Hyaluronic acid is a type of sugar molecule that is naturally part of the skin and our connective tissue. A single hyaluronic acid molecule can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water and gradually release it into the skin. As a result, the fabric keeps your skin constantly moisturizing for a longer period of time.
Elasticity
This is first of all great because it keeps your skin nourished for a long time, but it is also important for the aging of your skin. Moisture keeps the skin elastic and the more elastic the skin, the fewer wrinkles arise. And the older we get, the less hyaluronic acid our skin produces on its own. It certainly does not hurt to use a cream to which it has been added.
Because hyaluronic acid can retain moisture for a while, it makes the skin firmer. This makes the skin appear more plump, as it were, and hyaluronic acid optically fades lines and wrinkles. For that reason, hyaluronic acid is also one of the main ingredients in fillers to make the skin appear tighter.
Other properties of hyluronic acid
Besides the fact that hyaluronic acid is a topper in the field of the moisture balance of the skin, the fabric has even more fine properties. It also works as an antioxidant: that is, it helps the skin to protect itself against the damage of toxic substances. In addition, hyaluronic acid has an antibacterial effect, which promotes the healing of wounds.
Salicylic acid
Hyaluronic acid should not be confused with salicylic acid. The two acids could not be further apart: salicylic acid is often used in peels and actually removes the skin from all kinds of substances, hyaluronic acid adds a healthy substance to the skin. And unlike some other ingredients in skin care, there really isn’t a single skin type that can’t stand hyaluronic acid. This is because, as mentioned, the substance occurs naturally in our body and can therefore be absorbed well if it is applied in the form of skin care.
Products with Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid is used in a wide variety of skin care products. From cleansers to serums and creams, hyaluronic acid is making a comeback. What you can pay attention to when purchasing such products is the percentage of pure hyaluronic acid. The older you get, the more you can benefit from a higher percentage of hyaluronic acid. Also useful to know if you want to purchase a product with hyaluronic acid: sometimes the name sodium hyaluronate or sodium hyaluronic acid is mentioned on the packaging instead of hyaluronic acid. hyaluronic acid† Both are another name for hyaluronic acid. You can usually find products with hyluronic acid at the more high end brands, but nowadays drugstore brands also have products with the wonder substance in their range.
Source: Dermalogica, Skinceuticals.