Hyaluronic Acid

I, for one, am not ashamed of my fine lines and wrinkles. I like them. I have earned them. And while I am fond of these natural, unavoidable, relatively new details of my skin, I’m not a fan of extrinsic aging, which is the result of exposure to external factors such as pollution and ultraviolet light. Approximately 80% of facial skin aging is attributed to UV-exposure! 😱 For the love of God, people, wear your sunscreen!

Since everyone seemed to enjoy my last scientific rant in regards to double cleansing (see that post here), allow me to entertain you whilst I put on my science hat once more. (If you read that in a posh, British accent, congrats because you did so correctly.)

Over the past twenty years or so, there has been considerable evidence presented that has unraveled the functional role of HA in molecular mechanisms. HA is the key molecule involved in skin moisture because of its unique capacity to retain water. This ability to bind and retain water molecules allows it to hold up to 1000x its own weight in water! Impressive, I know. It is because of this primary function of restoring and retaining moisture that we find it in loads of skincare products, particularly anti-aging products, as aging skin loses moisture and its ability to hold moisture as well as it once did. It’s also suitable for all skin types and has few adverse reactions when used properly.

Notice how I said, “when used properly?” Yeah… You wouldn’t be wrong if you’re reading this and thinking “I bet she’s going to tell us why we are all misusing HA,” because that’s what I’m about to do. I have also been guilty of misusing HA in the past because I just wasn’t fully informed. We’re told “this is good and it’s going to help you look younger for longer,” and it’s in nearly every skin care product available, so I get it and I’m not judging.

Without dwelling on my own flaws and failures for too long, allow me to explain. When HA is applied topically to the skin, the skin itself acts as a barrier, preventing the hyaluronic acid molecules from passing through the dermis (the layer of skin that is below the epidermis), as HA molecules are too large. So instead, it sits on the skin’s surface, chillin’, doing its thing, attracting water molecules like the player it is. The HA draws water into the skin, keeping it hydrated, making sure that the barrier continues to function properly.

So what could go wrong? Well, because HA really loves to attract moisture, it will do what molecules do without even thinking about the consequences. HA will actually suck moisture out from the deeper levels of your skin whenever moisture in the air is unavailable. This is not cool, HA. Not. Cool.

This stolen moisture quickly evaporates, especially if you’re not following up your HA application with a good moisturizer and facial oil to seal it all in (and I don’t want to say ‘I told you so,’ but click here to see my post about facial oils when I indeed, told you so).

Listen, I never win so let me just have this one, okay?

Don’t go tossing your bottle of hyaluronic acid just yet. This is a problem that usually occurs when humidity levels are low so it may not be a problem for everyone but you should still follow up with a moisturizer and facial oil even if you live in a place with high levels of humidity. Even then, you’re still running the risk of this occurring. High-quality facial oils and moisturizers with ingredients like squalane, a hydrator that acts as a barrier to keep moisture locked in, are best for sealing in all of the moisture, giving your skin the best chance to absorb it. 

So maybe you’re asking “So what if that happens? Won’t I just get dry skin?” Ahem. No. If you’ve ever experienced irritation, redness, rash, or small pimples while using HA, this is likely why, though you can always remove products one at a time from your routine until you’ve found your culprit just to be sure. Also, these problems tend to occur for people who have been using HA for an extended period of time (I’m talking months).

Aside from a good moisturizer and facial oil, what else can we do to prevent this utter tragedy from happening? Not too much, actually, but one thing we can do, we can choose hyaluronic acid products with different molecular weights. HA comes in six different sizes and unfortunately, if you want to find out which HA type a brand is using, you will have to do some research, whether online, reading the bottle, box, or insert thoroughly, or asking the brand directly and trusting them to be transparent about the HA type they’ve used. But if you can’t trust ‘em, dump ‘em. That’s what I always say.

I just want you all to remember that no matter the molecular weight of the hyaluronic acid you’re using, it’s only working on the top layer of the skin and must be followed with an application of moisturizer and facial oil to give yourself the best chance of holding all of that good moisture in. With that said, you may have better luck with choosing a hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight just to be safe, or if you live in an area with low humidity. It’s better because it stays more so on the surface of the skin, as opposed to the lower-molecular weight HA that can penetrate further into the skin, drawing out even more moisture from the deeper layers.

Another option? Just use products with glycerin, which is a different type of humectant but unlike hyaluronic acid, it helps slow the evaporation of water from your skin. It is often used in conjunction with HA in many skin care products which is totally fine. Glycerin is typically cheaper and more effective, saving you the worry about whether you’re actually helping or harming your skin.

If you’re curious about which facial oils I recommend, check out my post on facial oils, how and when to apply them, and check out my recommended products with glycerin and squalane below.♥