What Is Hyaluronic Acid? + Why You Need To Be Using It!

(Last Updated On: July 2, 2023)

Chances are you’ve probably wondered “what is hyaluronic acid?” at some point, especially if you’re someone looking into skincare. It’s talked about so often in the skincare community, and has quickly become a supposedly, “must-have” skincare product.

But what exactly is it? And is the hype surrounding it to be believed? Find out what hyaluronic acid is, and why you absolutely should be using it!

What Is Hyaluronic Acid? + Why You Need It To Be Using It!

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So, what is it?

Hyaluronic acid is actually a substance that’s naturally found in the human body, with at least half found in our skin, (our joints and eyes make up some of the other body parts you’ll find it in). It works by helping our skin retain moisture and preventing that moisture from disappearing. It’s basically like a wonder particle that can hold 1000 x it’s weight in water! This results in super hydrated and healthy looking skin! The only problem is the HA (hyaluronic acid), that’s naturally found in our bodies starts to decrease as we age. Environmental factors such as, pollution, the sun, dirt, etc. can also play a role in decreased levels of HA.

But that’s doesn’t mean you can’t add some to your routine. In fact, there are tons of skincare products with hyaluronic acid that can help bring moisture back to your skin and keep it looking healthy! Oh and since there are so many benefits to using HA, you should absolutely be using it.

The Benefits Of Using Hyaluronic Acid

As mentioned above, there are so many skincare products out there right now that contain hyaluronic acid. And you’d be crazy not to try some, like right now! The benefits to adding it to your skincare routine are endless and not something you want to miss out on. This skincare ingredient is raved about by skincare junkies, dermatologists, and consumers for a reason!

Due to it’s ability to hold 1000 times it’s weight in water, hyaluronic acid is extremely moisturizing. And when skin is properly moisturized, it looks healthy, hydrated, and radiant. It can also help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and give the skin an overall more youthful look.

Hyaluronic acid can also help strengthen the lipid barrier, AKA the skin barrier. This allows the skin to better protect itself from external factors like pollution. Which, in turn, keeps skin looking healthier!

Another key thing to note about hyaluronic acid, is it’s ability to be used on any skin type, yes even sensitive or acne-prone skin. It notably feels lightweight on the skin, and won’t clog your pores. Oh and because hyaluronic acid isn’t oil-based, it’s perfect for those with oily skin!

A Few Tips

Here are a few tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of HA!

Apply it onto skin that’s damp

Before you actually apply a product that contains HA, make sure your face is slightly damp. You can easily splash a little water on your face or spray a little facial mist. When your skin is already damp, the benefits of HA are advanced because it actually has water to bind to.

Always apply a moisturizer after applying hyaluronic acid!

Some people report their skin actually drying out more when they use products that contain HA, and there’s actually a reason for that. If you’re not applying a moisturizer or oil on top of your HA serum, the air will actually pull the moisture from your skin. This is especially true when the air is drier, such as in super hot climates or when there’s dry winter air.

To prevent hyaluronic acid from drying out your skin, always apply a moisturizer or facial oil to your face after applying your HA product. This will help lock the moisture in, and prevent your skin from drying out.

Use it morning and night!

One of the best things about hyaluronic acid is it’s ability to be used with a wide variety of products. This makes it a great addition to both your morning and nighttime skincare routines! To really get all the hydrating benefits of HA, use it both morning and night!

The Best Hyaluronic Acid Products

There are so many products out there that contain hyaluronic acid, it can be hard to choose which one to go with. Here are three super popular choices, (and some of my personal faves!).

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

This is one of the most popular hyaluronic acid products out there, and for good reasons. It works, and it’s crazy affordable! This one is made with pure vegan and cruelty free HA to really help keep skin moisturized and healthy looking!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum

This serum feels so lightweight on the skin, but still delivers plenty of moisture! It also has colloidal oatmeal and aloe leaf juice, which help calm irritated skin and inflammation!

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Serum

This one is the priciest of the three, but totally worth it! It has a super high concentration of HA. It also contains a silk proteins and a mineral complex, that help deliver more hydration!

If you’re looking for more hyaluronic acid recommendations, check out The 10 Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums For Hydrated Skin!

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