Did you know that this little gem is something we produce naturally within each of us? Known for its incredible ability to capture and retain over 1000x its own weight in water, it helps to give us the fresh, glowing, and youthful look we all crave.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate, it's easy to see why Hyaluronic Acid has become so popular in today's skincare routines. But, far from a trendy ingredient that just grabs hold of and holds onto moisture in your skin, it can also help to work as an antioxidant, prevent loss of elasticity, stimulate collagen, and plump the appearance of glowing skin.
Studies have shown Hyaluronic Acid can help to:
Smooth your skins texture by cleansing and toning it
Firm and tighten your skin by repairing its layers
Prevent premature ageing and skin slackening by shielding you from free radical damage
Soften and plump your skin by infusing deep hydration
Dispel dryness with intense molecular level moisturisation for glowing skin
Heal wounds - applying Hyaluronic Acid to wounds has been shown to help with reducing the size of surface wounds on the skin, and aid with pain relief of these areas
Hyaluronic Acid is a glycosaminoglycan, an ever-present component of the skins extracellular matrix(1). This is a fancy way of saying Hyaluronic Acid is a fundamental substance we naturally produce to promote the skin's ability to retain moisture and produce fluid that firmly envelops collagen and elastin fibres(1), giving us that youthful appearance. As we start to age, the body's ability to actively produce this substance significantly lessons over time. When you then add in external aggressors (pollution, UVAs, blue light, cigarette smoke, indoor heating etc), and say hello to wrinkles, fine lines, dull skin etc. That's why it's so important to bring hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine early.
One of the main things your skin needs to function normally is water – 64% of the skin is water. It's well known that loss of water in the skin, as well as in the whole body, is one of the main signs of ageing.
Hyaluronic acid is also a humectant. Humectants are a category of skincare ingredients that are hygroscopic - meaning they attract moisture from their environment such as the outside air or the underlying layers of your skin. They help to boost the skins hydration levels, no matter your skin type, and are often found in water-based moisturisers, serums, and other topical skincare products. They're especially helpful for those with dry and/or dehydrated skin.
What are the benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and why do I need it?
Ok, so what are the benefits of hyaluronic acid and what does it do for my skin? When you start to dive into the world of hyaluronic acid, you'd almost be forgiven for thinking this miracle molecule could be magic, sorcery even, due to its vast array of regenerative and healing attributes. We're not kidding, this stuff is amazing! It has a diverse biological process that not only benefits our skin, but also medical advances such as cell differentiation, embryological development, inflammation, wound healing etc.
This science-based magic comes from its ability to store and replenish a mind-blowing amount of moisture. To put that into context, one gram of hyaluronic acid can hold up to six LITRES of water! Even more impressive, Hyaluronic Acid intuitively feeds the skin with the exact amount of moisture it needs, never overdoing it. How wild is that! So, whatever your skin type it will always NEED a good source of moisture and there is no better source than Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate
Although related, the key difference between sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid is that sodium hyaluronate is a salt derived from hyaluronic acid whereas hyaluronic acid is glycosaminoglycan common in human connective tissues(2).
Sources state that products containing hyaluronic acid represent only 5%, while more than 95% of the total products on the market contain sodium hyaluronate1. The reason for this? Sodium hyaluronate is a much smaller molecule and so absorbs into the skin more easily than hyaluronic acid. It's also more stable and less likely to oxidize. So, does this mean you should use one over the other? Not at all. While sodium hyaluronate can sink more easily into the deeper levels of your skin to lubricate tissue cells, hyaluronic acid works more towards the surface layers of your skin. Used together, your skin can reap the benefits on multiple levels.
Adding Hyaluronic Acid into your skincare routine (when and where to use it)
Now you know the amazing benefits of both sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid, you might be wondering what's in our products and why we have chosen these research-backed ingredients.
Here at Vibrant Skin, we don't want our products to just help with one thing, oh no! In our Hydra B5 and Hyaluronic Acid serum, we have used sodium hyaluronate along with a trio of fruit extracts - grapefruit, raspberry, and cranberry fruit extracts. Harnessing this powerful combination into our serum not only allows moisture to sink easily into your skin (and none of that sticky feeling on the surface of your skin, normally associated with Hyaluronic Acid) but your skin is super-charged with natures powerhouse of enzymes to fight environmental stress and free radical damage.
Our Hydra B5 and Hyaluronic Acid serum is beneficial for EVERYONE. The lightweight and fragrance-free formula helps all skin types, from those with dry skin, that has lost the ability to hold onto moisture, to those with oily/combination skin, especially as their skin is all too often dehydrated. It's even gentle enough for those with eczema-prone and rosacea-prone skin. Win, Win!!
Let us know what you think of this amazing molecule, and have you tried our Hydra B5 and Hyaluronic Acid serum yet?
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