The acid in “hyaluronic acid” might sound scary, but it is not the acid we think it is! Hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient found in skincare to ensure our skin stays healthy. Read more to learn about the benefits of hyaluronic acid!
Hyaluronic acid is commonly called a humectant, meaning that is a substance that retains water. It is capable of keeping up to over one thousand times its weight in water! By using hyaluronic acid on your skin, it ensures that the skin remains hydrated. This water retention is how youthful skin can appear dewy and plump, without being dry. Hyaluronic acid works by binding water molecules to collagen, an important skin protein. Keeping water trapped within the epidermis is what keeps the skin looking full and healthy.
Products with hyaluronic acid are often made with water-based formulas so the hyaluronic acid has something to bind to on the skin. If hyaluronic acid is used without outside moisture, the hyaluronic acid instead pulls water from the skin instead, leaving the skin dry. Hyaluronic acid products should be well formulated or used on damp skin for best results.
Hyaluronic acid can be naturally synthesized in the skin, but the amount tends to decrease with age. Thus, skin can become dry and lose elasticity, which are major concerns in older skin. By using topical hyaluronic acid in your skincare means you can replenish these lower levels to keep your skin looking younger to longer. This is also seen as an anti-wrinkle treatment in order to keep the skin firm through hydration.
For its hydrating and anti-aging effects, hyaluronic acid is best suited for those with dry or aging skin in order to reap the most benefits. However, hyaluronic acid is non-irritating or triggers any skin condition, meaning it is a product that can be utilized by all skin types, as hydration is key for everyone’s skin. The effects of hyaluronic acid are usually short-lasting, as topical hyaluronic acid used in skin products does not have the ability to penetrate deep into the skin, but it is safe to be used in your daily skin routine!
Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient in skincare and it is encouraged to be implemented in your regime, but like any other ingredient, be sure to test the product thoroughly before using regularly and discontinue use if any reaction occurs.
Thanks for reading!
Written by Kaylee Barrera
Sources
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“Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-Hyaluronic Acid in Humans.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 Mar. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970829.
“Hyaluronic Acid: A Key Molecule in Skin Aging.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 July 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886.
“Hyaluronic Acid, a Promising Skin Rejuvenating Biomedicine: A Review of Recent Updates and Pre-Clinical and Clinical Investigations on Cosmetic and Nutricosmetic Effects.” ScienceDirect, 1 Dec. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S014181301833770X.
Pavicic, Tatjana. “Efficacy of Cream-Based Novel Formulations of Hyaluronic Acid of Different Molecular Weights in Anti-Wrinkle Treatment.” PubMed, 2011, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22052267.
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