All The Reasons Why Hyaluronic Acid Should Be Your Bestie

What if I told you that Hyaluronic Acid actually is a main ingredient to gift you flawless, plumped, smooth and hydrated skin?

It is one ingredient that has become more and more popular in recent years. Now, to the less beauty savy, the word ‘acid’ is a substance you wouldn’t want to put anywhere close to your face. Though, this particular Acid, you will want to make your bestie.

The skin cells in your body naturally produce Hyaluronic Acid to help maintain moisture levels. This is one reason why we always want to incorporate it into our daily skincare, particularly in your 30s and beyond. Typically by this age, environmental aggressors and ageing decrease the amount of Hyaluronic Acid that is produced by your body, and cell turnover can slow down, so keeping up on your Hyaluronic Acid levels is a necessary step. A sheer sign is when fine lines, wrinkles and rough texture introduce themselves. In a nutshell, if you want to maintain your youthful glow, incorporating Hyaluronic Acid into your anti-ageing skincare routine is a brilliant idea.

WHAT IS HYALURONIC ACID??

Hyaluronic Acid (on your skincare labels may appear as HA) is a type of sugar naturally occurring in the human body that works as a magnet for moisture. 50% of that Hyaluronic Acid is located in our skin. The remainder is found in our body’s tissues; In turn, helping your cells retain as much moisture as possible, leaving your skin feeling and appearing hydrated, plump and healthy. Imagine, a single gram of Hyaluronic Acid can retain up to six litres of water! On top of that, HA can regulate that moisture within the cells to not drown them. How genius is that??

SHOP:

WHAT DOES HYALURONIC ACID DO TO YOUR SKIN? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

  • HYDRATION: HA helps to attract moisture to your tissues which, if your skin is sufficiently hydrated, it will feel super-soft, plump and pillowy with a beautiful side of radiance.
  • LESS VISIBLE FINE LINES AND WRINKLES: For anyone who wants to clench onto their youth, lines and wrinkles appear less prominent when your skin is sufficiently hydrated. As we age, our HA renewal process in our body decrease, so incorporating HA into your skincare routine can provide that helping hand.
  • INCREASED ELASTICITY, FIRMNESS: Our skins resilience is improved when using HA. Our skin defends the core of our body from damaging outside factors such as UV rays and pollution. Unluckily, our epidermis received the short end of the stick as the first defence to battle these effects.
  • SMOOTHER TEXTURE: If you pair a facial roller when applying your HA, the result will produce a smoothing effect on your skin.

Hyaluronic Acid works on ALL skin types, including sensitive or oily skin types and will not cause congestion.

IS HYALURONIC ACID SAFE? ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS?

Unlike other acids, this one is not used to exfoliate your skin, so it will not strip the skin or cause any downtime when applied topically. WebMD confirms Hyaluronic Acid is likely safe when used appropriately, but avoid use if pregnant or nursing. Remember, with all new products to do a patch test first to ensure you will not experience an allergic reaction before applying onto your entire face.

DOES MY SKIN NEED HYALURONIC ACID?

A clear sign its time to incorporate Hyaluronic Acid into your skincare routine is when lines, wrinkles and rough texture make their debut. This ingredient is the best way to support your skin’s moisture levels, which is the most natural way in the fight against ageing.

HOW TO USE HYALURONIC ACID?

The most important thing to note is with all hyaluronic acid products, they should always be applied onto damp skin, not dry skin. Remember that HA is a magnet for moisture, and if your skin is dry, it will seize any moisture that it can get a hold of in the deeper layers of your skin to hydrate the surface. If HA comes into contact with water first, then this will not happen. Instead, you will be left with hydrated, plumped and smoothed skin.

Step 1: Wash your face using your favourite cleanser, but do not dry your face.

Step 2: Apply your toner or facial mist; alternatively, you can spray with your favourite thermal spring water spritz to add the moisture but do not pat dry.

Step 3: Apply your HA serum in an upward motion onto your damp face.

Step 4: Apply a facial moisturizer to help seal and provide moisture for the HA to absorb.

Step 5: Apply your eye cream with your ring finger for the most gentle application. This eye cream should be different than your face cream. This step is here to allow your face moisturizer to absorb into your skin before applying your facial sunscreen.

Step 6: Apply your sunscreen and allow it to dry.

Step 7: Apply your favourite Makeup.

THE TOP HYALURONIC SERUMS THAT I HAVE USED AND LOVE

CAN YOU USE HYALURONIC ACID SERUM WITH OTHER SERUMS?

Hyaluronic Acid gets along with most ingredients and can be layered with other serums and creams. Be aware to not use HA with other acids that have lower PH levels like glycolic acid(AHA’s) because it can make your HA ineffective.

I would always test out a small area with a new serum or cream before applying it all over your face to ensure your skin is happy with its ingredients. No one wants to have a reaction.

When applying your skincare, as a rule of thumb, always apply your thinnest consistency to your thickest consistency.

CAN I USE BOTH A HYALURONIC ACID AND VITAMIN C SERUM TOGETHER?

When I am applying skincare on someone sitting in my makeup chair, while prepping their skin, we always dive into different skincare regimens based on their skin needs. One of the most common questions I get is what serums can be mixed together for optimal results. The combanation of Vitamin C and HA offers endless anti-ageing benefits.

Vitamin C serums can be somewhat drying, while Hyaluronic Acid will help restore that moisture. Some skincare products include BOTH ingredients in a single product.

Now keep in mind that if you use two separate serums that you are investing in, you want to make sure you get the maximum benefits from your purchased products. I prefer to go this route instead of having one product to handle both, so I understand and get the most out of each product’s strength.

When applying each serum: Apply a few drops of the Vitamin C serum first (since the consistency usually is thinner) applying in an upward motion and follow with your HA serum after a couple of minutes. You want each serum to fully absorb before applying the next product.

CAN I USE HYALURONIC ACID PARTNERED WITH RETINOL?

Suppose you were to ask any dermatologist what is the absolute best anti-ageing combo that exists. My opinion is they would say Vitamin C, HA and Retinol combined are winners all the way. YES, you can combine HA and Retinol!

Currently, my morning routine is Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid, and my nighttime routine is Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol. I exfoliate one to two times a week as well. The result has been fresh, dewy, and youthful skin.

Retinol can be very drying, and is actually the reason why some people stay away from it. However, if you apply it first and wait at least 10 minutes to completely absorb into your skin followed by a thermal spring water spritz and your best HA serum, you will be set up for success. Give it a try and let me know if this combo worked for you?

THE MYTHS OF HYALURONIC ACID

  • Heal Scars
  • Treat acne: but it can assist in the drying effects of acne medication.
  • Protect your skin from the sun: please wear your sunscreen.
  • Prevent Aging: Although it will improve your wrinkles, it cannot halt our natural ageing process.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. As always, I only recommend products that I truly love and would use myself.

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