Almost every skin care product out there contains hyaluronic acid. But what is it? What can hyaluronic acid do for your skin? While there are many skin care products out there, hyaluronic acid is different from the others. In this, we’ll discuss what it is, and how to properly use it so that it doesn’t dry out the skin.
What is Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid at the core is essentially present in almost all skin care products and serums. There are many benefits to this. In essence though, it’s a molecule that moisturizes and plumps the skin.
Our body naturally uses hyaluronic acid. In fact, our eyes and joints use it, and it can help with retaining collagen and skin tissues. It feels kind of jelly-like, and it is a natural humectant, and that is a word for drawing water towards the skin, so it hydrates your body.
You can get hyaluronic acid skin care products in the beauty section, and many people take hyaluronic acid supplements to help lubricate the joints and prevent arthritis from setting in. But while it is a focal part of many people’s skin care routines, there is one problem with this product.
Hyaluronic Acid Myths
For starters, hyaluronic acid is not an acid, but rather it is considered a complex sugar, which is known in many cases as a polysaccharide.
This is a natural ingredient, and it is a popular dermal filler. It is not a foreign substance either, despite the name of it.
Hyaluronic acid is naturally used as a means to help lubricate the body. Some say it helps reverse aging, but hyaluronic acid may not do that in some cases.
That is because the molecule is too big to enter the pores of the human skin. That means when applied topically in the form of skincare products, it doesn't fully penetrate the skin. Hyaluronic acid does bring forth hydration and it can help plump up the skin, but also, it does only create temporary side effects, so it will not be able to deliver long-term anti-aging results.
The second myth is that it is a long-term product and helps with that. These offer only temporary results, so once you stop using hyaluronic acid products, the body won’t retain those benefits. The body will turn it over every day or so, so understand that this isn’t a long-term skin care solution, and instead, you can use this in your skin care routine that will be able to penetrate in deeply and use hyaluronic acid in the temporary sense.
The third and final myth is that hyaluronic acid is good for dehydrated skin. Wrong, it can actually be a problem especially if you live in a climate that’s not humid. Hyaluronic acid doesn’t have air to use and work with, which means that if you live in a dry climate, it will actually dry out the skin, doing the opposite of what you should be doing.
That means that if you live in a climate that isn’t humid, you should avoid using this on your own. Not only that, but the product also only works in the temporary, so it won’t offer long term benefits.
Hyaluronic Acid Benefits
While hyaluronic acid does not offer long-term benefits on its own, there are a few hyaluronic acid benefits to consider when you use it in your skin care routine.
They are as follows:
- Hydrates your skin
- reduces appearance of wrinkles
- Makes skin more elastic
- Plumps out the skin to make this softer
- Increases volume of skin
- Speed up wound healing
Hyaluronic acid serums and supplements offer many benefits, you just have to be careful with where you use it.
Hyaluronic Acid Side Effects
Some of the hyaluronic acid side effects include:
- Pain or tingling of skin
- Redness or reactions
- Itching
- Dryness if used in a dry climate
When you use hyaluronic acid, you should always try to use this on skin that isn’t dehydrated and try to use it in less arid locations.
There are a few things you can do to get the hyaluronic acid benefits despite living in a dry climate.
They include the following:
- Use hyaluronic acid on damp skin so it binds
- Use it in a serum form containing Vitamin C like the Timeless Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid to provide efficiency
- Layer this with a serum on top
- Seal the hyaluronic acid with either facial oil or a moisturizer
Hyaluronic acid side effects are usually mitigated if done like that. It is watery too, so you can use this on oily or acne prone skin.
You can mix hyaluronic acid with your favorite skin care products to help make it sit, and mixing this into your skin care moisturizer is a great way to reap the benefits.
How to Use Hyaluronic Acid
While you can take hyaluronic acid supplements or hyaluronic acid for joints, most of us will use hyaluronic acid skin care routines.
To use it, you should mix this in with your favorite moisturizer, with the hyaluronic acid first and then your moisturizer over it. The moisturizer will seal this and prevent it from leaving the skin.
How to apply this as a skin care routine involves the following:
- First add your treatment serum
- Then add the HA
- Add Squalane Oil or a face primer to seal this
- Put a moisturizer on top
- Use an SPF to fully protect the skin
When you add this, understand that water will help absorb it easily. Think of it like a sponge, where you add water and it absorbs into there. This works in the same way.
Skin Care Tips for Hyaluronic Acid
With hyaluronic acid, there are a few tips you can use in order to get the most out of this.
First, choose skincare products that say they’re formulated “with hyaluronic acid” on their labels. This will help make sure it’s locked into the skin.
An eye cream with hyaluronic acid will help plump up your under eye and reduce swelling along with puffiness.
Use a night cream to help cleanse, and make sure it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid in order to look refresh and smooth when you get up.
One great way to have this all over your face is to use a sheet mask, since they naturally fit the face contours, allowing all parts of your skin to get hyaluronic acid in it.
Consider using makeup products with hyaluronic acid. While you should remove these with a makeup remover, this can naturally moisturize the skin.
Adding SPF will help prevent hyaluronic acid from drying out the skin, and helping it look radiant and beautiful.
For best results, use hyaluronic acid twice a day, and follow the instructions of the product carefully.
Hyaluronic acid is great for the skin, but do understand there are a few side effects which come with this. Choose your products wisely, and incorporate this and other skin care tips into your routine to get the most out of them.