The best drink for hydration and glowing skin (it's not water!)

Photo: Hailey Bieber/ Instagram

We all know by now: drinking enough water is a basic (and irreplaceable) step for hydrated, healthy skin. But according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there's another drink that most of us have in our fridge that hydrates even better than water: milk!

Dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman explains that milk is especially effective as a source of hydration because of its nutritional composition. It contains electrolytes like potassium and sodium, carbohydrates, and protein, which help the body retain fluids longer. This means that the fluids don't leave the stomach immediately, giving the body more time to absorb them, better than with regular water.

In addition to hydrating, milk is rich in vitamins like B12 and riboflavin, as well as amino acids that help repair skin cells. In fact, according to Dr. Kopelman, it's so effective that in some cases it can hydrate better than isotonic sports drinks.

And yes, the legends about Cleopatra's milk baths start to make more sense now.

Is drinking milk the secret to glowing skin?

While regular milk consumption can help hydrate and improve the skin's natural glow, Dr. Kopelman emphasizes that this is not a universal magic solution.

"As a dermatologist, I always remind patients that internal hydration has an impact on the skin, but it's only one piece of the puzzle," she says.

If you are among those who are sensitive to dairy products, suffer from hormonal acne or other inflammatory skin problems, milk may be more of a problem than a solution.

But for the rest of you, drinking milk is a nice bonus to your self-care routine, not a replacement for it. So yes, increasing your milk intake may give you more glow, but you'll still need a minimal skincare routine to see any real difference.

If you're vegan or simply don't drink animal products, don't worry, plant-based milks like oat or soy are often fortified with similar vitamins and minerals.