You may know hyaluronic acid to be the main ingredient used in products like Juvederm and Restylane. Fillers as we call them in the biz are injected just below the skin to restore a youthful look by filling in fine lines, wrinkles and adding volume to the area treated.
More recently hyaluronic acid is being sold over the counter in the form of topical serums or as an additive to the moisturizers and products you already use. And they work really well if applied correctly. The trick is adding the acid to the right products.
We asked Shawn, one of our Skin Care Specialists at Skin Bar to give us the skinny on the best way to use and mix hyaluronic acid with the products you may already be using.
What is hyaluronic acid and how does it work?
Hyaluronic acid is known among skin care professionals as “nature’s moisture magnet.” It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. It’s ability to retain moisture is what it so powerful.
Hyaluronic acid is produced naturally by our bodies and plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin. It also adds cushion and lubricates connective tissue like that found in the joints between our bones. As we age our bodies produce less hyaluronic acid.
The production of this vital substance decreases significantly in our forties. But, a poor diet and smoking can affect your body’s production of hyaluronic acid much earlier. This is where products with hyaluronic acid fit best as a counter balance to your bodies waning production.
While hyaluronic acid is very effective at adding volume, it has many other benefits and uses. Hydrating chronically dry skin and repairing damaged skin are two common conditions we use hyaluronic acid to treat.
What are the benefits of hyaluronic acid?
Whether you have dry, oily, sensitive or sun damaged skin hyaluronic acid can strengthen your skin’s barrier because of its lightweight texture and ingredients that mimic our skin. A healthy barrier looks and feels softer, smoother, and plumper—giving you a younger, fresher look! But, moisture and a healthy barrier are not the only benefits hyaluronic acid delivers. It reduces inflammation and provides antioxidant defense against free radical damage.
As you’ve probably noticed, both in drugstores and department stores, more and more brands are using hyaluronic acid and its derivatives in their products. How do you know which products are the good ones? It’s as simple as checking out the ingredients on the label. If hyaluronic acid is listed near the end of the list, the product in your hand doesn’t contain much of the active ingredient you are looking for.
Most products containing hyaluronic acid are moisturizers and serums. After you have confirmed that hyaluronic acid is one of the key ingredients, pay attention to what else in your bottle. Avoid dehydrating and fragrant plant oils that can diminish hyaluronic effects.
If you’ve already found your perfect moisturizer, but it doesn’t contain hyaluronic acid, you can always use a product like IMAGE Skincare’s Ageless Hyaluronic topical filler, a serum that you you can add to your moisturizer for an extra boost of wrinkle-smoothing hydration and fine line plumping!
Vitamin C helps to minimize fine lines, scars, and wrinkles. It’s the only antioxidant that is proven to boost production of collagen, which like hyaluronic acid is a key part of skin’s structure.
These products used together work well to combat the signs of aging. Hyaluronic filler hydrates and plumps the skin, filling in fine lines and wrinkles, while vitamin C products boost collagen and protect the skin from environmental damage that lead to the signs of aging. You can’t go wrong with the combination of these two amazing products!
Shawn recommends IMAGE Skincare’s VITAL C — anti aging serum and Hydrating enzyme mask for your combination.