It took me until I was in my early 40s before I started taking my skincare routine seriously. At the first sign of fine lines above my upper lip, I quickly booked an appointment with an aesthetician. After each treatment, she’d tell me, “Make sure you drink lots of water, or all our work will be for nothing!” So, naturally, I ran out and bought a beautiful glass water bottle to put on my desk to remind me to drink the recommended 91 ounces per day. That lasted about two weeks. As much as I hate to admit it, drinking all that water took too much effort. Instead, it became my mission to search for products that would diminish my fine lines and keep my skin hydrated. In my search, I kept reading about hyaluronic acid. But what is hyaluronic acid and why was it the latest skincare buzz word? Let’s break it down…
Looking for more pro-aging advice? Check out my post exploring retinol and additional skin care tips here.
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What is Hyaluronic Acid?
According to my dermatologist, hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin. It helps to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin, so that skin can appear plumper and dewier. In layman’s terms, it’s an ingredient that our body already produces—and a must-have to keep mature skin looking hydrated. Although the word “acid” may throw you off, hyaluronic acid actually plays very nicely with almost every skin type including oily or sensitive. Think of hyaluronic acid like a sponge that grabs onto water and pulls it into the outer skin layers to hydrate and plump. Further, it can be combined with almost all other skincare ingredients without any stability issues.
Why is it the Latest Skincare Buzz Word?
As we age, the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin tends to decrease. As a result, skin becomes dehydrated more easily and wrinkles and fine lines become more prominent. Supplementing hyaluronic acid through moisturizers and serums can help by creating a barrier that retains water in the skin. Unlike other topical creams, it’s readily absorbed into the skin. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, you’ll be pleased to learn that according to a study published by the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, skin elasticity in a control group of women showed a significant improvement after 2 and 8 weeks of treatment. The use of hyaluronic acid demonstrated a significant benefit in decreasing the depth of wrinkles (up to 40%), and skin hydration (up to 96%). Plus, skin firmness and elasticity were significantly enhanced (up to 55%) at the end of eight weeks. Keep scrolling for my favorite hyaluronic acid products below.
Have you joined the hyaluronic acid skincare fan club? If so, please share your thoughts and favorite products in the comments!
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