Hyaluronic acid, also referred to as sodium hyaluronate, continues to trend in skin care news as a powerful humectant being touted for its moisturizing and anti-aging benefits. Despite its name, hyaluronic acid is not acidic at all and ideal for all skin types to maintain and restore glowy and plump skin. In this article, we’ll discuss what Hyaluronic Acid is, the benefits of hyaluronic acid, and how to add hyaluronic acid to your skincare routine.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the body, providing hydration for joints, eyes and skin. It is renowned for holding up to 1000 times its molecular weight in water and also works as a humectant, attracting moisture from the inside out and binding it to skin cells.
What are the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid?
1. Deep Hydration
Hyaluronic acid at a 1% concentration is optimal for skin hydration. Sodium hyaluronate, the salt portion of hyaluronic acid, is a stable formulation and lower in molecular weight than hyaluronic acid enabling it to more easily penetrate the skin for long-lasting, deep hydration.
2. Plumps & Refreshes Skin
The benefits of helping to bind hydration and increased moisture from the inside out promotes the skin’s natural moisture factor (NMF) for plump and fresh-looking skin all day. That’s why so many rely on this essential daily skin care ingredient.
3. Boosts Effectiveness of your Other Serums
Utilizing hyaluronic acid in your skincare routine not only provides the ultra-hydrating benefits of the ingredient, but it also assists in the delivery of active ingredients across the skin. Use hyaluronic acid after application of your treatment serum(s) which helps bind the hyaluronic acid to the skin via the serums, to prevent hydration from escaping the skin.
How to Incorporate Hyaluronic Acid into Your Skincare Routine
While it’s beneficial to purchase a product that already contains hyaluronic acid, having it available on hand to add to any skin care routine helps to enhance the results of increased moisture when used as suggested. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate hyaluronic acid into your routine.
- Apply Directly or Add to Moisturizer
When you buy pure hyaluronic acid in serum form, you can choose to either add it to a preferred moisturizer or directly to the skin following your serum(s) to bind to the moisture from within your skin. When choosing to mix the hyaluronic acid serum with a moisturizer, choose a water-based cream to allow for the binding of the hyaluronic acid to the water molecules of the product.
- Lock in the Moisture!
The key is to remember to follow the application of hyaluronic acid with an occlusive product such as a facial oil and/or preferred moisturizer to lock in and seal over the humectant. This step ensures that you can avoid having moisture pulled away and out of the skin.
- Pro Tip for Sensitive Skin
Timeless’ Esthetician, Shelly, offers a valuable pro tip for sensitive skin; use Hyaluronic Acid 100% Pure prior to any stimulating serum(s) to prep the skin and serve as a buffer to minimize any potential sensitivity.
How to use this ingredient is crucial to ensure good long-term results. A hyaluronic acid serum is an effective, easy to use product as it works well with any skin care ingredient. Choosing to add hyaluronic acid to your skin care routine helps to combat the factors that deplete skin’s natural moisture and keep your skin hydrated and refreshed all day long!
