Here’s where it gets juicy. Your outermost layer (the stratum corneum) can hold onto water. But only by trapping it with oils. Think of it like a sponge that’s been coated in wax. The sponge stays dry unless you break the wax.
Most water just sits on top and evaporates. That’s why lotion exists. Lotion wraps that water in a fat blanket so it sticks around. You’re not absorbing the water—you’re kidnapping it.
How Much Water Does Your Skin Absorb During A Shower at Piper Armit blog
The Quirky Science of “Soaking”
Did you know a dead person’s skin can absorb water? Yep. In aquatic environments, a body’s skin can swell up like a giant raisin. But you? You’re alive. Your skin’s living barrier says, “Nope, water stays outside.”
Even frogs absorb water through their skin. You are not a frog. Unless you’re a very sweaty, very confused frog. In that case, carry on.
