Are you obsessed with a naturally youthful and glowing skin?
Most people spend countless of hours to keep their skin vibrant and young looking. While fine lines and wrinkles on your face is a normal part of ageing, they also tend to make your skin appear dull and lifeless.
If you are one of the people who are constantly on the lookout for products that can keep their skin glowing, healthy and youthful, we’ve got good news for you.
You can minimise the toll that ageing takes on your skin by keeping it moisturised. One of the best ways to do that is by using hyaluronic acid–a beauty ingredient that has the ability to improve skin texture and appearance without the harmful side effects.
Want to know more, read on to learn some of the most awesome facts about hyaluronic acid.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural substance present in the body that functions to retain moisture, develop collagen, provide skin cushion, aid in tissue repair, and lubricate joints and muscles.
While HA offers interesting benefits, it is unfortunate that the body’s ability to produce it decreases with age. What does this imply?
Reduction of hyaluronic acid starts as early as 18 years of age. This indicates that with a fewer supply of HA through time, your skin loses its suppleness and your joints are at a higher risk of inflammation.
Preserving or regaining HA is a goal of many skincare products. Today, researchers have been very successful in their efforts to incorporate HA in skincare formulations and healthcare supplements. It now appears one of the main ingredients in most anti-ageing beauty products that typically comes in the form of lotions, creams, serums and supplements to name a few.
HOW HYALURONIC ACID WORKS IN SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Most skincare products contain hyaluronic acid. Topical products containing HA are found to be an effective surface skin cell moisturiser as it prevents water loss and protects skin from dirt and other pollutants. Like glycerin (another popular moisturising agent), HA is a humectant – a trait that makes it attracted to water, drawing moisture from the air into the skin.
BOOSTS SKIN MOISTURE
HA is a valuable addition to a skincare routine for its powerful ability to moisture – holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water. In moisturizers, HA functions not only to deliver water to the skin but also to retain it there. HA doesn’t permeate deep into the skin since it is a large molecule. Instead, it stays near the surface that moisturizes skin surface layers.
REDUCES THE APPEARANCE OF WRINKLES
As skin ages, it loses its natural ability to retain moisture. HA can help naturally reduce signs of ageing by decreasing water loss associated with sun exposure, skin dryness or flakiness. It helps enhance moisture and revitalize skin’s outer layers so they look and feel smoother, radiant and hydrated all which improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
FIRMS AND TONES THE SKIN
As you age, your skin doesn’t maintain moisture as well as it used to. HA restores skin moisture, keeping it supple and hydrated. It plumps up your skin to appear firmer, less saggy and more toned, preventing more wrinkles to become apparent. It temporarily turns back the clock, giving you a youthful rejuvenated skin.
SUPPORTS HEALING
The skin is more vulnerable to damage and infection when dry. HA promotes skin healing and repairing by giving skin moisture and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, HA is also incredibly gentle even for the most sensitive skin that dermatologists recommend it for people with eczema-prone skin to help it recover after a procedure (e.g. chemical peel, laser treatment or resurfacing). It strengthens your skin’s protective barrier, giving you stronger and healthier skin.
PROVIDES ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE
Likewise, HA provides a robust antioxidant defence against free radical damage like UV. This proves to be important since free radicals can break down collagen and elastin causing the skin to age thus, wrinkles and sagging become more visible.
TYPES OF HYALURONIC ACID PRODUCTS
TOPICAL
HA products come in many forms. One of which is a topical cream or serum. Unlike collagen, topical products with HA is able to penetrate the skin’s upper layers. It forms an air permeable layer and penetrates into the dermis, increasing the elasticity and hydration of the skin. The protective barrier on the skin locks in moisture, giving skin a youthful appearance.
ORAL SUPPLEMENT
HA supplements aid in the production of collagen, the most abundant protein in the body that supports skin structure. As body collagen declines, the appearance of wrinkles and discolouration become more evident. Taking HA as an oral supplement maximizes collagen levels that keep skin supple and resistant to wrinkles and fine lines.
INJECTABLE
HA is widely used as a dermal filler that is injected directly into sagging skin, reducing wrinkles and increasing plumpness to the dermis. It lasts longer than collagen injections, typically lasting from four to six months. However, while it offers instant results, it is still temporary and has to be done repeatedly.
5 CLEVER TIPS TO FOLLOW WHEN USING HYALURONIC ACID
- Make the most of your money. Choose skin care products with at least 1% hyaluronic acid content. Products with only 0.5% content usually don’t guarantee the best results.
- Don’t apply products one after another. It takes a minimum of 15 minutes for a serum to take effect and be completely absorbed into the skin. Waiting a few minutes before applying another beauty product ensures better results from your beauty regimen.
- Get the hydration you need. Use skin care moisturisers with the right dose of hyaluronic acid. For best results, use a serum and lotion for added hydration.
- Always check the ingredients of beauty products. A lot of skin care products already have hyaluronic acid content and it just depends on you to make the right choice.
- Avoid allergic reactions. Make it a habit to perform a skin test to check for possible reactions whenever you’re using a new beauty product. To do this, apply a small amount of the product to the inner part of your wrist or behind your ear. Observe for about 24-48 hours for possible allergic reactions. If none, you can use the product for the other areas of your body.
SAFETY
HA-based products are considered safe, particularly those made from synthesized HA. Such is made of bacteria instead of human or animal tissue. There are only a few allergic reactions and side effects involved with using HA and may be in the form of mild, temporary redness. In choosing an HA serum or cream, buying from an organic beauty products store is preferred. Make it a point to avoid:
- Serums that contain alcohol, parabens, sulphates or other harmful ingredients.
- Serums that are advertised as a pure hyaluronic acid because chances are, these contain alcohol or preservatives that counteract the benefits of HA as a topical.
HYALURONIC ACID IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS: WHAT WE RECOMMEND
MAGICSTRIPES HYALURONIC TREATMENT MASK
leaves the skin moisturised, nourished, and firmer
This is a powerful Hydrogel Mask that comes with anti-ageing and moisturising properties. Made with 100% natural cotton fabric, completely biodegradable and contains vegetable ingredients. Best of all it is concentrated with Hyaluronic Acid that helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, allowing you to achieve a more youthful look.
AMBUJA SKIN CARE CHARISMA ELIXIR
energises, replenishes, regenerates, and rejuvenates skin
Here’s an organically formulated skin care product that naturally hydrates the skin to give it a renewed look and youthful glow. It works by boosting circulation, skin elasticity, and deal away with the harmful effects of fatigue and ageing. It is infused with natural ingredients and antioxidant-rich peptides, including gooseberries, green coconut water, lotus cell water, and bio-sodium hyaluronate.
ZELENS YOUTH CONCENTRATE SUPREME AGE-DEFYING SERUM
restores healthy moisture balance and plumps the skin
Here’s an ultimate anti-ageing treatment that can help you fight skin ageing. It comes with an innovative formula composed of 8 powerful peptides that defy the signs of ageing. This serum helps prolong the youth span with long-lasting effect, reviving a perfectly hydrated skin that is smooth, elastic, firm and visibly younger.
VERSO SKINCARE DARK SPOT FIX
reduces the appearance of dark spots
This dark spot corrector has a huge amount of retinol and is designed to diminish the appearance of minor and unwanted dark spots. Perfect for daytime use. Make it a part of your skincare regimen and see a visible reduction of ageing signs, sun damage, and even acne marks.
CIRC-CELL ABO FACE REJUVENATION SERUM
moisturises and nourishes the skin
Get intensive rejuvenation with this serum’s anti-ageing effect that occurs on a cellular level. It rejuvenates the skin by replenishing it with essential nutrients. It comes with an enriched oxygen and algae complex for nourishment and hydration, while the sea fennel stem cell acts as a shield that fights free radicals. Best for improving skin firmness and elasticity and reducing the visible signs of ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles.
