Dos and Don’ts You Have to Know
What if I instructed you there was a magical skincare potion that might naturally infuse moisture and bounce into your pores and skin, soften wrinkles, and provide you with a dewy glow—no go to to the derm required? That’s the magic of hyaluronic acid. However as overvalued as this buzzy ingredient is, it will probably’t work its wonders with out correct software. That’s why as we speak, we’re diving into all of the dos and don’ts of how you can use hyaluronic acid for wholesome, glowy pores and skin.
It’s no secret that hyaluronic has been in all places these previous few years. I’ve seen it popping up in every little thing from cleaners to oils to masks to oral magnificence dietary supplements. All these completely different formulations obtained me questioning whether or not all hyaluronic acid therapies had been alike, or if (as I hypothesized) sure methods of getting the great things had been higher than others. And so my analysis started. Seems, my hunch was proper.
Featured picture from our interview with Iskra Lawrence by Michelle Nash.
Subscribe
Sleep well.
Sign up to receive a FREE E-BOOK with 12 steps to your best sleep ever.
Thanks for Signing Up!
Oops!
Looks like you’re already signed up or your email address is invalid.
Oops!
Looks like you unsubscribed before click here to resubscribe.
Professional Secrets and techniques Behind Find out how to Use Hyaluronic Acid
How, when, and in what formulation… these items actually do matter with regards to getting your every day dose of HA. So, I related with the crew at Olay to set the story straight. (In relation to what’s proper and what’s mistaken, assume minimal effort, max outcomes.) Scroll on for the secrets and techniques to your most lovely, moisturized pores and skin…
What is hyaluronic acid?
First, a quick lesson on what makes hyaluronic acid the wonder ingredient that it is. HA acts as a “humectant.” This means that it works like a sponge to help the skin retain water and plump it up. We actually have natural levels of hyaluronic acid in our skin, but as we age, they slowly deplete. This leads to wrinkles and a loss of bounce in the skin.
HA has the incredible capacity to attract and hold onto 1000x its weight in moisture. And herein lies the key. Hyaluronic acid should be used either in a moisturizer or in conjunction with your moisturizing products. When you add moisture to the skin, you’re giving the HA added water to absorb and hold onto, rather than pulling moisture out of dry skin.
Instead, HA brings moisture to the surface of the skin and holds it there, keeping the skin continually moisturized throughout the day. To test this in action, I’ve been experimenting with my favorite hyaluronic acid products over the past few years (see below). There’s no doubt that my skin is visibly dewier and smoother, with increased elasticity. And it stays that way all day without ever getting greasy.
Common Hyaluronic Acid Mistakes
These are a few of the most common mistakes made when incorporating hyaluronic acid into a skincare routine—and how to fix them so this super ingredient can do its job right.
Mistake 1: Using Hyaluronic Acid Without Moisturizer
Since HA can hold a lot of water, just think about it: it needs moisture to work. If the skin is already dry and HA is applied in a formula that doesn’t add moisture (think cleanser, toner, or light serum), it will pull moisture from wherever it can, like from deep within your skin, where it can then evaporate into the air if not sealed properly.
On the other hand, when HA is formulated within a deeply hydrating moisturizer (or again, a moisturizer is used after), that emollient will penetrate and lock moisture into the skin, which is, of course, the goal.
Mistake 2: Not Using Hyaluronic Acid as the Final Step in Skincare
With all the fancy HA formulations on the market now (serums, pills, masks, and so much more), it can be tempting to adopt a “more the merrier” mentality. However, some research has shown that overuse of hyaluronic acid can result in redness and inflammation. The takeaway: Choose the one step where you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck. Since we’ve established that HA needs moisture-packed padding for optimal effectiveness, locking it in (within a rich, well-formulated moisturizer) as the final step in your AM and PM skincare routine will leave you with hours of smooth, bouncy skin.
Mistake 3: Applying Hyaluronic Acid To Dry Skin
When HA is applied to dry skin in dry conditions, it will naturally pull moisture from wherever it can. So, if there’s low humidity in the air, it draws moisture from the deeper layers of skin and brings it to the surface, where it then evaporates and leaves skin drier than it was in the first place.
But when you start your HA skincare routine with a damp face, it has a reserve of moisture to pull from, plain and simple. Understanding this has been a game changer that’s resulted in my healthiest, most moisturized skin ever.
So, prepare yourself for my new favorite new skincare hack. Each morning and evening, I mist my face with water, then apply my chosen hyaluronic acid serum products, then mist again.
When hyaluronic acid comes into contact with water, my skin will end up hydrated and healthy. In the morning, I have a smooth canvas for my makeup—none of that “settling into fine lines” thing happening around my eyes these days.
The Best Hyaluronic Acid Products to Get Started
Every product is curated with care by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream contains ultra-high concentrations of HA, smoothing out fine lines and transforming skin upon first use. It’s also infused with vitamin B3 for skin cell turnover, plus amino-peptides and antioxidants for ultimate health and hydration. I’ve been using it as the final step in my morning and night skincare routine for the past couple of months, and it’s become a non-negotiable in my lineup. After all, hydrated skin is happy skin!
Summer Fridays Dream Oasis
Have you ever obsessed over Summer season Fridays for the reason that model launched its hero product, the Jet Lag Mask? Then you understand it’s all about hydrating pores and skin as a lot as potential. This jelly serum provides main moisture with out weighing the pores and skin down. Formulated with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane, Dream Oasis is a go-to alternative for any pores and skin sort. That’s proper—delicate, oily, and acne-prone included.
VERSED Moisture Maker Hyaluronic Serum
Our Managing Editor, Isabelle, is obsessive about this hyaluronic serum (learn her full evaluate of VERSED’s complete line right here). She swears by the next routine for visibly plumper pores and skin after the primary use: “After cleaning, I patted my pores and skin virtually dry—that is key—earlier than making use of two drops of the serum to my face, neck, and chest. I waited a minute or so earlier than making use of my face oil and moisturizer.”
Dime Hyaluronic Acid Serum
For some, it may be a guessing sport as to which hyaluronic acid serum will assist your pores and skin finest. Nonetheless, from polling girlfriends, co-workers, and social media acquaintances, it’s clear that this is likely one of the finest by way of delivering hydration minus any irritation. And since hyaluronic acid has been identified to behave as a service for different components, through the use of this product in tandem with different skincare heavy hitters (your go-to moisturizer and different facial oils), even the driest pores and skin will get pleasure from slightly further increase and bounce.
Alder New York Balancing Serum
I’m obsessive about each single final product this vegan skincare line places out. However the Balancing Serum? It could be my all-time fave. I think about it a morning and evening important and a go-to for lowering redness and night my pores and skin texture. What’s extra, as a result of my pores and skin leans on the oilier aspect, I can depend on this serum to stability it out. Plus, every of the model’s merchandise is formulated for all ages, genders, and ethnicities. So everybody can get pleasure from their healthiest pores and skin.
This put up was initially printed on September 3, 2020, and has since been up to date.