Add This Skincare Ingredient To Your Beauty Dictionary For Smooth, Plump Skin
How does it work? Who is it suitable for? Here, everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid.
By Joyce Cheo,
The next time you’re out shopping for skincare, have a look at the ingredients list of serums, creams or masks that claim to hydrate and plump skin. Chances are, you’ll spot hyaluronic acid. As one of the most commonly used skincare ingredients, it is synonymous with hydration and often equated as a must-have ingredient for smooth and plump skin. But did you know that the human body has hyaluronic acid in our body?
Naturally occurring in our body in connective, epithelial and neural tissues, hyaluronic acid is constantly being produced and degraded in our body. And with age, the rate at which it’s being produced drops below the rate at which it’s being damaged so the level of hyaluronic acid starts to drop, which in turn is reflected in the loss of plumpness in our skin. Beyond that, hyaluronic acid is also used in injectables like wrinkle fillers because of their ability to fill in hollows on the face (like under the eyes) and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Here’s all you need to know about what hyaluronic acid is, how it works and who it’s best suited for. Plus, the best hyaluronic acid-rich products to load up on for plump skin.
Hyaluronic acid vs sodium hyaluronate?
- Hyaluronic acid is the naturally occurring form and it holds moisture of up to 6,000 times its molecular weight, making it an excellent humectant in skincare products as it is able to hold on to moisture. On the other hand, sodium hyaluronate is a salt derived from hyaluronic acid, which basically means that it is more easily absorbed by the skin as it has a smaller molecular size. However, it’s good to look for skincare products that have both so that they can replenish and seal in moisture at the same time.
What does hyaluronic acid do?
- In topical skincare, hyaluronic acid plumps the skin because it attracts moisture to itself. When your skin is dry, fine lines become more noticeable and your complexion can even tend to look dull due to poor light reflection. When hyaluronic acid is introduced to the skin, it draws moisture to itself and and plumps skin from inside out. As a result, the appearance of lines is softened and skin also appears more radiant as a smooth surface reflects light better. At the same time, long-chain hyaluronic acid forms a protective layer over skin to hold moisture in and prevent moisture loss.As previously mentioned, hyaluronic acid is also found in injectables like wrinkle fillers. Due to its large molecular size, hyaluronic acid fillers can help restore volume and density to areas that have hollowed out with age, like under the eyes or around the cheeks.
Who is it suitable for?
Unlike many abrasive acids used in skincare, hyaluronic acid is gentle and suitable for every skin type. Since the foundation of healthy skin is well-hydrated skin, hyaluronic acid can and should be incorporated into everyone’s skincare routine. Whether you have visible wrinkles, have enlarged pores due to a loss of elasticity, or are prone to tightness and dryness, hyaluronic acid can help address all those skin concerns. Even those with blemish-prone skin can benefit from hyaluronic acid and it replenishes moisture without greasiness, thus preventing your sebum glands from going into overdrive to produce sebum to keep skin hydrated.
The two formulations in this serum blend seamlessly to give the ultimate anti-aging result. The first phase is hyaluronic acid-based and delivers intense hydration. The three weights of hyaluronic acid – low, medium and high – work together to help your skin maintain moisture and plump it too. In phase two, an oil-soluble serum renews your skin barrier and boosts your skin’s natural collagen and elastin reservoir. Your skin will look and feel firmer, smoother and fresher, with fine lines and wrinkles visibly reduced.
Hyaluronic acid and grape water are the two hero ingredients in Caudalie’s new VinoHydra collection. Hydration is the aim here and this is achieved through three moisturisers in the collection. Deep Hydration Moisturiser ($45) is recommended for dry or sensitive skin, with a natural formula made up of hyaluronic acid, organic grape water and organic shea butter that boosts hydration by 94%.
If you have combination skin, the Gel Moisturiser ($45) is formulated with soothing aloe vera, with a gel texture that melts into your skin, leaving it more supple and hydrated.
And women with normal skin can try the Sorbet Cream Moisturiser ($45), which features chamomile to calm and soothe fragile skin and reduce redness.
Skin repair is essential to fight both the visible signs of skin ageing as well as daily stressors like pollution. The star ingredient in Génifique Ultimate is Beta-Glucan-CM – Beta-Glucans have been shown to reduce irritation, restore the moisture barrier, reduce depth of wrinkles and combat UV-induced loss of firmness. The serum also contains hyaluronic acid, to visibly smooth, hydrate and plump your skin, as well as liquorice extract, which soothes your skin by targeting irritations and helps to fade dark spots. The lightweight serum is idea for all skin types and dispensed via a dropper for easy use.
TikTok #GRWM queen Katie Fang went viral last year when she professed her love for Glow Recipe. The brand has now joined forces with Katie to create a limited edition Get Glowing With Me kit featuring her favourite products. The kit features travel-size versions of Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner, Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream and Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops. Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream is a whipped gel cream that plumps and hydrates your skin. It contains five weights of hyaluronic acid and plums which are rich in antioxidants; both work together to give you a dewy glow.
Reduce fine lines and wrinkles with Ageless Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum, thanks to its potent blend of skin-firming peptides and triple-action hyaluronic acid. Wide spectrum and triple-action hyaluronic acid holds 1000x its weight in water, giving your skin the hydration it needs, claiming to decrease dehydration by 25% within two hours. The serum is enriched with watermelon extract, which has potent hydrating properties too, as well as antioxidant protection. What you’ll get is a smooth and bouncy complexion.
Are you ready to battle acne? Blissful Radiance Anti-Acne Hydrating Serum contains three types of hyaluronic acid which not only hydrate your skin but helps to get rid of breakouts without resulting in dry and flaky skin. The serum also contains several peptides that lead to a boost in collagen production, as well as sulphur, which gets rid of blackheads and clarifies your complexion. The lightweight texture feels oh-so-smooth on your skin and is suitable for all skin types.
Suitable for all skin types, this gentle formula is also oil-free so you can feel free to slather it on oily skin. Packed with Grapewater, grape-derived polyphenols and hyaluronic acid, this lightweight serum soothes skin, locks in moisture and infuses skin with antioxidants for a healthier complexion.
Not only does this replenish skin’s hyaluronic acid level, it also provides skin with Proxylane, licorice root and purple rice extracts to support hyaluronic acid synthesis. Over time, skin plumpness is improved while the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is diminished. Best part, it is readily absorbed by the skin and creates a perfectly smooth canvas for makeup application.
Formulated with 75 per cent hyaluronic acid, this silky serum acts as a moisture magnet, attracting and sealing moisture across all layers of the skin for an instantly smoother, plumper mien. It is also enriched with yeast ferment, plant extracts, hydrolysed silk and algae extract to provide skin with vital nutrients.
Those with tired eyes will appreciate this refreshing eye cream. Combining the benefits of date seed extract, avocado protein extract, hyaluronic acid and patented complex, it takes a multi-pronged approach in anti-ageing as it hydrates, brightens and firm the eye contour area.
Think of this as a refreshing iced mint tea on a hot summer day. Utterly refreshing, this super lightweight gel-cream is a heavy weight when it comes to moisturising power. With vitamin C, Japanese Algae, collagen, amino acids and hyaluronic acid, it soothes, strengthens, plumps and hydrates skin without any sticky or greasy residue. Perfect for those with oily skin.
The ultra-fine fibres of this bio-cellulose mask means seamless adherence to skin for optimal absorption of essences in just 20 minutes. Soaked in a hyaluronic acid-rich essence, it deeply replenishes skin with moisture. Plus, it’s also charged with minerals to re-energise tired skin for a radiant glow.
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