What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that attracts moisture into the skin cells. This allows the skin to feel hydrated and plump, creating a dewy look. When applied topically to our skin it boosts skin elasticity, cell regeneration and improves skin texture! Although called an 'acid' it is not an exfoliating agent like salicylic acid or glycolic acid.

With age, just like elastin and collagen, the amount starts decreasing resulting in fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. However, a good diet and a healthy lifestyle can stimulate HA production in our bodies. Moreover, there are a lot of skincare products available these days right from serums, creams to even injectables that can be made part of a skincare routine depending on your skin type and boost the production of HA.

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

Research shows Hyaluronic Acid is a glycosaminoglycan that is one of the best ingredients that promotes healthier and younger-looking skin helping rebuild the unique microbiome on skin. It has become a cult classic due to its amazing capacity to hold and lock 1000x its weight in moisture. Let’s look at some of the scientifically-backed benefits that it offers.

1. Hydration and Moisture

Keeping the skin well hydrated is key to combating dryness which leads to wrinkles and sagging skin issues. HA not only helps to attract moisture effectively and lock it into the skin collagen but also prevents it from getting evaporated. 

2. Fortifies Lipid Barriers to Improve Skin Texture

The lipid barrier on our skin is the protective layer of fatty acids that prevents or slows down the ageing process. As we age, the production of the lipid layer starts slowing down; HA helps in enhancing this layer, thereby protecting the skin from ageing, dark spots, and dry skin. Thus, it also acts as a wonderful anti-oxidant. By enhancing the lipid layer of the skin, it ensures better protection against the harmful external factors like UV rays etc. resulting in brighter and plumper looking skin.

3. Regeneration of skin cells

HA aids the process of skin cell regeneration due to the hydration and lipid barrier protection properties that it offers. When healthier skin from within is achieved, skin pigmentation and dark spots issues are minimized considerably. 

Should I be using Hyaluronic Acid?

Yes! Hyaluronic Acid is proven to be beneficial for people of all ages and with all skin types. It is not only for dry and mature skin, but people with oily skin can also greatly benefit. Due to the lightweight nature of this ingredient, it easily gets absorbed providing the much-needed moisture. HA also has amazing healing properties making it safer for sensitive and acne-prone skin to use; in fact, it helps soothe such type of skin protecting it from further damage. It can be safely used by pregnant women as well.

What to look for in a quality Hyaluronic Acid? 

It can be difficult to determine which hyaluronic acid product is best for you in a market that is flooded with serums, creams, and gels. I recommend looking for plant-based HA as it is considered safer and gets more easily absorbed into our bodies than animal-based ones do.

It is important to note that HA is composed of short and long-chain molecules that differ in their levels of penetration into the skin. Long-chain molecules work on the outer layers of the skin providing immediate but short-term effects whereas short-chain molecular HA penetrates into deeper layers of the skin replenishing moisture and helping skin to remain hydrated for a longer time.

HA doesn’t harm the body in any way. On the contrary, it can be used in all kinds of skin conditions. The key is to look for products that contain at least 1% of the ingredient for maximum benefits.

Why Katie Loves Hyaluronic Acid?

Katie Horvath has been incorporating it into her bespoke facials and prescribing it to her clients for the past 35 years. If you wish to have nourished skin that looks bright and glowing this is a must-have in your skincare regimen. Not only will HA help you combat early signs of ageing, it deeply hydrates are firms all skin types. 

With just a few steps in your beauty care regimen, you will be glowing from within!