What is it about hyaluronic acid that everyone loves so much?
Seriously, this product is adored by people of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds around the world. Even celebs Khloe Kardashian often snaps about it! There are a bunch of hyaluronic acid benefits for your face and skin, find out all you need to know below.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Our bodies contain the naturally occurring chemical hyaluronic acid, sometimes known as "HA", in practically every fluid and tissue, notably in the skin, eyes, and joints. The skin is where around 50% of the total hyaluronic acid is found.
Our skin's suppleness and hydration depend on hyaluronic acid. Unfortunately, HA's molecular weight and concentration both significantly decrease with age.
Nevertheless, hyaluronic acid has been extensively studied, as well as the many benefits of hyaluronic acid for your face, and it has been developed as a potent active component in hyaluronic serums, moisturisers with hyaluronic acid and other cosmetic products.
Ten Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid For Your Face
1. Hydration
Hyaluronic Acid = hydration.
Hyaluronic acid may be compared to a BIG glass of water for your skin. It can store water up to 1,000 times its molecular weight. Hyaluronic acid penetrates the skin, binds water to skin cells, and provides the skin's whole surface with beneficial, revitalising hydration.
With other products, pure hyaluronic acid serum may be layered. It also doesn't need a ton of additional chemicals or fillers to work. Hyaluronic acid is a prime illustration of how cosmetics with few ingredients may have effective outcomes.
2. Humectant
In skincare, you may often see humectants used. A humectant is basically a sponge in that it will continue absorbing and retaining moisture even after it has been gathered.
In addition, humectants can draw water and permit hydrogen bonds. Ingredients like glycerin, sorbitol (sugar alcohol), hexylene and butylene glycol, and hyaluronic acid are humectants used in skincare products.
Hyaluronic acid acts as a humectant, so it continues to take moisture from the environment after providing the epidermis (the top layer of your skin) with the essential moisture it needs. The skin will get constant hydration as a result of this.
3. Lipid Barrier Enhancement
The primary purpose of our skin is to protect the rest of our body. So naturally, our skin shields our internal organs, muscles, bones, and other body parts from the outside environment. In addition, the skin shields the body from the damaging chemicals, pollutants and rays we are exposed to.
The epidermis, remember that's the top layer of skin, over time can get heavily damaged by external factors (toxins). The lipid barrier, which is made up of fatty acids that keep water in and keep irritants out of the skin, which weakens with age.
In addition, various factors, including the sun's UV radiation, environmental pollutants and factors, and smoking, dietary habits can cause damage. More fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and drier skin are all effects of this damage.
Hyaluronic acid strengthens the skin's natural defences to aid in securing moisture for a more potent moisturising impact.
In addition, this may assist in preserving and strengthening the lipid barrier over time by slowing down its degradation.
4. Increased Resilience
Hyaluronic acid also reinforces and protects the lipid barrier, further enhancing skin’s ability to protect itself from environmental contaminants and age-related factors. So if the skin is not fighting these pollutants, it is less wrinkly, brighter and bouncier for longer.
A helpful reminder is that preservatives, which are included in many products, may damage your barrier by eradicating the healthy microorganisms that protect your skin's surface from toxins. Skin moisture is lost as a consequence, and discomfort or infection may even occur. Look for items with few preservatives and few substances.
A lot of people with oily skin or acne-prone skin like to use harsher chemicals to “strip” the skin of oil. Most acne-prone skin does not have a strong lipid barrier and this is important to know because it leads to irritation and inflammation.
For sensitive skin or acne-prone skin, pure hyaluronic serum is recommended as it helps moisture as well as protecting the lipid barrier.
5. Tighter Skin Tone
Let's face it, nobody wants sagging skin if we can avoid it - ever! Elastin in the skin breaks down as we age, causing the skin to lose its snap and bounce back.
Pinch the skin on the top of your hand to quickly test your elastin (the bounce back). You still have a lot of elastin if it snaps back rapidly. It won't be as fast to "snap back" as you age, that's just a fact of life.
Hyaluronic acid may aid with the look of tightness in the skin, but it won't replace your elastin. Hyaluronic Acid tightens the overall complexion by hydrating the skin. It contributes to a more youthful look by firming the facial features.
6. Smoother Texture
Hyaluronic acid smooths the skin's texture and makes it seem tighter. This produces a glowing skin that looks plump and feels velvety.
Hyaluronic acid won't cover acne scars that are visible on the skin. But over time, using hyaluronic acid with a beauty device like a derma roller may make your face seem smoother.
7. Less Visible Lines and Wrinkles
It's never too early to begin nourishing and preserving your face with hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a genuine substance that improves skin between the ages of twenty and eighty.
By keeping moisture in the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hyaluronic acid gives the appearance of plumping the skin. In addition, increased skin cell production may occur when the skin is well-protected and well-hydrated since it won't have to work as hard to stay hydrated. Skin cells become smoother and plumper as a result.
The skin around the eyes is one of the first places on the body where fine lines and wrinkles appear. Two times a day use of eye cream can assist in maintaining skin moisturised and supple and delay the appearance of new wrinkles.
8. Stimulates Skin Cell Regeneration
Hyaluronic acid helps enhance skin cell regeneration by providing the skin with more hydration and barrier protection, even while it won't hasten the process of cell renewal. This naturally results in healthier cells and a more radiant complexion.
9. Pigmentation
Hyaluronic acid also aids in reducing and preventing age spots and pigmentation problems when there is an increase in cell turnover. But it can't do this on its own. Hyaluronic acid should be used with a vitamin C serum or booster product for treating dark spots.
10. Clarity
When the skin loses water, oily skin overcompensates by creating excess oil to moisturise the skin. There's a common misconception that oily skin types and acne-prone don’t need moisture. This is not true.
Hyaluronic acid helps to keep a healthy balance of moisture in the skin, which can prevent it from producing too much oil that can block pores and lead to breakouts.
Some of the best hyaluronic acid serums:
Here are some of the best hyaluronic acid serums, our top favourite is Vichy which we've reviewed here:
These serums are all highly rated by board certified dermatologists and top beauty experts alike. They are all effective in hydrating, nourishing and protecting the skin.
These hyaluronic acids and serums may also help to improve the overall appearance of the skin, including reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of pores.
If you're looking for a hyaluronic acid serum to add to your skincare routine, we highly recommend checking out one of these top-rated products above. You won't be disappointed!
That's a wrap, now you know all the benefits of hyaluronic acid, it's time to add this one to your skincare routine if you haven't already, or try out a new one if you are looking to stock up.