The Hype on Hyaluronic Acid

The Hyaluronic Acid Miracle That's Taking the Beauty World by Storm

Author

Flawless Beauty Insider
November 26, 2023

Lately, you might have noticed hyaluronic acid (HA) popping up in different products like serums, moisturizers, sheet masks, night creams, and lip products. But what exactly is HA, and why is it becoming so popular?

Hyaluronic acid, often abbreviated as HA, is a bit of a tongue-twister to pronounce and spell.

But don't let that distract you from its impressive role in skincare. It's a humectant, which means it's really good at holding onto moisture—more than a thousand times its own weight in water, to be exact.

Our bodies naturally have this substance in various places, like the skin, eyes, and the fluid around our joints, called synovial fluid.

Now, the hyaluronic acid you find in beauty and skincare goodies isn't harvested from some exotic plant. Instead, it's mostly created by bacteria doing their thing in a lab through a process called biofermentation. Think of it like a high-tech beauty boost.

As we get older, our skin starts to produce less of the good stuff, including hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin.

This reduction is why our skin can lose some of its fullness, hydration, and that nice plump feeling. So, HA steps in as a skincare superhero to help replenish what time might be taking away.

Hyaluronic acid is not just a fancy name on skincare labels; it's a real superstar. You've probably seen it in TikToks, YouTube tutorials, and even its own TV commercial, and there's a good reason for its popularity.

Keeps Your Skin Hydrated: As we get older, we naturally lose hyaluronic acid and collagen, making our skin more prone to dehydration.

Hyaluronic acid products are like moisture magnets, helping your skin hold onto hydration from the environment and deeper layers.

Protects Your Skin Barrier: Dry skin can mess with your skin barrier, leading to issues like flakiness, acne, and roughness.

Using products with hyaluronic acid and other moisture-binding helpers keeps your skin barrier in top-notch condition.

Plumps Up Fine Lines and Wrinkles: By boosting moisture in your skin, hyaluronic acid can do a magic trick on fine lines and wrinkles, making them look less noticeable for a while.

Restores Volume and Structure: If you're noticing a loss of volume in your face (totally normal as you age), hyaluronic acid can come to the rescue.

It's available as an injectable to help sculpt and add some oomph to different areas of your face. But hey, more on that later!

Topical Use: You can apply hyaluronic acid directly to your skin. This could be in the form of serums, creams, or masks—easy, right?

Injectable Option: For a more targeted approach, hyaluronic acid can be injected. This is often done by professionals for specific facial areas that might need a little extra attention.

Supplements: If you prefer an inside-out approach, you can take hyaluronic acid as a supplement. This way, you're boosting it from the inside to help your skin stay plump and hydrated.

Easily Accessible: The cool thing is, you don't need to hunt high and low for hyaluronic acid products. They're available over the counter, meaning you can snag them at your local beauty or drugstore. Convenience at its best!

Let's talk about topical Hyaluronic Acid (HA)—is it all it's cracked up to be or just a lot of hype?

First things first, using HA on your skin won't work the same magic as getting injections to replace lost volume. Some products may claim to be like "topical fillers," but that's a stretch.

Don't get us wrong, topical HA is fantastic for keeping your skin moisturized. But if you're aiming to tackle the sagging and volume loss that come with aging, the real deal is injectable HA, not the stuff you rub on.

On the bright side, using topical HA has its perks. It's usually gentle, doesn't cause many allergies or irritate sensitive skin, and it's safe even during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

For folks with dry skin or those wanting that fresh, dewy feel, a serum or moisturizer with HA can do wonders. Just remember, it's all about surface hydration, not a deep dive into your skin.