When To Use Hyaluronic Acid & How Often Should You Use It
Can you use hyaluronic acid every day?
Unlike other skincare acids like glycolic acid, you can use hyaluronic acid skin care every day without any risk of overdoing it or irritating your skin.
Personally, I like to apply my hyaluronic acid serum in the morning after my vitamin C serum, followed by sunscreen.
While hyaluronic acid is a great hydrating ingredient, we cant let it do all the heavy lifting, so make sure you still follow up with your moisturiser.
Top 3 Hyaluronic Acid Skin Care Products
Weve put together a GHS curated selection of our favorite skin care products that contain hyaluronic acid for hydration, anti-aging, and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles and dark circles. We only link to products that we absolutely believe in. All the products weve chosen are paraben-free, sulfate-free, and phthalate-free. Remember – results wont happen overnight. It can take up to 6 weeks of consistent topical use before you begin to see improvements, so stay consistent with your product usage.
Use in AM & PMApply this serum to your face post cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and any AHA or vitamin C serum.Price$
Use in AM & PMApply this serum to your face post cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and any AHA or vitamin C serum.Price$$$$
Use in AM & PMApply this serum to your face post cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and any AHA or vitamin C serum.Price$$$$Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free
FOR HYALURONIC ACID
Consistency is key
Results wont happen overnight. Consistency is key. It can take up to 6 weeks of consistent topical use before you begin to see improvements. Be patient – good things come to those who wait.
Smooth And Radiant Skin
Although HA won’t erase fine lines and wrinkles, the extra moisture does help plump the skin, which makes those lines look smoother.
Also, those crinkly-looking fine lines common around your eyes and lips are often signs of dry or dehydrated skin. Highly moisturized skin looks less crinkly and dewier.
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Check For Allergens And Vitamin C
Watch out for any ingredients youre allergic to or that have caused you irritation in the past, Gasquet says.
Look for a hyaluronic acid product that also lists vitamin C as an ingredient . The two ingredients work together to boost effectiveness, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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Sodium Hyaluronate Vs Hyaluronic Acid Whats The Difference
Sodium hyaluronate is a salt form of hyaluronic acid that is synthesized in order to create a smaller molecular structure for better resistance to oxidation and stability. Its water solubility and smaller molecular structure mean that it has an ability to penetrate deeper into the skin and provide better hydration. It is a component of anti-aging and moisturizing products due to its ability to hydrate the skin, reduce fine lines, and improve firmness levels. Sodium hyaluronate is often found in such cosmetic products as moisturizers and serums. It also has a form of an oral supplement.
Both hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate offer the same benefits. The primary difference between them is that sodium hyaluronate has a smaller molecular size, which allows it to penetrate the skin better.
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What Is Hyaluronic Acid Used For
Hyaluronic acid can be used to help increase surface skin hydration and help maintain healthy-looking skin. Hyaluronic acid is one of my favorite ingredients, says Shani Darden, Garnier consultant and celebrity esthetician. Formulas with hyaluronic acid can help hydrate skin and make skin appear smoother and softer, says Darden.
Because hyaluronic acid retains moisture so well, its often used in anti-aging products to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The younger we are, the more naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid can be found in our skin. As this quantity diminishes over time, products formulated with hyaluronic acid can help moisturize and hydrate skin, which in turn helps it look supple and youthful.
Since hyaluronic acid is a humectant, it is also used in many moisturizers to help maintain the skins moisture barrier and help keep skin nourished with hydration. Ultimately, hyaluronic acid is only one of the building blocks of a great skin care product, but its a good one. That means you should try to work skin care products with hyaluronic acid into your skin care routine!
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get the benefits of hyaluronic acid. Thats where topical products and a well thought-out skin care routine comes in.
It Helps The Skin Retain Moisture & Replaces Lost Moisture
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that has the remarkable ability to bind up to 1,000 times its weight in water, which means its an excellent way to promote skin hydration. Hyaluronic acid binds to skin moisture to make your skin look and feel soft and glowing. When your skin is properly hydrated, its more capable of fighting off the germs and buildup that lead to acne and irritation. But the natural aging process and environmental factors such as UV exposure from the sun, pollution, and other irritants can cause hyaluronic acid levels to drop.
Those of us whove been exposed to irritating environmental factors for many years can support our natural hyaluronic acid production with supplements. Hyaluronic acid supplements support your skin barrier to slow the rate at which water evaporates from the skin. This, in turn, reduces the feeling and appearance of dry skin and helps your skin feel healthy and soft again.
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How The Full Harvest Moon In Pisces Will Impact You Astrologically
“The enzyme works quickly the material starts to dissolve immediately, and is completely done within 24 to 48 hours,” Min S. Ahn, M.D., a Boston-based board-certified facial plastic surgeon, previously told Allure. However, he warns, those with bee allergies should use caution and talk with a dermatologist before signing up for a hyaluronidase-based procedure, as the enzyme is highly prevalent in bee venom.
Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid For Skin
Hyaluronic acid has become a popular skin care treatment. While thereâs little proof that it works as an anti-aging cosmetic product, you can get it injected into your face — a treatment called a dermal filler — to lessen wrinkles and add fullness.
Products claim that hyaluronic acid gels, creams, and serums fight wrinkles and aging while making your face look better overall. The evidence suggests that hyaluronic acid helps with soft tissue growth, prompts your body to make more collagen and elastin, keeps your skin moisturized, prevents tightness, boots elasticity, and reduces scarring.
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Is It Good To Use Hyaluronic Acid Every Day
Yup! “Hyaluronic acid is safe and beneficial to use everyday for maintaining skin hydration,” says Dr. Russak. You just need to make sure you’re applying it correctly. As a rule, you want to apply your hyaluronic acid product to clean, damp skin, and the lock it in with a moisturizer and face oil.
If you put hyaluronic acid on top of a sunscreen or a moisturizer, its not going to work, Dr. Talakoub says. Its got to sit on that top layer of your skin to hold the moisture in so it doesnt evaporate from your skin barrier.
Might seem obvious, but its actually one of the biggest mistakes people with dry skin make with hyaluronic acid: thinking the only thing they need to use is a serum. Instead, think of hyaluronic acid as a team player that works best when used with a cream. Dr. Talakoub says even though hyaluronic acid holds water in the skin, a normal moisturizer thats made for people with very dry skin has an emollient to lubricate the skin and an occlusive to hold the oils in the skin.
What Is Molecular Weight
Hyaluronic acid is a common skincare ingredient that helps the body retain moisture. Although hyaluronic acid is its most common name, you may also have heard it referred to as hyaluronan or sodium hyaluronate. The variable names the different molecular weights of the same ingredient. In skincare, hyaluronic acid shows up as either a high molecular weight ingredient or a low molecular weight ingredient. Although you dont need to know all of its chemistry, its good to understand molecular weight distinctions, as one or the other will be better for your skincare routine.
For instance, hyaluronic acid with a low molecular weight absorbs more fully into the deeper layers of your skin. Thats because its molecules are so small that they can go farther in penetrating your dermal layers than HMW hyaluronic acid. Since LMW hyaluronic acid sits a bit deeper in your skin, you might not see results right away. Also, LMW hyaluronic acid cant hold as much water as its HMW counterpart. However, LMW hyaluronic acid provides longer-lasting effects on your appearance.
Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight typically sits just beneath the surface of your skin. These molecules are larger, so they can hold more water and provide almost instant visible effects. However, you may need to apply HMW hyaluronic acid regularly to make the effects last.
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Crucial Functions Of The Lipid Barrier
- Trapping water molecules to prevent the loss of moisture in the skin.
- The lipid barrier is highly impermeable and is designed to prevent environmental chemicals and biological irritants from entering the skin.
- Prevents NMFs being stripped from the skin: Our skin has its own Natural Moisturizing Factors that are important for long term skincare and ensuring your skins tone is radiant and its texture is smooth.
With age, this barrier can become compromised and start to perform less of its crucial functions effectively as cells and lipids lose moisture, collagen and become damaged from exposure to the elements.
Hyaluronic acid can help slow the deterioration of this layer and can help treat damaged lipid layers by providing the moisture that the skin craves and needs to function.
Potential Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid For Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is when stomach acid flows up into your esophagus. Itâs a symptom of GERD . Research suggests that hyaluronic acid could relieve the damage in your esophagus from stomach acid and promote a quicker healing process.
One study showed people who took hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate supplements along with acid-reducing drugs had fewer acid reflux symptoms than those who only took acid-reducing drugs. While the research looks promising, experts are still studying how hyaluronic acid treatment benefits acid reflux.
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Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums
The best hyaluronic acid serum overall
If you want buttery-smooth skin that feels like taking a facial bath in the ocean, Glow Recipes Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum is the best one Ive tried. Not only is the brand featured as a great vitamin C serum but its pretty-in-pink packaging is our second favorite aspect of this product the formula taking the first spot, of course.
This product contains five different forms of H.A., which makes it quite robust in its moisturizing and plumping capabilities, Dr. Mudgil said. If the price doesnt scare you away, its a well-liked product.
Traditionally, I like making a skin cocktail with Glow Recipes other products, including the Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser and the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask for an evening treat.
The best hyaluronic acid serum for a light boost
At this point in my product-reviewing and reporting career, I owe Caudalie a million love letters for not just my favorite peel-off masks ever but for the refreshing boost its Vinosource-Hydra SOS Intense Hydration Hyaluronic Acid Serum provides.
Its the one I reach for when my skin is feeling somewhat dull and in need of a light boost. When paired with the brands Vinosource-Hydra Grape Water Gel Moisturizer my skin feels supple before tackling my day or heading off to catch some ZZZs.
This product contains H.A. and various antioxidants, Dr. Mudgil highlights. Its a light product, great for dry skin types.
The best hyaluronic acid serum for fine lines
Diameter Of Hyaluronic Acid
The diameter of hyaluronic acid is also important as it too determines the ingredients ability to penetrate the skin. A investigated the efficacy of a topical, low molecular nano-hyaluroid acid, and found that smaller substances under 500 kDa:
- changed the depth of wrinkles
- increased moisture
- increased elasticity around the eye
- absorbed into the skin better
Larger molecules, with a molecular weight greater than 500 kDa, had a more difficult time passing through the skin barrier.
There are skin care products out there that take away all the guesswork for you by combining various HA molecules for maximum effectiveness. Its like a jam-packed party of hyaluronic acid-y goodness.
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Hyaluronic Acid Occurs Naturally In The Body
Hyaluronic acid is not only an important part of our skin, but also of our synovial fluid a main component of our joint fluid. If there are problems with the joints in old age, hyaluronic acid can be used to help. For example, the active ingredient is used in modern medicine to treat types of osteoarthritis. Of course, you should discuss this with your doctor for tailored advice.
Bazaar’s Ultimate Guide To Hyaluronic Acid
Everything to know about the star skincare ingredient.
When it comes to plumping fine lines and making skin look supremely glowy, hyaluronic acidwhich is found in serums, sheet masks, and moreis a staple skincare ingredient. But, what exactly is it? We asked dermatologists for a complete breakdown of the ins and outs of hyaluronic acid, plus, the best ways to incorporate it into just about any morning and night routine.
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Occurs Naturally In Your Skingolden Anti
Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by your body as a lubricating cushion in the joints and skin. What blows is when we age, our skin produces less hyaluronic acid which means less plump skin and more dryness, fine lines, wrinkles and sagging. To avoid the wrinkle party, supplement your naturally occurring hyaluronic acid with hyaluronic acid products.
Sodium Hyaluronate Vs Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid has two salt forms: sodium hyaluronate and potassium hyaluronate. As the name suggests, sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt version.
Sodium hyaluronate is part of HA. It can be extracted and used separately. This is important because it changes how the substance affects the skin.
The difference comes down to molecular weight. Hyaluronic acid has a high molecular weight, which means its a macromolecule. The large molecules coat the skin and prevent water loss, leading to better hydration.
Sodium hyaluronate has a lower molecular weight than hyaluronic acid. Its small enough to penetrate the epidermis, or top layer of the skin. In turn, it can improve hydration from the underlying skin layers.
Since sodium hyaluronate is derived from HA, its sometimes called hyaluronic acid. It may be listed as hyaluronic acid on skin care labels.
As a derivative of HA, sodium hyaluronate has similar benefits to HA. Its been proven to:
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Hyaluronic Acid Synthases In The Skin
In the skin, gene expression of HAS-1 and HAS-2 in the dermis and epidermis is differentially upregulated by TGF-1, indicating that HAS isoforms are independently regulated and that the function of HA is different in the dermis and the epidermis.16,98 The mRNA expression of HAS-2 and HAS-3 can be stimulated by keratinocyte growth factor, which activates keratinocyte migration and stimulates wound healing, leading to the accumulation of intermediate-sized HA in the culture medium and within keratinocytes. The migratory response of keratinocytes in wound healing is stimulated by increased synthesis of HA.99 HAS-2 mRNA is also induced by IL-1 and TNF in fibroblasts100 and by epidermal growth factor in rat epidermal keratinocytes.101
Dysregulated expression of HA synthases has been reported during tissue injury.102–104 HAS-2 and HAS-3 mRNA are significantly increased after skin injury in mice, leading to increased epidermal HA.104 In juvenile hyaline fibromatosis, which is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by deposition of hyaline material and multiple skin lesions, there is a significant decreased expression of HAS-1 and HAS-3, accounting for the reduced synthesis of HA in skin lesions.105 In dermal fibroblasts, where the HAS-2 is the predominant isoform, glucocorticoids inhibit HAS mRNA almost completely, suggesting a molecular basis of the decreased HA in atrophic skin as a result of local treatment with glucocorticoids.16
Hyaluronic Acid And Skin Aging
The most dramatic histochemical change observed in senescent skin is the marked disappearance of epidermal HA, while HA is still present in the dermis.92 The reasons for this change in HA homeostasis with aging is unknown. As mentioned above, the synthesis of epidermal HA is influenced by the underlying dermis and is under separate controls from the synthesis of dermal HA.16,98 Progressive reduction of the size of the HA polymers in skin as a result of aging has also been reported.109 Thus, the epidermis loses the principle molecule responsible for binding and retaining water molecules, resulting in loss of skin moisture. In the dermis, the major age-related change is the increasing avidity of HA with tissue structures with the concomitant loss of HA extractability. This parallels the progressive cross-linking of collagen and the steady loss of collagen extractability with age.16 All of the above age related phenomena contribute to the apparent dehydration, atrophy and loss of elasticity that characterizes aged skin.
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