary choices. Nutrients like essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and specific vitamins are vital for this process, making the drinks you choose a powerful tool for skin health.

The Foundational Drink: Water and Water-Rich Options

The most obvious yet most important beverage is plain water. Drinking enough water helps maintain overall bodily hydration, which in turn supports the deeper layers of your skin (the dermis). For those who find plain water unappealing, infusion can make it more palatable and add extra benefits.

Infused water: Add slices of cucumber and mint, or lemon and ginger, to your water to give it a refreshing twist. Cucumbers contain silica, which helps with skin elasticity, and lemon adds a boost of Vitamin C.
Coconut water: A natural electrolyte-rich beverage, coconut water is packed with potassium, magnesium, and other minerals that help cells maintain proper fluid balance. It's a great choice for rehydration, especially after exercise.

Antioxidant-Packed Teas

Certain teas offer more than just hydration; they provide a powerful dose of antioxidants that protect skin cells from oxidative stress and inflammation.

Green tea: Rich in catechins, particularly EGCG, green tea has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Regular consumption can help protect against UV damage and reduce signs of aging.
White tea: Undergoing minimal processing, white tea contains a high concentration of polyphenols that help preserve collagen and elastin, contributing to anti-aging benefits.
Rooibos tea: This herbal tea contains alpha hydroxy acids and zinc, both of which support skin health and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Chamomile tea: Known for its calming effects, chamomile also has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin.

Nutrient-Dense Juices and Smoothies

Fresh juices and smoothies can be excellent for dry skin when made with the right ingredients. They deliver concentrated vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants directly to your system.

Beetroot and carrot juice: This combination is rich in beta-carotene (Vitamin A precursor) and Vitamin C, which help improve skin tone and repair.
Aloe vera juice: Contains vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that promote healing and reduce redness and inflammation.
Chia seed water: Soaking chia seeds in water creates a gel-like drink rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which fortify the skin's lipid barrier and reduce inflammation.

Hydrating Plant-Based Milks

For a creamier and more nourishing drink, plant-based milks can be a great option.

Oat milk: Rich in B vitamins, healthy fats, and fiber, oat milk can help nourish and hydrate the skin. Its soothing properties are also beneficial for sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
Almond milk: Provides a good source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps maintain skin moisture and protects against damage.

Drinks to Limit or Avoid

Just as important as adding beneficial drinks is reducing those that can contribute to dehydration and inflammation.

Excessive Caffeine: As a diuretic, excessive caffeine can increase urine output, leading to overall dehydration that is reflected in your skin.
Alcohol: Alcohol is also a diuretic that can lead to dehydration. It can impair the skin's barrier function and rob the body of essential nutrients needed for skin health.

A Quick Comparison of Skin-Nourishing Drinks


Drink	Primary Benefits	Key Nutrients	Potential Drawbacks
Water	Basic hydration, flushes toxins, maintains elasticity	H2O	None, unless consumed excessively
Green Tea	Antioxidant protection, anti-inflammatory	EGCG, polyphenols	High consumption can lead to caffeine-related dehydration
Coconut Water	Replenishes electrolytes, hydration	Potassium, magnesium	Sugar content varies, check labels
Aloe Vera Juice	Soothes inflammation, promotes healing	Vitamins, enzymes	Some people may experience digestive discomfort
Beet & Carrot Juice	Enhances skin tone, repairs cells	Beta-carotene, Vitamin C	High in sugar if not balanced with veggies
Chia Seed Water	Fortifies skin barrier, reduces inflammation	Omega-3s, antioxidants	May cause digestive issues if not soaked properly

Beyond the Glass: A Holistic Approach

While the right drinks are crucial, they are most effective when combined with a comprehensive skincare routine. For very dry skin, this includes:

Topical care: Using high-quality moisturizers and serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid can hydrate the skin's outer layer.
Humidifiers: Adding moisture to the air, especially in dry climates or during winter, helps prevent the air from pulling moisture from your skin.
Balanced diet: A diet rich in fatty fish, nuts, and seeds provides the omega-3s and other healthy fats needed to maintain the skin’s lipid barrier.
Lukewarm showers: Limiting long, hot showers can prevent stripping the skin of its natural oils, which exacerbates dryness.

Conclusion

Effectively combating very dry skin requires a two-pronged approach that addresses hydration from both the inside and out. By consciously choosing hydrating, nutrient-dense drinks like antioxidant-rich teas, fruit and vegetable juices, and electrolyte-replenishing coconut water, you can provide your skin with the fundamental building blocks it needs to repair and thrive. Moderating your intake of dehydrating beverages such as alcohol and excessive caffeine is equally important. This dietary strategy, when combined with a consistent topical skincare routine, offers a powerful path toward restoring your skin's moisture, elasticity, and radiant glow.

For more in-depth information on nutrition and skin health, you may consult resources like the British Dietetic Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, drinking more plain water is generally not enough to cure very dry skin. While crucial for overall hydration, very dry skin often indicates a compromised skin barrier that needs additional nutrients and topical moisturization to repair effectively.

Antioxidants in teas like green and white tea help combat free radicals and reduce oxidative stress that can damage skin cells. This protection helps preserve collagen and elastin, which are vital for maintaining skin elasticity and preventing moisture loss.

Coconut water is an excellent hydrating drink, especially after exercise, as it contains electrolytes like potassium that help regulate fluid balance. However, it should complement rather than replace plain water, as excessive consumption could lead to higher sugar intake depending on the brand.

Opt for fresh, vegetable-based juices or smoothies with ingredients like beetroot, carrots, and cucumber. These provide concentrated vitamins, minerals, and water content to nourish the skin. Minimize added sugars to maximize health benefits.

Both coffee and alcohol are diuretics, meaning they increase urine output and can lead to overall dehydration. This can worsen the flakiness, tightness, and dull appearance associated with very dry skin.

Chia seed water is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for maintaining the skin's lipid barrier. A stronger skin barrier helps lock in moisture, reduce inflammation, and protect against environmental irritants, which is particularly beneficial for very dry skin.

For maximum benefit, choose fresh, homemade juices without added sugar. Many store-bought juices contain high amounts of sugar and preservatives, which can negatively impact skin health over time.