Before anything else, the secret behind glowing skin is moisture. One key ingredient responsible for replenishing skin moisture levels is hyaluronic acid, commonly abbreviated as HA.
Hyaluronic acid restores moisture to your skin and promotes skin elasticity. Aging and certain factors dehydrate the skin and make it look saggy. Hyaluronic acid is the hero in such times.
This carbohydrate has received a lot of commendations and recommendations from dermatologists and beauty enthusiasts. Also, manufacturers of beauty products incorporate this acid into many of their moisturizing formulas.
Let’s look into the many things HA can do for you in your beauty regimen.
What does hyaluronic acid do for skin?
“As a topical product, as long as it is in the right formulation, it will make the skin appear dewy and younger because it improves skin elasticity,” says dermatologist Dr. Kavita Mariwalla.
Hyaluronic acid is a skin hydrator that is naturally present in the body. But as you age, its natural concentration in your skin and moisture level naturally depletes, and your skin becomes dry with wrinkles.
However, when you use creams and serums that contain hyaluronic acid, your skin cells become hydrated and plump again. As a result, youthfulness is restored to your skin, plus a natural glow. This moisture boost also keeps your skin protected from blemish causing-bacteria.
This acid is best suited for every skin type. Its moisture-retaining property helps to regulate sebum production in oily skin and keeps breakouts at bay.
When applied to dry skin, it attracts moisture from the environment and pulls up moisture from the deep layers of your skin. As a result, it hydrates the skin cells, smoothens cracks and fine lines, and brightens the dull complexion, a characteristic of dry skin.
The versatility of this skincare acid extends to the sensitive skin type. This skin acid is one of the few ingredients you can topically apply to your skin without fear of skin irritations. It soothes inflammations and lessens your risk of breakouts.
What does hyaluronic acid do for the face?
Facial skin is the most exposed skin on the body, and it is also thinner than any other skin. Hyaluronic acid is best suited for facial skin because it is mild and soothing.
Fine lines, facial wrinkles, acne, scars, eczema, and hyperpigmentation are common facial skin conditions.
Hyaluronic acid strengthens your natural barrier, so the facial skin is more resilient to withstand harsh, dry weather conditions. It improves your skin tone, which must have been altered by prolonged exposure to the harsh sun rays.
The humectant and protective properties of this acid increase cell turnover and improve the overall appearance of your facial skin. As mentioned earlier, it is a good anti-aging ingredient. It binds to collagen and enhances facial skin rejuvenation.
What does hyaluronic acid do for acne?
Helps to soothe the skin.
Hyaluronic acid is not an exfoliator. It does not penetrate your pores and unclogs them of debris. However, its humectant properties are very soothing. It reduces the inflammation around adult acne and moisturizes your skin against future acne breakouts.
A major cause of acne breakouts in oily and acne-prone skin is the overproduction of oil (which may be due to excessive dryness). HA balances your skin’s moisture level and prevents acne breakouts.
The moisture retention property helps to enhance your skin’s lipid barrier, which is responsible for fortifying your skin against pollutants that irritate your skin. And these irritations are the onset of acne.
This skincare acid acts as a skin protector to prevent acne breakouts. Also, it protects your skin against the formation of free radicals, which is another acne trigger.
Furthermore, this acid has excellent wound-healing properties. It helps to reduce inflammation around acne, soothe your skin and fade acne scars. Consequently, it improves the texture and tone of your skin.
What does hyaluronic acid do for lips?
Hyaluronic acid is a strong humectant, and this makes it an excellent ingredient for lip plumping.
It attracts and locks moisture in your moisture, giving you a soft pout. Hyaluronic acid lip balms are very good for preventing and treating chapped lips.
Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist explains it this way, “hyaluronic acid gives similar benefits to your lips as it does for your skin. It is a humectant, which means that it binds to water to pull in hydration to the skin on the lips.”
This acid fills in the lines that appear on your lips’ skin and gives already thinned lips a softer and fuller appearance. More so, it communicates with certain receptors and stimulates the synthesis of collagen. As a result, your lips are hydrated and look lush.
HA treatment for lips includes liquid supplements, lip fillers, lip balms, and lip injections. Overall, they improve the appearance and texture of your lips.
What does hyaluronic acid do for undereye?
Hyaluronic acid helps to brighten dark circles and fill in undereye wrinkles.
It draws in moisture and improves the appearance of your undereye. Aging comes with a depletion in collagen levels, and consequently, skin elasticity decreases.
Oftentimes, these result in the thinning and darkening of the eye around your skin (which is naturally the thinnest skin on the body). The area becomes hollow with dark shadows.
Also, fine lines and wrinkles appear and make your eyes look tired. Hyaluronic acid is an excellent remedy for this.
Daily use of HA eye serum or a few injection appointments will dramatically change the appearance of your undereye. It moisturizes your undereye, plumps the skin, eases it, and brightens it with a youthful glow.
What does hyaluronic acid do for hair?
Your scalp is also a part of the skin on your body, and hyaluronic acid can do your hair a lot of good. This moisturizing acid improves the overall health of your hair.
More so, it can help prevent hair loss usually caused by brittle hair strands.
Hyaluronic acid uses its humectant property to trap moisture in your hair follicles and keep your scalp and hair strands hydrated and protected against frizz. It retains moisture, plumps, and adds volume to your hair.
This acid is safe for every hair type, and this includes color-treated hair. Moreover, it is a great ingredient for filling the cracks on the shaft of high-porosity hair.
How to use hyaluronic acid
1. As part of your skincare regimen
Face washes, toners, serums, and moisturizers are common products that contain hyaluronic acid. Whichever form you want to use the acid, make sure you use the product following the rule of thumb of skincare (apply products from the thinnest to the thickest).
Also, you should use the product twice a day; in the morning and the evening. HA can be paired with almost every skincare ingredient without fear of a reaction or skin flare.
If you’re using a serum, apply the serum after cleansing. Make sure your hands are clean and your skin is damp. HA moisturizers are thick creams that come after serum. After applying moisturizer, layer SPF to protect yourself from the sun’s harsh rays.
2. To treat dark circles
Hyaluronic acid eye serum hydrates the skin around your eye and lightens dark circles if used correctly and consistently. Also, it smoothens the fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, reducing signs of aging.
- Start with cleansing your face. Post-bathe, and after cleaning off the makeup, cleanse your face with a mild face wash
- Then, if necessary, exfoliate your skin with a chemical exfoliator. It will help to unclog your pores and slough off dead skin cells from the surface of your skin
- Afterward, apply a face serum all over your face. Gently tap the serum into your face using your fingertips
- Tap the serum in an outward motion to evenly distribute the serum. Allow the serum to absorb for up to a minute or two
- Thereafter, put a small quantity of the eye serum on a fingertip
- Gently spread it around your eye and tap it in from your inner eye to the outer area
- Allow the serum to absorb into your skim
- Layer a moisturizing eye cream over the eye serum. Rub it in gently
- Afterward, you can carry on with the rest of your routine
3. For hair
There are different ways you can use hyaluronic acid for your hair. You can apply it to your hair pre-poo. It can also be used as a leave-in conditioner. Whichever way you choose to use hyaluronic acid, make sure you’re applying it to damp hair.
- Generously apply a hyaluronic acid-based product all over your hair
- Afterward, use a comb to evenly distribute the product through your hair and allow it to absorb for some minutes
- If you’re using it pre-poo, you can go ahead to apply shampoo
- If it’s a leave-in conditioner, you can go ahead with styling your hair
Are there potential risks of using hyaluronic acid?
Generally, hyaluronic acid is safe to use and does not put you at much risk as other acids do. Every skin type will find it soothing and hydrating.
However, in cases where you are receiving the acid through injections, you may experience discomfort like pain, swelling, redness, and itching. Also, pregnant and lactating mothers should tread lightly on hyaluronic acid.
When it becomes too much for your skin, it begins to strip your skin of moisture. This can as well happen when you apply the acid to dry skin. These risks are avoidable. Other than these, hyaluronic acid is very safe for you to use.
FAQs
Can you use hyaluronic acid every day?
Yes, you can.
You can safely apply hyaluronic acid to your skin every day. It is recommended that you use it twice a day in your regimen. Also, apply it to clean, damp skin for better results.
How do you know you need hyaluronic acid in your regimen?
When moisture dries fast on your skin.
As you begin to age, the hyaluronic acid present in your skin depletes naturally. As a result, moisture level depletes as well, and your skin appears dry and dull with fine lines and wrinkles.
Moreover, during harsh weather conditions like winter or when you’re dehydrated, your skin looks parched. During these times, your skin needs hyaluronic acid. It will help boost your moisture level and improve the appearance of your skin.
Is hyaluronic acid the same as a moisturizer?
No, it isn’t.
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful moisturizing ingredient, but that does not make it a moisturizer. It is an important ingredient in moisturizing skincare products. If you use the acid in serum, you need to seal in moisture with a moisturizer.
Conclusion
Hyaluronic acid is a skincare ingredient that is unlike other skincare acids. It does not exfoliate and strip your skin of moisture. Generally, it is safe for every skin type. A reported case of side effects is most times due to other additives in the formula.
In addition, this acid works different wonders for different skin types and different parts of your body. It is beneficial to your skin and your hair. All you need to do is to pick a product that addresses your need.
This acid hydrates your skin, strengthens your lipid barrier, and plumps your skin back to youthfulness with a natural glow. And you can feel and see signs of moisture boost immediately after application. However, you need to be consistent to see remarkable progress.
Thanks for reading.
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