Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient you will hear me talking a lot about, and I really want you to look out for it on the ingredients list of your skincare. Why? Because has wonderful properties, and can attract up to 1,000 times its weight in water, meaning it has brilliant anti-ageing properties thanks to the way it adds volume and plumps up your skin cells. Think of it as a sponge in your skin that absorbs moisture and keeps your skin looking its best!
‘Acid’ is slightly misleading, as it makes you think of chemical peels and exfoliating products and treatments, but you should consider it as a heavyweight hydrator. It occurs naturally in our skin cells, gums, eyeballs, joints and is in every cell in our bodies – 50% of the hyaluronic acid found in our body is actually located in the skin. By attracting and holding large quantities of moisture, it prevents thirsty, dry and lacklustre skin by topping up your natural reserves. You get the message, right? It’s a crucial ingredient.
If you don’t have or get enough hyaluronic acid, your skin looks dull, dry and wrinkled, with poor texture and light reflection. We are constantly breaking down all the hyaluronic acid in our skin and remaking it every day. There is a very quick turnover – one third is broken down every day at least. Unfortunately, the speed at which we make it slows with age. And if the skin looks bad, you can imagine that the other areas which require hyaluronic acid, like our eyes and joints, are also low too – which can have health implications. You have about 15 grams of hyaluronic acid in the body and by your mid-40s the speed at which you can make hyaluronic acid decreases by half.
My edit of the best hyaluronic acid products is below but you can also consider ingesting the super ingredient in the form of a supplement like Skinade Collagen Drink and Totally Derma Skin Drinks and trying injectables like Profhilo to boost your levels. I’m loving Profhilo right now for increasing the hydration levels of specific areas. You can use it anywhere on the body; the face is the most popular of course, but people also use it in areas such as the knees, elbows and buttocks to improve skin texture.
Six of the best…
- Skinceuticals H.A Intensifier
I love the texture of this serum and the way it just glides over skin and sinks in really quickly. It contains high concentrations of hyaluronic acid and Proxylane to support and stimulate your skin’s natural levels. Think of this as giving your skin a really big drink of water to leave it plump, firm and springy. Simply apply four to six drops, once or twice daily. Find out more at https://www.skinceuticals.co.uk/.
- Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
If you prefer creamy, richer textures, then this would be perfect for you – it’s a really great all-round moisturiser. Although you can use this daily for immediate moisture, I love using it as a more intensive treatment by leaving it on for five minutes and then blotting off any excess. Find out more at https://www.clinique.co.uk/.
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid
I’m really loving this brand, it’s got so many hidden gems. This treatment contains 2% hyaluronic acid for deep hydration and is oil-free, so it’s great for all skin types. The texture is light, so you can layer your preferred serum or moisturiser on top for multiple benefits. This is a great budget buy for those who don’t want to spend a fortune. Find out more at https://theordinary.com/.
- Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum
This is brand new and has literally only just landed in the shops. It contains a massive 75% hyaluronic acid and hydrates, nourishes and soothes skin to leave it looking cushiony with fewer fine lines and wrinkles. Use alone or layer the coordinating cream on top, depending on how dry your skin is. Find out more at https://www.peterthomasroth.com/.
- IBSA Profhilo
This is an injectable which I use in the clinic. It’s a stabilised hyaluronic acid without any chemical crosslinking agents, which is actually really game-changing and ahead of the curve. I’m seeing great results in the texture and tone of my patient’s skin, but also in the reduction of lines and wrinkles. Find out more at http://www.ibsaderma.com/en/home.htm.
