Hyaluronic acid- kind of a scary name for something that’s to be used on the face isn’t it? Despite its name, this ingredient has quickly become a staple in new beauty products today. Suddenly, everything is injected with it. Hyaluronic acid has now become to the beauty industry what avocado is to the F&B industry; products seem more appealing when they read hyaluronic acid due to its multi-use and open-ended benefits. So, what is it? Why is it such a sought-after product? Read along as we discuss the top 5 benefits of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally produced by your skin. Yes, you read that right, that ‘liquid gold’ is already present in your body, mainly in your skin, connective tissue and eyes. It’s known for its unmatched ability to retain over 1000x its weight in moisture, locking in that water and keeping your skin hydrated and supple-looking, giving it that dewy effect.
When you think of hydration, your number one go-to should be hyaluronic acid. As we mentioned before, its ability to maintain your skin’s moisture is its star quality. It penetrates the skin easily and so is very well absorbed when applied topically, fully hydrating the skin.
Similar to collagen and elastin, the amount of naturally occurring hyaluronic acid in our skin decreases with age causing our skin to get dehydrated more easily. Using products containing hyaluronic acid, which is also known as a humectant (meaning it will continue to draw in moisture from the environment long after being applied) will help attract water to our skin and substitute for the lack of moisture our skin is able to hold as we get older, combatting signs of aging like wrinkles, increasing our skin’s elasticity and firmness. Think of it as an uplift to your skin, boosting plumpness in your face and reducing the appearance of fine lines, especially around the eyes.
Even though it has the word acid, this ultra-hydrating ingredient is safe for all skin types, benefiting dry skin types the most. It is non-irritable and doesn’t generally cause acne, rosacea or any allergic skin reactions. If you think about, something your own body produces cannot possibly be harmful to your skin. If any adverse effects are seen, it could most probably be a reaction to another active or inactive ingredient present.
Apart from offering extra hydration, hyaluronic acid promotes skin cell regeneration by also giving an extra barrier of protection, allowing your skin to fight any toxins to penetrate through outside pollutants. This leads to healthier cells, enabling your skin to look bouncier and your complexion to maintain its vibrance longer.
When added to ingredients like Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid can really help eliminate blemishes and dark spots due to pigmentation issues like hyper-pigmentation, experienced by the skin.
Hyaluronic acid is best used right after applying your toner, while your skin is still damp, and right before applying your moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid-containing products that we personally love are the Natavis, Vitamin C Serum and the Rhea, Hyaluronic Acid Serum.