system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does consuming water hydrate your skin, but putting water frequently on your skin dry it out?
gpt
The thing that keeps your skin "moist" and supple is actually the naturally occuring oils that your skin produces.

If you bathe too much or use harsh soaps or maybe alcohol cleansers, these remove the oils from your skin. Whatever water is in your skin then evaporates = dry skin.

Thats what moisturizing cremes do. They not only add more water back to your skin, but they also add natural oils to keep the water in.