Is Hyaluronic Acid Worth the Hype?
Hyaluronic acid: you’ve most likely heard the buzz by now. From serums to makeup to injections, you’ll find hyaluronic acid included as an ingredient in many skincare products today. But what exactly is hyaluronic acid, and is it worth the hype, or just a passing trend in beauty?
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found inside your body. Most notably, it's found in skin, eyes, and joint fluid. Hyaluronic acid is a gel-like, clear substance, and is intensely hydrating, able to hold 1000 times its weight in water. But while hyaluronic acid itself is a natural component of skin, the hyaluronic acid included in skincare products is produced in a lab by bacteria.
Benefits of hyaluronic acid for skin
Hyaluronic acid’s main benefit is hydration. It bonds with water to intensely moisturize the skin, helping to reduce dryness. It can also help reduce redness on the skin.
Because of its hydration properties, hyaluronic acid is also an excellent anti-aging tool. When skin is not properly moisturized, it can highlight the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and make it slightly more prone to sagging. Hydration gives skin some volume, helping to expand skin a bit, enough to make fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. This is especially helpful to use since as skin ages, it slows down the production of hyaluronic acid, making it more prone to becoming dry.
Hyaluronic acid also helps the skin by stimulating production of two other substances: collagen and elastin. Both of these help keep with aging, keeping the skin firm and supple and enabling it to bounce back better.
Interestingly, hyaluronic acid helps with several things beyond skin health, such as joint lubrication, dental health, and a recent study showed it has promising results against acid reflux.