Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. It’s primarily found in our skin, connective tissue, and eyes and is renowned for its unique capacity to bind and retain water molecules. This makes it a key molecule in skin hydration and volume.
Over recent years, its popularity has skyrocketed in the skincare industry. Many companies offer their version of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), from over-the-counter options, online options to medical grade (sold by a licensed provider) versions of it. I’ll share my 2 favorites at the end of the blog.
Why do we use Hyaluronic Acid (HA)? There are so many benefits to using Hyaluronic Acid, especially once we start perimenopause and menopause.
Here are some of the key benefits of Hyaluronic Acid:
Skin hydration: HA is a powerful humectant, meaning it has an amazing ability to attract and hold onto 1000x its weight in moisture. It not only helps to keep the skin content hydrated but also to prevent all that moisture from evaporating into the air ¹. It’s a particularly useful ingredient for those with dry skin.
Wrinkle reduction: When skin is hydrated, lines and wrinkles (even the deeper ones) appear diminished, so it’s beneficial for any anti-aging skincare routine².
Skin elasticity: With its ability to promote skin cell regeneration, it’s also been found that Hyaluronic Acid can help improve skin elasticity and reduce skin roughness³.
Soothing the skin: HA is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which helps to protect your skin, making it great for all skin types, including those with sensitive, prone-to-redness skin⁴. This makes it a useful ingredient for those dealing with skin damage or recovering from skin procedures.
Anti-Aging: As we age, our skin naturally loses the ability to retain moisture, contributing to loss of firmness, plumpness, and the formation of wrinkles and lines. By boosting the skin’s moisture content, HA can help to improve these signs of aging.
Suitability for All Skin Types: HA is typically well-tolerated by all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin. It’s a non-greasy, non-comedogenic ingredient that shouldn’t clog pores or cause breakouts.
Complementarity with Other Ingredients: HA is a versatile ingredient that can be combined with many other skincare ingredients, including retinol, vitamins C and E, and other antioxidants to help prepare the skin for other products.
While HA is generally well-tolerated, some people may still experience irritation or allergic reactions. I always advise clients to patch test new skincare products, and to introduce one new product at a time into their routine. If you notice a reaction, please stop using the product and contact the office.
In addition to your normal homecare routine, HA is used in facials and after skincare services, especially with lasers or micro needling. Post-procedure, the skin can often be left dry, red, and sensitive. This is where hyaluronic acid is particularly useful. Its hydrating properties can help to soothe the skin and minimize any dryness or flakiness, while its healing properties can help to reduce downtime and promote faster recovery. I like to apply HA as a post care serum when doing DiamondGlow®, IPL, laser hair removal (of the face), Laser Genesis, Micro needling, or 1540 MaxLift.
My favorite Hyaluronic Acid products are SkinMedica® HA5® and Hydrinity Renewing HA Serum with PPM⁶ Technology. How did I choose these two? After trying lots of HA products, seeing how my skin responded and looking at the science behind the products. Science matters! Simply adding HA to a product will not ensure results or make it effective for your skin.
SkinMedica® HA5® Rejuvenating Hydrator is a premium product in the skincare industry and it’s unique for its proprietary mix of five different forms of Hyaluronic Acid (hence the name HA5). This blend is designed to ensure continuous hydration for up to eight hours, targeting different layers of the skin for comprehensive hydration and skin smoothing.
It contains both low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acids. The lower weight HA is smaller and can penetrate deeper into your skin, providing hydration at a deeper level, while the higher weight HA provides hydration at the surface level.
SkinMedica®’s HA5® Rejuvenating Hydrator is a well-rounded product offering superior hydration thanks to its complex of five forms of hyaluronic acid. However, it is more expensive than some alternatives. Your choice ultimately depends on your skin needs and budget.
Hydrinity Renewing HA Serum with PPM⁶ Technology – Has the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid (2x more) than any other leading brand. It offers high weight HA, which draws skin-plumping moisture to the skin surface to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while boosting vital moisture reserves to help strengthen skin, protect the skin barrier, and improve elasticity.
Hydrinity also offers lower weight that penetrates deep into the skin delivering the vital peptides and antioxidants that are proven to generate healthy, smooth, luminous skin. Hydrinity combines supercharged HA with 6 powerful peptides and plant-based antioxidants to accelerate results, known as their PPM⁶ Technology.
We offer both products and many others in our Schertz location and online. We welcome your feedback if you have found a different Hyaluronic Acid that you love or if you are seeing results with SkinMedica® or Hydrinity.
Thank you for reading. If there is a topic you would like to know more about, send me a message to NeighborhoodAesthetics@gmail.com.
Linda Foresyth, LME Aesthetic Manager
Follow me for more informational topics on products, skincare, longevity, and aging:
@lalifore @theneighborhoodwellnessclinic
¹ (Study: Papakonstantinou, E., Roth, M., & Karakiulakis, G. (2012). Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermato-endocrinology, 4(3), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.21923). ² (Pavicic T, et al. (2011). Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2011;10(9):990-1000). ³ (Study: Jegasothy, S. M., Zabolotniaia, V., & Bielfeldt, S. (2014). Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-hyaluronic Acid in Humans. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 7(3), 27–29). ⁴ (Study: Altman, R., Manjoo, A., Fierlinger, A., Niazi, F., & Nicholls, M. (2015). The mechanism of action for hyaluronic acid treatment in the osteoarthritic knee: a systematic review. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 16, 321. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-015-0775-z).
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