We understand that searching for the best skincare products can be tedious. We know it can be frustrating to decide which ingredients are suitable for your skin and how you can use them to obtain maximum benefits. This is why we’re here to help you sort out which ingredients should be an essential part of your regular skincare routine.
But, while talking about your skincare routine, how can we forget hyaluronic acid? This ingredient seems to have become the buzzword among skincare enthusiasts and professionals for all the right reasons. But, if you’re not well-versed with hyaluronic acid and how it can improve your skin, we’ve got you covered. This blog has everything you should learn about hyaluronic acid before deciding whether skincare products with this ingredient are right for you. So, let’s get to it!
What is Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid, commonly known as "HA", is a substance that is naturally found in the human body.¹ This molecule is present in abundance in the skin and holds water to plump skin up. Hyaluronic acid is a vital component of human connective tissue that works to keep the skin nourished, hydrated, and protected naturally. For this reason, it has become so popular in the skincare industry and is widely being used in all sorts of skincare products, ranging from toners and cleansers to facial masks and serums.
Why Your Skin Needs Hyaluronic Acid
With the whole skincare and beauty world going crazy over this skincare ingredient, you must be wondering why it is so special and why your skin needs it. Well, there are numerous reasons you need to add hyaluronic acid to your skincare routine. Like many other ingredients, the skin also needs an optimal amount of hyaluronic acid to stay healthy and perform its functions effectively.
Unfortunately, as your skin bears the toll taken by countless external and internal elements, the level of hyaluronic acid starts to decline. Therefore, you need to provide your skin with an additional dose of hyaluronic acid through topical skincare products to make up for the decrease in the skin.
This skincare staple is added to various skincare formulas, like cleansers, toners, facial masks, moisturizers, and serums. A hyaluronic acid serum is considered one of the most efficient ways of delivering hyaluronic acid deep into the skin. That is why we knew we had to include hyaluronic acid in our RYSE+SHYNE Facial Serum. This beautiful, lightweight facial serum helps hydrate the skin while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
Some notable benefits of using hyaluronic acid in your skincare routine:
- Restores Moisture Level - Hyaluronic acid shines as one of the best humectant ingredients found in skincare products. It’s best known for its matchless ability to draw or attract moisture and lock it into the skin. The smaller size of molecules facilitates deeper absorption of hyaluronic acid, leading to a strong hydrating effect. Furthermore, it retains moisture and prevents it from leaving the skin by strengthening the epidermal lipid barrier. So, if you’re struggling to find an ingredient that helps relieve dry, dehydrated, patchy, and dull skin, look no further. Hyaluronic acid is your best bet for fighting dryness and dehydration.
- Delays the Signs of Aging - There’s no denying the fact that we all dread the pesky signs of aging, like crow’s feet, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.² Unfortunately, it’s inevitable to stop the natural process of aging completely. However, using the right skincare ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, can delay and help reverse the signs of aging, helping you enjoy youthful skin in the long run. Hyaluronic acid encourages collagen and elastin synthesis in the skin to help ensure firm and plump skin. It also boosts microcirculation to the skin, supplying the cells with higher amounts of oxygen and nourishing compounds.
- Fights Oxidative Damage - Another reason you need to incorporate hyaluronic acid into your daily skincare routine is its powerful antioxidant effect. It works wonders to protect and fortify the skin’s outer barrier, enabling it to fight off oxidative stressors, such as free radicals, bacteria, and UV rays, more effectively. These damaging external elements are the primary reason behind cell damage, which results in all sorts of skin issues. Therefore, using topical hyaluronic acid, like a hyaluronic acid serum, helps prevent these problems from emerging.
- Soothes and Repairs the Skin - Hyaluronic acid has soothing properties which heal tissue damage and help to reduce irritation, discomfort, and redness. It does the job by accelerating the skin’s natural repairing mechanism, which speeds up cell renewal and regeneration. Its anti-inflammatory attributes calm inflammation and itching due to various inflammatory skin conditions. This property of hyaluronic acid makes it suitable for people with sensitive, dry, and inflamed skin.
- Enhances Skin Tone and Texture - Another way hyaluronic helps make your skin feel and look better is by targeting and eliminating a host of factors responsible for uneven, rough, and dull complexion. Various properties of hyaluronic acid promote healthier skin tone and texture. It amps up blood circulation to the skin, for starters, which provides more nutrients and oxygen to the connective tissue. It also helps to minimize discoloration and dark spots by elevating the level of collagen in the skin. Moreover, its intensely hydrating and moisturizing effect helps maintain a smoother, fresher, and brighter complexion. Consistent use of a hyaluronic acid serum can enhance the overall skin tone and texture.
- Prevent Acne Breakouts - Most of you might already know what acne is.³ This skin condition arises due to clogged hair follicles and the accumulation of dirt, bacteria, and excess sebum, resulting from several factors, prominently oxidative damage, hormonal fluctuations, and stress. Hyaluronic Acid can help reduce and prevent acne by de-clogging the pores and reinforcing the skin’s protective barrier. Its healing ability can also reduce the appearance of acne scars or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid Daily?
Unlike many other potent and possibly irritating skin care ingredients, hyaluronic acid is generally a gentle and safe compound. Therefore, you can use it every day, and even twice a day if needed. Just make sure you apply your hyaluronic acid products in the correct order to allow them to give their best and help you achieve optimal results.
Use your hyaluronic acid serum on clean damp skin and follow with other products. Applying it on top of your moisturizer, face oil, and sunscreen won’t let it penetrate the skin and will reduce its effectiveness and the ability to lock in moisture.
How to Add Hyaluronic Acid to Your Routine
You can choose from various skincare products with this active ingredient, such as hyaluronic acid serums, toner, moisturizers, and face masks. This gentle skincare ingredient is safe for use by people with all types of skin, even those with sensitive skin. The key is to look for premium-quality formulas with hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid can be a great addition to your AM and PM skincare routine. When it comes to your morning skincare regimen, applying a hyaluronic acid serum to cleansed skin is the best course of action. You can follow with your regular moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup after using the serum, and you’re all set to gain its skin-loving benefits throughout the day and one step closer to happy, healthy skin.
You can opt for a hyaluronic acid serum for your bedtime beauty routine or a repairing and nourishing night cream with hyaluronic acid. This will not just repair your skin as you sleep but also keep it amply hydrated and moisturized, so you wake up with radiant, supple, and refreshed skin in the morning.
Does Hyaluronic Acid Cause Any Side Effects?
We understand that the word ‘acid” in skincare products can be pretty frightening for some of you, especially for newbies. But, there's nothing to worry about when it comes to hyaluronic acid. As mentioned earlier, your skin has hyaluronic acid naturally and needs its optimal level to look and work its best.
As a result, it’s pretty unusual to experience any side effects or allergic reactions after using hyaluronic acid products. If adverse reactions occur, such as irritation or redness, it can be from a very high percentage or low molecular weight of hyaluronic acid. Furthermore, ingredients in other products you’re using with hyaluronic acid can cause side effects. So, be wary of what you use with your hyaluronic acid skincare products and how often you use them.
Final Thoughts
Hyaluronic acid is a potent skincare compound endorsed as one of the most effective ingredients on the market for its matchless properties. As a result, it’s increasingly being used in skincare products to keep the skin supple, smooth, radiant, and youthful. However, the best way to achieve its benefits is to use a hyaluronic acid serum rather than creams and lotions. We hope this article has helped you understand the benefits and uses of hyaluronic acid. Happy skin is on the way!
Citations:
- Ames, Hana. (2021). ’11 benefits of hyaluronic acid for the face and body’, Medical News Today. Accessed July, 28, 2021. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hyaluronic-acid-benefits#gum-disease
- Gallagher, Grace. (2019) ‘8 Proven Ways to Prevent Wrinkles’, Healthline. Accessed July 28, 2021. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/how-to-prevent-wrinkles
- Higuera, Valencia. (2020). ‘What is Acne? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention’, Everyday Health. Accessed July 30, 2021. Available at: https://www.everydayhealth.com/acne.aspx
