Hyaluronic acid is a game-changer for skin, especially when it comes to warding off the signs of ageing. From your 30s, your skin slowly starts to lose its natural moisture. This is when fine lines start to form. Your skin may start getting drier. This is when your skin needs an added hydration boost.
Enter hyaluronic acid - an ingredient found in serums and other products. This ingredient is a humectant, which means that it bonds to the skin and seals moisture into the skin. It is found naturally within your body’s tissue, giving your skin a plump, smooth feel.
What is it?
As we mentioned above, hyaluronic acid, also known as HA, is produced naturally within the body. Much like collagen and elastin, the production of this acid begins to decrease as we age. This results in the skin losing hydration, plumpness and volume. Skin begins to thin, which leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Other issues such as sensitivity, dull skin tone and a rougher texture also become par for the course.
Although HA is most commonly found in serums and moisturisers, it is also included in cleansers and other products designed to treat dry and ageing skin.
Want to know a little more science behind it?
In an interview published on Allure, board-certified dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D explains how HA works.
"Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin, [and] it helps to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin, so that skin can appear plumper, dewier, and more hydrated. The collagen in our dermis forms the structure of the skin," says Dr Shainhouse says.
She adds, "Natural hyaluronic acid is bound to collagen on one side and links to water molecules on the other, giving skin its plumpness."
How does it help your skin?
ELLE Beauty Directory Katy Young sums it up perfectly: 'Hyaluronic isn’t the stripping stuff we associate with "acids", but a bouncy fluid that occurs naturally in our body to lubricate joints, as well as holding onto moisture in our skin matrix.”
With the help of HA-enriched products, your skin will continue to produce its own hydration, stimulating moisture, reducing those fine lines, evening out your skin tone, improving complexion, and even warding off environmental damage.
This ingredient is typically ideal for normal, dry and mature skin types, but it can also be used if you have sensitive skin.
WHERE IT’S FOUND: Synthetically and naturally it is produced by plant and wheat fermentation
BENEFITS: Reduces visible signs of ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles, retaining moisture and plumping up the skin
SHOP PRODUCT: Active Brightening Facial Cream, Alpha Arbutin Serum, Retinol Renew Serum, Glow Turmeric Mask, Niacinamide Cleansing Gel
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/hyaluronic-acid
https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-hyaluronic-acid-skin-care
https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/skin/a35378/what-is-hyaluronic-acid-and-how-does-it-work/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-hype-on-hyaluronic-acid-2020012318653
