Quench Your Skin's Thirst: The Power of Hyaluronic Acid

At first glance, hyaluronic acid sounds super intimidating.. I remember thinking of the medical-grade chemicals we used to play within science experiments. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that acts as a lubricant and cushioning agent for our skin, hair, nails and many other areas of the body. In skincare, it has gained popularity in recent years for its hydrating properties and is used in many creams and serums to add to the hydration factor of the formulation.

HA functions by acting as a binding moisture agent, meaning that it seeks to bind water to collagen leaving the skin looking plumper and moisturised.

Key Benefits of Hyaluronic acid are:

1. It’s a humectant i.e. it draws moisture from the air and is capable of holding up to 1000 times its weight in water - Pro tip: make sure you apply it to wet skin, otherwise, it has a drying effect
2. It has a temporary plumping effect, smoothing out light wrinkles 
3. Non-irritating, studies for hyaluronic acid have a very low rate of irritability across different skin types
4. Widely available at every price point from The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid + B5 for under £10 to the Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum that comes in at just over £200 
5. When layered with actives such as AHAs and BHAs it can help reduce the chance of irritation by infusing the skin with moisture

HA takes many forms ranging from face washes to face masks, aside from skincare we can intake HA orally through supplements and food. Popular food sources that increase the bodies production of HA include bone broth, soy-based foods, starchy root vegetables (i.e. potatoes, sweet potatoes), citrus fruits and good old leafy greens.

According to Shamban, hyaluronic acid's main uses and benefits are keeping skin moist and lubricated. "It is a super star at alleviating dry skin," she says. "Hyaluronic acid is a moisture binder, which means that it will attach itself to the water in the cells making them 'plump.'"

King concurs, adding that the ingredient is strikingly powerful 

For the most part, hyularonic acid is suitable for all skin types (especially dry) and layers well with all skincare ingredients (though, some formulations do not mix well with all products). Hyaluronic acid has a plumping effect and acts as an amazing part of base prep for the makeup wearers.