Hyaluronic Acid: Read This Before Using
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate, is a clear, gooey, slippery substance that is produced naturally by your body. It is a large chain of sugar molecules found throughout the entire body. However, the most concentrated sources of hyaluronic acid are found in the skin, eye, connective tissues, and the synovial fluid that lubricates and cushions your joints and other tissues.
Hyaluronic acid is greatly helpful in retaining moisture. That is why most skincare experts and dermatologists recommend using a hyaluronic acid serum to moisturize your skin.
With age, the production of certain vitamins and other "youthful" compounds like hyaluronic acid - which is tied to healthy joints and hydrated skin - decreases. This results in the appearance of wrinkles.
Hyaluronic acid prevents the skin from drying, therefore it is used in anti-aging products to delay signs of aging.
The production of hyaluronic acid in our bodies drops due to two factors: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic factors occur within the body and have to do with hormones. Testosterone and estrogen levels drop as you age, and this results in loss of hyaluronic acid.
The extrinsic factor, on the other hand, occurs outside the body. Sun exposure is one of the most substantial extrinsic factors. Within 5 minutes of exposure to UV rays of the sun, hyaluronic acid starts to break down. The extrinsic factor can be controlled while the intrinsic cannot.
Benefits of hyaluronic acid
- Hyaluronic acid reduces the appearance of wrinkles and makes the skin stretch.
- It is used in eye drops to provide relief for the eye.
- It heals wounds faster and reduces scars.
- Hyaluronic acid can be injected into joints to serve as a lubricant, reducing stiffness and pain.
- Hyaluronic acid alleviates dry skin by hydrating and retaining moisture.
What To Look For In The Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Not all hyaluronic serums are made the same way; hence, they do different jobs and achieve different results. The best hyaluronic serum for your skin should combine the two main forms of acid; high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid.
The high molecular weight of hyaluronic acid, due to its extensive molecule size does not penetrate the skin deeply. Rather, it stays on the surface and helps it to retain moisture and hydration.
The low molecular weight of hyaluronic acid penetrates the surface of the skin due to its smaller molecules. It penetrates deep down to the dermis to help restore lost hyaluronic acid caused by aging. This effectively fights wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.
Your ideal serum should have a mix of both high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid in order to achieve a super hydrated and youthful skin.
A good serum should contain 2% of hyaluronic acid. Lower than that is not going to achieve any results and higher will take away water molecules from your skin and leave it dry.
Some hyaluronic serums contain only water and hyaluronic acid. This cannot achieve desired results. Ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C when added to the serum give very incredible results.
ELEVATE face serum is one of the best Hyaluronic Acid serum. Unlike serums that only use one weight of HA, which does not penetrate deeper tissue, ELEVATE triple-weight serum hydrates skin from the inside out.
ELEVATE includes vitamin E, which strengthens the skin barrier function and promotes healing as well as aids in cellular restoration.
ELEVATE contains 15% of vitamin C and Clementine essential oil. It also contains niacinamide which helps to lock in moisture while improving your skin's texture.
It is essential to know the right HA serum to pick as there are numerous HA serums on the market today. While others may be slow in achieving desired results, some may not achieve any at all. Watch out for the HA serum that can keep your skin hydrated and moisturized, and give you that youthful glow.