The buzz
Hyaluronic acid came onto the skincare scene years ago and has been hailed as one of the most interesting ingredients in skincare. Recently, it’s made a huge comeback in Japan and Korea. Products with hyaluronic acid are everywhere and snatched up quickly. Consumers started seeking it so much that every beauty brand is churning out lines (some multiple lines) with this as the key ingredient, and some have even built whole brands around this ingredient.
What is this?
It’s a glycosaminoglycan (had to look this one up), polysaccharides that are an important component of connective tissues. It’s one of the main components that structurally supports cells (see picture above).
We have this in our bodies naturally, the most concentrated in the eyes and joints, but it decreases over time and joints get creaky and skin starts to sag.
Hyaluronic acid can be injected into the skin, a key ingredient in a lot of fillers, or ingested (for arthritis), but let’s talk about the topical application of it…
What does it do when applied to the skin?
It forms a protective barrier on the skin and locks in moisture. The most interesting bit IMHO is that it can hold water weight up to 1000 times its weight, so it helps to “trap” in moisture. It’s also a “smart nutrient” so it adjusts its moisture adoption rate based on the humidity.
Basically, hyaluronic acid has been equated to MOISTURE, MOISTURE, MOISTURE. Not a bad thing for these wintry, dry days. Gotta love beauty research.
In our books, this is a stellar ingredient.
Stay moisturized!
-Alicia
