Why use hyaluronic acid in your routine?

Hyaluronic acid, an essential in every skincare routine.

It cannot be repeated enough: all skin types need daily hydration (even combination, oily, or acne-prone skin!). Hyaluronic acid is a key molecule in cosmetics due to its many benefits for the skin. It is particularly recognized for its exceptional moisturizing properties (it can retain 1000 times its weight in water). This active ingredient helps to deeply moisturize the skin, plump it up, and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. It is, in fact, the excellent treatment to favor in all routines.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring element in the human body. Just like elastin or collagen, it is what makes skin plump and full. It is found, for example, in the vitreous humor of the eye and the fluid of the joints.

According to the website of the French Association of Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine, from the age of 20, the production of hyaluronic acid decreases by 6% every decade. This means that by the age of 50, the amount present in the skin is halved. It is therefore important to take care of your skin from a young age by integrating skincare products with hyaluronic acid into your routine.

Because well-hydrated skin is skin that defends itself against daily external aggressions!

What are the benefits of hyaluronic acid?

This molecule is used in cosmetics for its moisturizing properties. It will notably hydrate and plump the skin both on the surface and in depth, as hyaluronic acid is found in both the dermis and epidermis. It is an amazing humectant that has the ability to attract a large quantity of water, but also to retain it deep within the skin.

How does hyaluronic acid work on the skin?

Hyaluronic acid works by attracting and retaining moisture in the skin. It is a humectant, which means it draws water from the environment and from the deep layers of the skin into the superficial layers. This helps to plump the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Lack of hydration is, in fact, one of the main factors responsible for skin aging. By attracting and capturing moisture to your skin, hyaluronic acid repairs the hydrolipidic barrier which forms a real protection against external aggressions. When it is not dry, the epidermis shows fewer marks, and dehydration lines cannot set in.

Furthermore, hyaluronic acid can help to strengthen the skin's barrier function, which can help protect the skin from environmental stressors and reduce the appearance of redness and irritation.

Another interesting property: hyaluronic acid is neither oily nor occlusive. It penetrates very quickly into the heart of the skin and offers a good alternative for oily, combination, and dehydrated epidermises. It helps maintain a certain level of hydration without the risk of new blemishes appearing. This is because when the skin becomes dehydrated, it initiates a process to produce excess sebum to compensate for its deficiencies. Therefore, it is a molecule that is suitable for all skin types!

Hyaluronic acid will serve various functions:

1/ Upon application to the skin, the hyaluronic acid molecule is immediately detected by the body, which triggers an "alert" and automatically stimulates its natural production.

2/ Hyaluronic acid will help maintain the necessary hydration level for the skin, thanks to its high retention capacity!

3/ Over time, collagen production slows down, which affects the skin's water retention capacity. Hyaluronic acid will stimulate this collagen production and rehydrate it to strengthen the skin's tissues.

No wonder it's the go-to anti-aging active!

Different forms of hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid can be present in different molecular weights, which can have different effects on the skin. Smaller molecules are able to penetrate deeper into the skin, while larger molecules can provide more superficial hydration.

Hyaluronic acid is found in various treatments:

1/ Cosmetics: hyaluronic acid can be applied topically in serums, creams, and masks.

2/ Oral dietary supplements: in the form of capsules or tablets and can help improve skin hydration and elasticity from within.

3/ Injections: they are injected into the skin to plump wrinkles, fine lines, and acne scars.

It is worth noting that the form of hyaluronic acid you choose will depend on your specific needs and goals. For example, if you are looking to improve skin hydration and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, a hyaluronic acid serum or moisturizer may be the best option.

How to use hyaluronic acid-based products?

Ideally, use an anti-aging serum with hyaluronic acid and apply it, morning and evening, to your previously cleansed skin. Then, follow up with a lipid-rich moisturizer to maintain a strong skin barrier and lock in hydration.

A little tip: always keep your skin slightly damp when applying your serum, so as to trap hydration. Hyaluronic acid does not contain water itself, and the more you combine it with other moisturizing products, the more effective it will be. To dampen your face, you can use a mist.

Warning: hyaluronic acid IS STICKY. So, it's not surprising that this sensation lingers for a few minutes after application. It's simply the natural texture of this particularly viscous product.