Also known as “HA”, hyaluronic acid is an amazing ingredient for the skin, that any skin care aficionada knows about. There’s nothing new about hyaluronic acid, but it’s one ingredient to use all year round and especially when the cold weather is back into the picture, drying out your skin (among other “fun” things).
Don’t let the name “acid” surprise you, as the hyaluronic acid is anything but harsh to your skin. As a matter of fact, the hyaluronic acid is an effective humectant that is able to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. Able to draw and keep moisture in skin, the hyaluronic acid leaves your skin hydrated, plum and suppler for longer time.
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What does hyaluronic acid do for your skin exactly?
Able to hold 1,000 time its weight in water, hyaluronic acid is going to seal in moisture better than anything else. No other compound of polymer out there is strong enough to do that and you should always include it in your skin care regimen.
Naturally occurring in our bodies (just as the ceramides do), the hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide that appears in the spaces between our skin cells, making sure our skin doesn’t dry out. HA is able to create a barrier on your skin that seals in moisture which translates into a softer feel for your skin.
We also find hyaluronic acid in our eyes, nerves, skin and joints. The production of collagen, ceramides and hyaluronic is what plumps our skin and maintain its texture nice and healthy. As we age, we also start losing the levels of hyaluronic acid. Even though we have plenty when we’re born (hence the expression “baby skin”), we start losing it once we get middle aged. Yes, the “benefits” of aging never cease to amaze us.
Restoring the levels of hyaluronic acid isn’t as difficult as one may thing and a good moisturizer formulated on hyaluronic acid is a great solution. As you start using your hyaluronic acid based cosmetic, it’s only a matter of time until you notice your skin get plumper and smoother than before. Any hyaluronic acid based skin care product draws hydration and keeps your skin well hydrated, lowering the risk for drying. Even though the topical HA doesn’t enter your body, the hyaluronic acid molecules are too large to go through the epidermis. If you’re under 30, this isn’t going to be a problem for you at all. If you’re a lucky winner over 40 though, a facial wrinkle filler or a hyaluronic acid filler injection are going to work their tricks on your skin. Serums and creams formulated with hyaluronic acid are a less intrusive method.
Some may even take hyaluronic acid supplements in case they struggle with joints problems or dry eyes. Therefore, it’s up to you to decide which method to use for better and smoother skin.
What’s the best way to use hyaluronic acid serum?
Despite of one may think, hyaluronic acid serum is safe to use on all skin types, including in case of eczema. As typically a hyaluronic acid serum isn’t very thick and it sits rather on the watery side, the hyaluronic acid serum is a good choice for the oily and acne-prone skin as well.
You should start by cleansing your skin with your regular cleanser. Apply the serum on your damp skin, using gentle motions until it’s fully absorbed. Many recommend following the serum with a moisturizer, but you may very well use it as a moisturizer. Pay attention to your skin as it’s the one telling you whether you should use a moisturizer or not.
Here’s the way to apply hyaluronic acid:
Due to its consistency, hyaluronic acid serum goes great under makeup too.
Many include the hyaluronic acid serum in their AM and PM skin care routine, but stay safe and run a patch test too.
- The patch test
As with all beauty products, you should always stay on the safe side and run a spot test of hyaluronic acid on your skin before you start using it all the time. Skin has various pH so even if most of us are going to handle the hyaluronic acid serum just fine, the risk for some side effects isn’t null. A spot test from time to time on a small area of your skin for one week before including the serum in your daily skin care routine is the wise thing to do. Keep in mind that a tiny amount of serum is more than enough for a thin layer on your skin.
When you’re applying it in the morning, your skin gets the moisture it need throughout the whole day and remains soft and radiant all day long. If you’re using it before going to bed, it’s going to replenish moisture after spending the whole outside.
There are also the voices that say that the best way to use the hyaluronic acid serum is in the shower or when washing the face. Applying the serum on damp face works best for some. Either way, don’t forget to moisturize too.
Include the serum slowly in your skin care regime and only use it once a day in the beginning or any now and then. A thin layer is more than enough for making the hyaluronic acid serum work.
Whenever in need for moisturizing your skin and for preventing skin from drying out, the hyaluronic acid serum is always the way to go.
One trick for the road
You can also include pure hyaluronic acid serum in your regular moisturizer. This way you’re going to get all the benefits of the hyaluronic acid and moisturize the skin efficiently every time. As long as you’re following the instructions when mixing the two cosmetics, you should stay safe.
Gone are the days when you had to go through the cold winter with dry and rough skin. Keep a small hyaluronic acid serum in your home and get the smooth and plump skin year-round, no matter how cold it gets outside. If we could name just one single skin care product able to protect efficiently and moisturize the skin for the whole day, hyaluronic acid serum would be that one for sure.
