The Lowdown On Hyaluronic Acid – This Year’s Skincare Star
Hyaluronic acid is becoming a serious skincare staple, but do we all really know what it is or how it fights off wrinkles when applied topically? To help understand this trending skincare buzz, we’ve asked leading cosmetic Doctor Preema Vig, to answer the key questions about Hyaluronic acid that we all want to know the answers to….
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a long-chain molecule, which is integral to the skin’s support structure as well as other tissues such as cartilage. It is in the Glycosaminoglycans group and can to bind many times its molecular weight in water. This makes hyaluronic acid ideal for cushioning the support structure of skin, leaving it plump, smooth and supple.
Where does it exist naturally in our skin?
It is predominantly found in the dermis of the skin and helps maintain hydration, skin resilience and maintenance of structure, even when the skin is stressed.
How quickly do our own reserves of it deplete as we age?
Amounts of hyaluronic acid in skin are already declining before visible signs of ageing appear. That is because the metabolism slows with ageing and we are less able to synthesize adequate amounts of hyaluronic acid. Once a critical amount of damage occurs, however, ageing becomes increasingly visible with advancing years. As with other conditions, maintenance of healthy skin is better than playing “catch-up” once damage has already occurred.
How does it help the skin look younger when put in skincare products?
This depends greatly on the quality of the skincare product. There are different ways of formulating hyaluronic acid: Some products work much better than others because of superior formulation technology and better quality ingredients. iS Clinical’s Youth Complex contains short-chain subunits of hyaluronic acid. These are absorbed through the stratum corneum and also hyaluronic microspheres which immediately and efficiently re-hydrate skin by nestling in fine wrinkles and absorbing the skin’s own water.
Top Hyaluronic Acid Product Picks
iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex, £90 for 15g
Containing 15.0% of botanically derived Hyaluronic Acid, which attracts and binds up to 1,800 times its molecular weight in water, this product delivers instant hydration to skin. The formulation works to plump fine lines and wrinkles and promotes long term benefits of firming, smoothing and tightening skin while also being clinically proven to stimulate collagen and elastin production.
Croma Farewell Anti-Aging Serum, £109 for 30ml
Designed to support the skin as it ages, this serum works to maintain elasticity and reduce visible signs of ageing. Hyaluronic Acid and Madecassoside keep skin hydrated and improve firmness, while Marine ferment extract and a plant derived alternative to Retinol help lift sagging skin. Vitamin C provides additional antioxidative properties and effectively improves the appearance of photo-damaged skin and wrinkles.
Croma Hyaluronic Acid sheet masks, £48 for 8 pack
This luxurious and deeply hydrating sheet mask is the perfect addition to your winter skin routine. It is rich with hyaluronic acid to increase moisture, alleviate visible dryness and improve the skin’s elasticity. The pleasant cooling effect and delicate formula works will leave skin glowing and nourished.
Revision skincare Hydrating Serum, £91.50 for 30ml
Revision Skincare have carefully created their Hydrating Serum to offer smart hydration for fresher, smoother and younger-looking skin. The ultra-light, oil-free serum works to rehydrate and restore the skin whilst also supporting the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Ideally applied under moisturiser for an extra hydration boost, the serum helps to helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whilst alleviating skin tightness.
skinbetter science InterFuse Intensive Treatment LINES, £125 for 15ml
This patented treatment, which includes injectable-grade hyaluronic acid at a high-molecular weight, offers a no-needle, hyaluronic acid solution to improve the appearance of deep expression lines and wrinkles. The product also contains four additional types of hyaluronic acids to improve moisture retention and an added collagen complex containing amino acids, peptides and Vitamin C that work synergistically to reduce signs of skin ageing.
Epionce Renewal Eye Cream, £62 for 15g
Expertly formulated with a combination of hyaluronic acid and botanical sources of lipids to help the skin maintain its balance of water and oil, this eye cream deeply penetrates through the skin barrier to reach targeted cells to strengthen, repair and fortify the skin. The active complexes help reverse visible signs of ageing, while soft focus technology visibly reduces imperfections and is also formulated to complement the use of eye makeup.
