Liz deSousa for BYRDIE
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard ofhyaluronic acid.
In most cases, context is needed.
For example, the key in of formula matters.
Liz deSousa for BYRDIE
Are you getting hyaluronic acid through a serum or a moisturizer?
Does it do anything if it’s in awash-offcleanser?
To weed through all the information and confusion, we tapped four skincare experts.
Keep reading to find out whether or not hyaluronic acid actually deserves a permanent spot in your skincare rotation.
Meet the Experts
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule naturally found in your skin and the connective tissue in yourbody.
“It is a superstar at alleviating dry skin,” she says.
Works well with:Vitamin C, vitamin B5, andglycolic acid.
Dont use with:There are no known negative reactions to hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic Acid vs.
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic acid has a counterpart named sodium hyaluronate.
Ingredients are in salt form because they are more stable and less likely to oxidize.
The lower the weight, the more it can penetrate.
You know serums that claim they are made with 75 percent or even 99 percent hyaluronic acid?
Simply put, theyre not.
Sodium hyaluronate doesnt come in pure formit comes in solution form, Benjamin explains.
It comes to be 1 percent to 2 percent of the solution, primarily composed of water.
Its not truly 90 percent HAits 90 percent of the total solution, which is primarily water.
She says the industry standard for hyaluronic acid is 1 percent and sometimes 2 percent for over-the-counter products.
To have a HA concentration higher than that, you usually have to go to a dermatologist’s office.
“There may be swelling,” she notes.
Hyaluronic acid is excellent at hydrating dry skin while retinol encourages collagen production.
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