You wear the best clothes for your figure and have the cutest hairstyle that frames your face perfectly. But, it might make as much of a difference as you think if…

You’re dehydrated.

Don’t believe us? Consider the symptoms.

You might feel tired, and unfortunately, it may show too. You may experience brain fog, not something you want as a model. You need to be playing your A-game. Then, there’s dry skin.

That can make you appear ashen. Your skin may flake or peel. And those dreaded fine lines may seem more noticeable

Convinced?

How to Tell If You’re Dehydrated

Granted that some signs of dehydration aren’t specific to that condition in particular. A bad night’s sleep or a late night on the town could also leave you feeling burned out and flaky. The best way to tell if you’re low on fluids is if you feel thirsty.

The human body has a great way of letting us know when something isn’t quite right. In this case, the urge to get something to drink is telling you that you’re already up to 2 percent low on fluids. That’s a tipping point too…

You’re going to start noticing it physically and mentally soon.

Will Drinking Water Help Your Skin?

The next question you probably have is, will drinking help you look better?

It will undoubtedly make you feel better and more comfortable without this craving for something to quaff. If you’re on a photo shoot, that can help you focus on what you’re doing without the distraction of brain fog.

And how you feel goes a long way toward how you look too. Is it a long-term solution for healthy-looking skin?

Yes and no.

If you’re already dehydrated, drinking water will improve its condition, albeit, temporarily. The evidence that it’s a long-term solution for dry or aging skin isn’t there, unfortunately. The jury is still out on that one.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t stay hydrated. After all, your body needs fluids to function. Dehydration can cause some serious and even life-threatening symptoms like low blood pressure if you let it go too long.

You may wonder how much is enough?

How Many Glasses of Water Do You Need Each Day?

You’ve probably heard the saying that you should drink eight glasses of water a day. Your mother may have even reminded you about it. But is it true?

The short answer is…

Probably not.

Again, scientific evidence doesn’t support it—at least not the eight-glasses part.

Yes, you do need to get a certain amount of fluids every day so that your body can function properly. A lot of things go into what that amount is for you, whether you’re a model striving to look her best or not.

It also depends on what you eat. Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water. The good news is that they count toward what you need to get. If a salad with all the fixings is your daily go-to lunch, you’re well on your way.

The other essential thing to remember is that all fluid intake matters.

If you start your day with a cup of coffee, that’s an excellent start toward staying hydrated. Do you have a cuppa in the afternoon to pick you up? Good for you! Do you nosh on some veggies for a snack? Perfect!

Other Things That Affect Your Hydration

The chances are that you work out regularly to stay healthy and fit. Kudos to you for exercising! If your workouts are strenuous, you’re probably sweating a lot too. That can increase your need for more fluids to make up for the loss.

Where you live and its weather can also play a role.

Do you live in a high-altitude area? You guessed it. More water.

Is it hot and humid often? Yup, another glass of water is in order.

Is it in the middle of winter where you live? The drier air means more water for you.

If you get sick, you’ll also need more fluids. Your mother was right about this advice. The reason is that you’ll breathe more through your mouth than your nose if you’re congested. That means you’ll get dehydrated quicker to say nothing about sneezing or coughing.

The best way to gauge how much you need is to look at the color of your urine.

If it’s a deep straw color, you’re low and need a glass of H2O so it’s no longer a problem.

Tips to Stay Hydrated

They say that prevention is the best solution. That applies in this case too. Luckily, there are several things you can do to make sure that you’re always looking your best.

First, pay attention to your body. Notice the signs that you’re not getting enough to drink and act.

Second, prepare to stay hydrated. Have plenty of water on hand when you exercise and keep replenishing the fluids that you lose, preferably with a sports drink that contains electrolytes to make up for the losses of sodium and potassium in your sweat.

Your body needs those minerals too.

Finally, make it tasty. If you like cold water, keep a pitcher in the fridge. A squeeze of lemon or lime—or both!—can give water that added zip to keep the tank filled. Staying hydrated goes far beyond beauty. It is the essence of it both inside and outside of your body. A glass of water is just as important as the best