Hyaluronic acid (HA) is among the most well-known skincare ingredients. Famend for its hydrating and plumping powers, it is famously mentioned to carry as much as 1000 instances its weight in water, which is why it is present in so many magnificence merchandise. There are HA serums, moisturizers, masks, and even hair products.
What lots of people do not understand is that hyaluronic acid could be rendered ineffective by consumer error. And, sure, consumer error is an actual factor. It would seem to be you possibly can merely pat on an HA product and head out the door, however the reality is that it is a bit extra sophisticated than that. To really be sure that your pores and skin is hydrated, you’ll want to know 3 particular issues. In case you do not, you would inadvertently dry out your pores and skin. Yep. Maintain scrolling to get the 411 from prime dermatologists.
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What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Noelani González, MD, is a medical teacher at Mount Sinai Hospital and the founder and director of Seren Dermatology & Aesthetics. She says HA is discovered naturally within the pores and skin, and it attracts and binds to water molecules. “It may possibly take in as much as 1,000 instances its weight in water making it very efficient in hydrating and plumping the pores and skin. The hyaluronic acid we see in merchandise is lab derived, and works the identical manner by attracting water to it and plumping our pores and skin.”
This is the factor, although. González says that almost all HA merchandise are gentle in texture, which implies you’ll want to apply them to your pores and skin at a particular level in your routine. “A very good rule of thumb is to use your skincare from lightest to thickest, so it ought to be certainly one of your first steps after you cleanse your face, whereas it is nonetheless damp, after which proceed with the remainder of your skincare routine.”
Tip #1: hyaluronic acid ought to be utilized to damp pores and skin—not dry pores and skin.
“Damp” is the important thing phrase there. You need to ensure you’re making use of HA to damp pores and skin—not dry pores and skin! Take it from Suchismita (Tia) Paul, MD FAAD, a dermatologist and founding father of Balanced Skin Dermatology and Aesthetics. “HA works finest when utilized to barely damp pores and skin, because it helps to draw and maintain onto water,” she says. “Making use of HA to damp pores and skin can improve its hydrating results. Since HA is a humectant, it attracts moisture from its environment.”
What Skin Types Is It Best Suited For?
Although it’s suitable for all skin types, includng sensitive skin, Paul says it’s “particularly beneficial for dry, dehydrated, and aging skin due to its hydrating and plumping properties.” The only time you should avoid it is if you (no surprise here) have a rare sensitivity to HA. “Individuals with extremely sensitive skin or those who have had reactions to HA products in the past should perform a patch test first,” she says.
González agrees. “That’s the beauty of hyaluronic acid,” she says. “Anyone can use this ingredient.” She recommends using it twice a day, every day to see the best results in skin hydration.
Tip #2: Hyaluronic acid should be locked in with an occlusive, like a moisturizer. If it’s not, your skin can experience water loss.
Just be sure to lock hyaluronic acid into your skin with an occlusive product, like a moisturizer. If you don’t, you run the risk of actually dehydrating your skin through a process called transepidermal water loss (TEWL). That’s when the air in a dry environment, such as an airplane cabin, pulls moisture from the skin. “Layering an occlusive or a good moisturizer over HA is generally recommended,” Paul says. “While HA draws moisture into the skin, without an occlusive layer, this moisture can evaporate, potentially leading to dehydration of the skin. The occlusive helps to lock in the moisture and enhance the hydrating benefits of HA.”
González agrees. “It does work best when it’s used with a cream on top, and that’s because a cream layered on top with ingredients like ceramide or glycerin will help seal the skin’s barrier and prevent any water loss,.”
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Are There Any Other Benefits of HA Aside from Hydration?
Scroll through social media, and you’ll see countless people claim that HA is inherently anti-aging. But what do the dermatologists say? Both Paul and González say there’s some real truth to it. “While HA is primarily known for its hydrating properties, it also has anti-aging benefits due to its ability to plump and smooth the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Paul says. “It helps to maintain skin elasticity and firmness.”
What Kind of HA Is Best?
If you’re familiar with HA, you probably know that there are different molecular weights to choose from. It might sound overly scientific and specific, especially for an average consumer to contend with, but both dermatologists say it’s worthy of your attention. Take it from González. “Our skin barrier is meant to keep things out of our skin, and so the weights and sizes of molecules and ingredients do matter, because if they’re not the appropriate weight and size they can’t penetrate our skin and give us good results. Hyaluronic acid is usually absorbed easily, but lower molecular weights penetrate deeper than larger weights. The ideal product will have different types of sizes of hyaluronic acid so they can penetrate and act throughout the different layers.”
Tip #3: Hyaluronic acid is available in different molecular weights, which affects its ability to penetrate the skin. Look for a product that combines multiple weights of HA for the best results.
Paul seconds this. “The molecular weight of HA matters because it affects the molecule’s ability to penetrate the skin.” High Molecular Weight (HMW), means the HA molecules are larger and stay on the surface of the skin, which provides a superficial hydration and barrier-supporting effect. Low Molecular Weight (LMW), on the other hand, refers to HA molecules that are smaller and can penetrate deeper into the skin. This kind of HA provides longer-lasting hydration and anti-aging benefits. “Oligo-HA has an ultra-low molecular weight that penetrates the deepest, providing intensive hydration and helping to stimulate collagen production,” Paul says. “For comprehensive benefits, look for products that contain a combination of different molecular weights of HA.”
The Best Hyaluronic Acid Skincare Products
SkinCeuticals
Skinceuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
We just lately topped this as the best HA serum out of a whole lot we examined due to its potent skin-hydrating and plumping advantages. It additionally comes extremely really useful by González, because it “has a excessive focus of pure hyaluronic acids and botanical extracts which helps improve hyaluronic acid ranges within the pores and skin.”
Gold Bond
Gold Bond Pure Moisture Lotion
Paul recommends this budget-friendly face and physique lotion as a result of it “comprises hyaluronic acid to assist appeal to and retain moisture, plus naturally-sourced grapeseed oil to assist lock in moisture.”
The INKEY Listing
Hyaluronic Acid (ha) Hydrating Face Serum
One other Who What Put on favourite, this budget-friendly serum options 2% multimolecular hyaluronic acid and peptides. Collectively, these hydrate and plump the pores and skin, smoothing its total look.
ALASTIN Skincare
HA Immerse Serum
It is clear to see why González recommends this HA serum. “It has a proprietary peptide that helps the pores and skin improve its personal hyaluronic acid ranges.” How cool is that?
