HYALURONIC ACID 101: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HYALURONIC ACID
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic Acid—AKA hyaluronan, AKA HA—is a clear, gooey substance that’s naturally produced by your body. Its main function is to help retain water and keep your tissues moist and well lubricated. In fact, it’s said that hyaluronic acid can help retain over 1,000 times its weight in water within the cells of the skin. Translation? It has a ton of great benefits, and moisturizing properties is definitely one of them.
If we already produce Hyaluronic Acid naturally, why do we need more?
Even though our bodies naturally gift us with a supply of Hyaluronic Acid only about 1/3 of it gets degraded on a daily basis. Furthermore, as we get older, we produce less and less Hyaluronic Acid unfortunately, that’s the time our skin needs it most.
So, the real answer here is, we simply need more.
Why Hyaluronic Acid is Good For Your Skin!
Hyaluronic Acid is powerful. It has a ton of benefits that help create beautiful, healthy, glowing skin:
- Hyaluronic Acid can promote healthier skin overall—hello, supple. Hyaluronic Acid helps your skin look and feel healthier, especially as you age. Why? Because it’s giving you a much-needed boost of hydration— the secret to healthy, wrinkle-free skin.
- Reduces the visibility of fine lines & wrinkles—Hyaluronic Acid helps protect your skin, which means that it’s hydrated and well taken care of. When that part is already on-lock, your skin isn’t busy fighting for hydration—that means increased cell production can take place. Hyaluronic Acid won’t replace elastin, but it will help to tighten your complexion and give those fine lines the hydration they’re looking for.
- Smooth complexion—this one is especially relevant for those who have dealt with acne or acne scars over the years. No, HA can’t fill in those scars on its own, but it can provide you with a smoother-looking face as a result of its tightening and hydrating properties.
- Prevents age spots and hyperpigmentation—Because Hyaluronic Acid increases cell turnover, it can help reduce age spots and pigmentation issues. You’ll find your best results when you pair hyaluronic acid with vitamin c serums and vitamin c boosters.
- Promotes clarity—you know how it goes with skin. When it’s fighting for hydration, it overcompensates to hydrate by producing oil, which can result in some seriously unclear complexions. That’s why it’s a huge misconception that oily or acne-prone skin doesn’t need hydration—in fact, they probably do! Hyaluronic Acid provides that boost of hydration that’s necessary to keep skin clear, doing its job, and miles away from any overcompensation efforts that could result in broken out skin.
How to Use Hyaluronic Acid
The good news? You don’t need to get injections to boost your Hyaluronic Acid intake (though, Hyaluronic Acid injections are a thing!).
Hyaluronic Acid comes in many, many forms—from cleansers to serums to lotions to creams to masks, there’s always a way to implement hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine.
The best way to use your hyaluronic acid will depend on your form of HA. If you’re going for hyaluronic Acid serum, apply this to damp skin and then use a moisturizer. This should help to seal in moisture and provide even more moisture for the HA to absorb.
