How Much Hyaluronic Acid For Skin

Hyaluronic acid is doubtlessly one of the most well-known skincare ingredients—perhaps you've even tested an HA serum or two. But as nosotros all know, just because something is popular doesn't mean it'southward effective.

Equally it turns out, in that location'southward a lot about hyaluronic acid we weren't aware of—similar the divergence between information technology and sodium hyaluronate (which is a salt rock). Or how that "99 percentage hyaluronic acid" serum you've been slathering on isn't 99 percent hyaluronic acid at all, simply rather a mixture of hyaluronic acid and water. We know—what?! So is hyaluronic acrid worth the hype?

To assistance us decipher the pare benefits of hyaluronic acid (often compared with sodium hyaluronate), we enlisted the experts to help us debunk some hyaluronic acrid myths. Read on to notice if this hydrator is worth calculation to your skincare lineup.

Hyaluronic Acid

Blazon of ingredient: Hydrator

Main benefits: Moisturizes skin, reduces appearance of wrinkles, replenishes jail cell moisture, speeds wound healing.

Who should use information technology: In full general, hyaluronic acid is condom for all pare types, but it is especially helpful for those with dry peel. However, those with rosacea or eczema may want to exam patch HA to make sure information technology doesn't irritate skin.

When you tin can use information technology: Hyaluronic acid can be practical twice a day topically, in the morn and at night during your skincare routine, only injected hyaluronic acrid and ingestible hyaluronic acid should be administered past a medico.

Works well with: Vitamin C, vitamin B5, and glycolic acid.

Don't utilise with: In that location are no known negative reactions to hyaluronic acid.

What Is Hyaluronic Acrid?

First things commencement—what exactly is hyaluronic acid? For starters, it's a molecule that is naturally institute in your skin likewise as the connective tissue in your body. "Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide institute in the human body," explains Kerry Benjamin, esthetician and the founder of best-selling hyaluronic acid serum creator, Stacked Skincare. "It acts as a cushioning and lubrication amanuensis for our joints, nerves, hair, skin, and eyes."

According to board-certified dermatologist and founder of Pare 5 by AVA MD and the AVA MD total-service dermatology centers Ava Shamban, Doc, hyaluronic acid'south main uses and benefits are keeping skin moist and lubricated. "It is a superstar at alleviating dry skin," she says. "Hyaluronic acid is a moisture folder, which ways that it will attach itself to the water in the cells making them 'plump.'"

Corrective chemist and the owner of product evolution firm Grace Kingdom Beauty Ginger King concurs, adding that the ingredient is strikingly powerful and therefore, works equally an incredibly powerful moisturizer. "Hyaluronic acid can depict moisture from the air and proceed your pare moist, holding about thou times its weight in h2o," she says. "So, it's not only a moisturizer, it has the ability to hold extra moisture."

You can even take hyaluronic acid as a supplement, but we recommend consulting a dr. before y'all do so. Normally, information technology's nigh popularly used as a topical treatment similar a serum or gel lotion, but it'southward likewise used for filler injections.

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Benefits of Hyaluronic Acrid

The reason the dazzler industry loves it so much lies in its seemingly magical ability to retain wet. Studies have proven that hyaluronic acrid is amazingly skilful at bonding with h2o molecules. Lack of moisture is one of the main culprits of crumbling skin, which is why this ingredient is a must-accept when it comes to repairing your skin's moisture barrier.

Retains wet: Hyaluronic acrid helps replenish and hold prison cell moisture, leading to hydrated, plump skin.
Reduces the appearance of wrinkles: Since dehydrated skin is one of the principal causes of wrinkles, hyaluronic acid replenishes lost wet and helps reduce the appearance of whatever fine lines.
Safe selection for filler: Since hyaluronic acid'south composition is so closely related to substances in our bodies, information technology works well as a filler that doesn't cause major irritation. It can also add together volume to areas like the lips and cheeks, which naturally lose volume over fourth dimension.

Fast absorbing: Unlike some skincare products, hyaluronic acrid quickly absorbs into the skin, meaning y'all lose less product.
Non-irritating: For the most role, hyaluronic acid is not-irritating and safety for utilise with all pare types.
Short-term Injectable: When used as a filler, hyaluronic acid lasts for around a year. Information technology dissolves naturally, meaning yous don't have to go in to take the filler removed by a doctor.
Multiple forms of apply: Since you can use hyaluronic acid topically, have information technology injected, or take it as a supplement, there are plenty of options for how and when you apply it.

Available over-the-counter: Dissimilar some super peel care ingredients, hyaluronic acid products are available in nearly beauty and drugstores.

Liz deSousa for BYRDIE

Hyaluronic Acid vs. Sodium Hyaluronate

Hither's the interesting role, though: Hyaluronic acid has a counterpart named sodium hyaluronate. "Sodium hyaluronate is the table salt form of HA and is a water-soluble common salt that holds m times its weight in water," Benjamin says. "Ingredients are in salt form because they are more stable and less likely to oxidize."

Both hyaluronic acrid and sodium hyaluronate are used in beauty products, and marketers refer to both equally "hyaluronic acid"—but there are some cardinal differences. Namely, sodium hyaluronate has a much smaller molecular size, which allows it to penetrate the skin ameliorate: "In skincare, in that location is a formula determining how well products penetrate the peel using the molecular weight," Benjamin says. "The lower the weight, the more information technology can penetrate."

You know serums that claim they're fabricated with 75 percent or even 99 percent hyaluronic acid? Merely put, they're not. "Sodium hyaluronate doesn't come up in pure form—it comes in solution form," Benjamin explains. "It comes to be one percent to 2 percent of the solution, which is primarily composed of water."

It gets ameliorate—Benjamin claims that if the solution has more than 4 percent sodium hyaluronate, it can dry out your skin out. She illustrates this with an analogy: If yous put too much salt on a sponge, the table salt volition pull water out of the sponge and dry it out. In the same style, since sodium hyaluronate is a table salt stone, likewise much of it can describe moisture away from the skin, Benjamin claims. She says that two percent is the highest concentration of hyaluronic acrid you tin put in a solution without whatsoever drying effects.

As for those misleading percentages, Benjamin says there'southward no way for anyone to know exactly how much hyaluronic acrid or sodium hyaluronate they're really getting in a product without taking it to a lab. "If a product were really made with xc percent HA, it would be a salt stone," she says. "It's non truly 90 percent HA—information technology's 90 percent of the total solution, which is primarily water." She says the industry standard for hyaluronic acid is 1 percent and sometimes ii pct for over-the-counter products. To have a HA concentration college than that, you normally have to go to a dermatologist's office.

Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid

Generally, there aren't whatsoever known side effects of hyaluronic acid—at least, the topical versions. Simply equally King points out, hyaluronic acid is often used as a filler, and therefore tin cause side effects. "There may be swelling," she notes. But, since HA'south and so closely related to natural substances already in the body, most reactions are from the injection itself, non HA.

If you lot choose to ingest hyaluronic acid, it is proven to reduce the advent of wrinkles and improve the overall plumpness of the peel. Plus, about people find that the supplement doesn't have side effects.

How to Utilize and Apply Hyaluronic Acid

For hyaluronic acid to really penetrate the skin'due south surface when practical topically, information technology has to exist bioengineered to have a much lower molecular weight. Benjamin, who recently launched her own HA Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($130), claims that chemists can exercise so while still maintaining the original hydrating benefits.

Shamban adds that in-office treatments tin assistance hyaluronic acid penetrate more deeply into the peel. "When combined with a Hydra Facial or SaltFacial, for example, a serum is infused into the skin for a amend or more constructive penetration of the smaller molecules than application to the top of the epidermis alone," she says.

For those looking to use hyaluronic acrid every bit a filler, it's best to seek out a doctor's opinion first. Much like topical HA, injectable HA also mimics materials already nowadays in our bodies. "Injecting an HA filler in a gel form through a syringe into the various areas of our face up, eyes, or other areas is accepted and remains with the body and is used like our other cells as a 'partner' filling, volumizing that area," says Raymond Douglas, board-certified oculoplastic and reconstructive Beverly Hills surgeon and founder of the International Orbital Institute.

Products with Hyaluronic Acid

Skinceuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier $106.00

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Containing a blend of pure hyaluronic acid, proxylane, and purple rice, this serum delivers shine skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Fifty-fifty more, information technology contains licorice root excerpt for added brightening.

Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum $70.00

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A tried-and-true skincare brand, Kiehl'due south vitamin C serum lives up to the hype. Created with 12.5 percent vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, it's proven to simultaneously firm skin and increase radiance.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid two% + B5 $7.00

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A rare union of high quality and a depression toll, The Ordinary's hyaluronic acrid serum is a vegan formula with a hint of B5 for even more moisture memory and anti-inflammatory benefits.

FAQ

What does hyaluronic acid do for your skin?

Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture, making it a great option for reducing the advent of fine lines and wrinkles, especially in dry out pare.
What is the difference between hyaluronic acid and retinol?

Hyaluronic acid is excellent at hydrating dry skin while retinol encourages collagen production.
Can you employ hyaluronic acid with vitamin C?

Hyaluronic acrid and vitamin C layer well together, without negating each other'southward benefits.

Find the all-time dermatologist-recommended hyaluronic acid products, below.