The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid in Skincare
Posted by Nikki Wisher on Jan 4th 2022
“Read the label,” they say, “always read the label!” It’s common advice in skin care because the marketing terms on the front of a product don’t give you the full picture of what you’re putting on your skin. The problem, though, is that unless you happen to be a skin care expert already, the ingredients list on the label probably sounds like gibberish. What are all those ingredients and what are they doing for your skin?
Today, let’s take a step toward fixing that. I’m here to deliver all the details you need to know about one particularly common (and spectacular) skin care ingredient: hyaluronic acid.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid or HA?
Hyaluronic acid, sometimes abbreviated as HA, is actually a sugar-like material that your body naturally has. You’d normally find it in connective tissue throughout your body, including in your skin.
In fact, HA is a major component of your skin’s structure. Its primary role is to keep your skin and connective tissue hydrated and flexible. Based on that, what would you expect its main goal to be in skin care products? You guessed it: hydration! But more on that later.
While HA is a naturally occurring substance in your body, it’s important to note that the HA in skin care products hasn’t been taken from someone else. It’s made in a lab in a way that replicates the natural HA in your body.
Where Will I Find Hyaluronic Acid?
In the world of skin care products, hyaluronic acid is much more common than you probably realize. It’s very common in moisturizers, hydrating serums, and other hydrating products, especially those that are produced by high-quality brands. You’ll also find it in many luxury anti-aging products.
There’s another common use for HA, though: in injectable facial fillers. Many facial fillers like Restylane and Juvéderm use hyaluronic acid as the primary volumizer that plumps up your skin to reduce facial hollows from aging and smooth out wrinkles.
What Are the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid?
Start taking a look at the ingredients lists on your skin care products and chances are that you’ll see hyaluronic acid more often than you expected. It’s so common because it has such a variety of great benefits just about any skin type.
Powerful Skin Hydration
The most obvious and most notable benefit to HA is, of course, its hydrating powers, so it’s no wonder that it’s common in moisturizers like DoctorBabor Cleanformance Revival Cream Rich. The unique material is able to bind water molecules to your skin’s surface so they don’t evaporate as quickly. That means you keep more moisture within your skin so your skin can be healthier, plumper, and more supple.
View & Shop: Doctor Babor Cleanformance Revival Cream Rich
Wrinkle Minimization
Giving you a younger look is one of the most common goals for skin care products, and HA is often a major player in that mission. When your skin is dehydrated, it shrinks up to a degree and that makes wrinkles more prominent. Picture a grape compared to a raisin, but to a less dramatic extent.
With HA, the opposite happens. The hydration plumps up your skin so it’s smoother and less wrinkled, giving you a younger look almost immediately. That’s why you’ll see HA in so many rejuvenating products like GlytoneAge-Defying HA+ Smoothing Hydra Cream.
View & Shop: Glytone Age-Defying HA+ Smoothing Hydra Cream
Enhanced Skin Elasticity
You might remember me mentioning that within your body HA is usually found in your connective tissue. The job of connective tissue is to connect organs and other tissue together but in a flexible way – the connective tissue has to move with your movements rather than being rigid enough to easily tear.
Hyaluronic acid is a key part of that, and it has a similar impact on your skin. HA keeps your skin more elastic so it’s less prone to the wrinkles and sagging that happen with age.
For hydration that starts below the skin's surface, trust the professional formulation in the Skin Hydration Complex from Cellex-C. This oil-free gel contains an unusually high percentage of HA and works it's moisturizing power beneath the surface of your skin, so it's ideal for layering under your regular moisturizer.
View & Shop: Cellex-C Skin Hydration Complex
Potential Wound Healing Benefits
Keeping your skin looking hydrated and smooth is the main intention of HA, but some studies have found other potential benefits too. For example, in a 2016 study published in the journal Wounds, there were indications that using hyaluronic acid on your skin could help your skin to heal wounds more quickly and effectively. That’s huge because the more quickly a wound heals and closes, the less time you spend at risk for an infection.
Possible Benefits for Certain Skin Conditions
Just as there have been studies that point to HA having wound healing abilities, there is evidence that hyaluronic acid can help with certain skin conditions. For instance, a 2011 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found evidence that HA can help with mild to moderate eczema. Of course, if you have an active skin condition or if you suspect that you might, it’s always best to talk to your dermatologist before you try anything new in your skin care routine, so give your doc a call first.
Enjoying the Gifts of Hyaluronic Acid
HA is one of the most widely used and widely trusted ingredients for your skin, and if it’s formulated properly, it can be a game-changer for your skin’s hydration and your aging alike. If you’d like to try to incorporate more products with hyaluronic acid into your skin care routine, Skin Elite is full of options. So get out there and start loving your hydrated skin!