The hydration revolution: there’s more to it than what comes out the tap

Heading into 2025, the most common resolution – set by 56% of people in one survey – was to drink more water. It’s hardly a surprise, given that hydration is currently one of the hottest wellness trends. From Stanley Cups – those oversized vessels with handles and straws, ubiquitous in trendy gyms, which double as yes-I’ve-had-my-two-litres statements – to the rise of ‘functional’ water with added protein or energy-boosting ingredients, hydration is an obsession.

But before you start chugging gallons of tap water, there’s something crucial to know: water alone won’t fully hydrate you. Replenishing your body with vitamins and minerals – aka electrolytes – is essential for optimal hydration. Without them, your efforts might leave you feeling less refreshed than you’d hoped.

Rejevenated’s H3O Hydration has been providing complete hydration for over 15 years and is a staple in thousands of customers’ routines today. It provides long-lasting cellular hydration from within, to revitalise both your skin and body.

Isotonic vs hypotonic electrolytes

It should go without saying that we’re not saying there’s anything wrong with water. Drinking your eight glasses a day is a great place to start for the thirst-ignorers among us. However, if you’re noticing that no matter how much you drink, you still suffer the symptoms of dehydration – including dry skin, tiredness and headaches – then Kathryn Danzey, founder of Rejuvenated, has an explanation.

‘Excess water can sit in your gut,’ she says. ‘That’s because it’s isotonic, meaning it has the same osmolality as blood, and doesn’t flow through the cell walls very effectively. Hypotonic drinks, by contrast, have a lower osmolality than blood, so they flow much more effectively.’

Hypotonic drinks, such as Rejuvenated’s H3O Hydration, contain minerals at higher levels than already found in the body, helping them penetrate your cells more easily. In turn, cells are more hydrated and healthy, and are better able to fight inflammation and flush out toxins.

Thirsty work

Electrolytes are the cornerstone of H3O Hydration. They’re already a mainstay with with serious athletes, who know that sweating means losing not just water but nutrients too – but electrolytes are gaining popularity across all lifestyles. Even if you’re not regularly pushing yourself to extreme perspiration, you’d likely still benefit from a top-up.

‘Electrolytes are important because they help create healthy fluid balance,’ says Kathryn. ‘We all know that we need water, but getting the water to where it actually needs to be requires nutrients. Electrolytes are minerals that conduct electricity – they’re small, charged particles that our body needs for optimum health.’

Potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphate and chloride are some of our body’s key electrolytes. Once they make their way into our bodies – either through food or through drink – they get filtered into the bloodstream via the kidneys.

A good electrolyte balance restores the cellular fluid level. ‘Intracellular water is the water content within the cells, while extracellular water is body water that is not inside the cells. An increase of extracellular water can cause excess weight and swelling in the limbs, imbalances in hormones, protein and minerals and lead to high blood pressure,’ says Danzey. ‘On the other hand, intracellular water is vital to help our cells function at their best.’

The benefits of balanced hydration go beyond quenching thirst. Proper cellular hydration can reduce cholesterol levels, improve blood pressure, enhance muscle function and prevent fatigue.

Your skin on electrolytes

On a basic level, skin cells that are properly hydrated are plumper, leading to more youthful-looking skin. But individual electrolytes also play a pivotal role in skin health.

‘Low levels of potassium and sodium electrolytes make our skin vulnerable to dryness and dehydration,’ explains Kathryn. ‘Calcium and potassium promote a strong epidermal barrier and cell regeneration, and improve the fatty acid content of the skin.’

Electrolytes aren’t the only thing found in Rejuvenated’s formula. The name H3O is inspired by the three key attributes of the supplement: hypotonic, hydration and hyaluronic acid (HA) – a powerful moisture-retaining molecule. Around 50% of the HA in our bodies is found in our skin.

However, as with most things that keep us looking young, HA levels diminish with age. A reduction begins at the age of 25 and by the age of 50 we’ve lost nearly half, according to research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

‘HA is a major component of the extracellular matrix – the framework that gives our skin its structure,’ says Kathryn. ‘Its gel-like molecule also provides a cushioning agent in all mammals for joints, nerves, skin, hair and even eyes. It has a unique ability to store large amounts of water – in fact, as much as 1,000 times its own weight.’ 

HA supplements have been shown to boost skin hydration, improve skin tone and increase epidermal thickness within a matter of weeks, according to research from the Skin Research and Technology journal.

Another potent ingredient you’ll spot on the list in H3O is resveratrol, best known as the antioxidant found in red wine. ‘It’s huge in the world of longevity,’ says Kathryn. But again, she was ahead of the curve. ‘I chose it because it's a really powerful antioxidant.’.

Research published in the Oxidative Medicine and Cell Longevity journal shows that resveratrol can improve the health of the mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells responsible for producing energy. It can also reduce pro-inflammatory markers, and improve glucose metabolism and even memory.

‘One of the biggest pieces of feedback we get about the product is that as well as skin changes, it has rid people of “brain fog” and improved their energy,’ says Kathryn. This isn’t a coincidence, but a result of the powerful collection of ingredients in H30 Hydration that work towards total-body health.

Cellular revolution

H3O was launched by Rejuvenated in 2011 but is still one of our most popular products. ‘A hydration drink was always in my head as a product that needed to be made because of how proper cellular hydration stops the body from deteriorating,’ says Kathryn. ‘I initially just thought I’d be supplying my family and friends. But it just grew and grew.’ H3O has now won 18 awards and is one of our most popular products.

Kathryn herself had been a pioneer in ingestible skincare long before Rejuvenated was born, pushing the benefits of nutrition as a beauty enabler long before it went mainstream.

‘Since the 90s, I was combining nutritional supplements with beauty treatments for clients. I was selling and training aesthetic laser equipment and knew eating well with treatments like laser could make a difference and improve aesthetic outcomes. People’s skin became more youthful and vibrant; it had more elasticity and was more hydrated,’ she says.

As Rejuvenated has expanded its clientele and its products, its ethos has remained consistent: support your health from the inside to radiate on the outside. The world’s collective understanding of inner beauty has come a long way in the 15 years since, as has our attitudes towards hydration.

With H3O Hydration, Rejuvenated has redefined what it means to look after your cellular health, combining cutting-edge science with a commitment to health and beauty. As you embrace 2025’s hydration trend, remember: it’s about nourishing your cells, revitalising your body and glowing from within.

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