Key Skincare Ingredient – Hyaluronic Acid
Skincare routines have taken social media by storm and consumers want the latest products that promise to give them clear, radiant and youthful skin. Most toners, serums, and moisturisers contain the star ingredient and “MVP” of the skincare industry, hyaluronic acid (HA). This plumping agent is the key to glowing skin.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant – a moisture magnet – that delivers gentle hydration to the skin. HA regulates the moisture within the cells, plumps up the skin to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and is a go-to ingredient for lip and face fillers. It is such an efficient water retainer that one gram of HA can hold up to six litres of water. Our skin cells naturally produce hyaluronic acid to maintain and retain moisture and lubricate joints and tissue. It is a crucial component in skin health, wound healing, and other bodily systems.
How Does HA Work?
Skin can experience transepidermal water loss from lack of humidity, a compromised skin barrier, and extreme temperatures that leave the skin looking dull, flaky, and dry. As we age, our production of HA slows down significantly, and wrinkles, fine lines, rough texture, and dry patches tend to show up. Hyaluronic acid remedies these conditions.
The consistent use of hyaluronic acid results in sufficiently hydrated skin that feels soft, plump and radiant, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The smaller the HA molecule, the deeper the penetration. A larger molecule of HA is better suited to the upper layers of the skin. A smaller molecule works within deeper layers of the skin. Hyaluronic acid is an antioxidant and can shield against free radicals caused by pollution. It works for all skin types, is suitable for everyday use both morning and in the evening, and is found in serums, mists, sprays, and moisturisers.
How to apply to HA?
For optimal results, apply HA products on clean, damp skin. Damp skin gives HA a source of water to draw moisture from and keeps the skin moist and dewy throughout the day. HA needs to sit on the top layer of the skin to hold the moisture in, and it is essential to apply a moisturiser or face oil afterward to lock in the hydration and prevent transepidermal water loss. Nimue’s Hyaluronic Oil is an oil-soluble hyaluronic acid and a blend of oils that provide water and oil replacement while simultaneously sealing in moisture and hydration and works very well on dry skin.
Water or gel-based products work well with hyaluronic acid if you have oily skin, while oil-based products with hyaluronic acid are ideal for dry skin. Nimue’s Hyaluronic UltraFiller is a lightweight serum for dehydrated skin containing anti-ageing, anti-oxidants, and anti-pollutant agents for softer, smoother, youthful skin.
