Acid? On my face? Computer says no! I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I also used to struggle with wrapping my head around the link between ‘acid’ and skincare – it automatically made me think of this infamous scene of Samantha from Sex and the City:
But fear not, there are actually a load of different acids that are fabulous for your skin – glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid to name but a few. I have been having glycolic peels for the past couple of months to help ease congestion and even out my skin tone, and I was so happy with the results that I decided to investigate some of the other topical treatments available. First up, hyaluronic acid.
What is it?
- As I mentioned here, hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the body.
- It is known as the body’s “lubricant molecule” due to it’s capacity to absorb up to 1,000 times its own weight in water.
- It secures moisture and creates fullness by maintaining a ‘reservoir of water’ in the top layers of the skin.
- Sadly our ability to produce it decreases rapidly as we age, which is why our skin loses fullness and becomes drier as we get older.
What’s so great about it?
- In topical products like moisturisers and serums, the hyaluronic acid molecule is too large to be absorbed into the skin, so it sits on top of the skin and acts like a magnet to anything you put on top of it. This means that the water in your moisturiser (which you would apply on top of your serum) will sit on the skin for longer, keeping everything hydrated, rather than evaporating into the environment. Hydrated skin = plump, youthful, dewy skin.
- It is good for the skin in other ways, too: it has an anti-inflammatory component and is very soothing on the skin, and it also aids wound healing. This is great news for those of us who suffer with blemishes as it helps prevent spots from occurring and helps existing spots heal quicker.
How do I use it?
- Topically as a serum or moisturiser.
- Orally as a supplement.
- As a filler, such as Restylane, which gets injected under the surface of the skin to replace lost volume and fill deep folds
Where can I get it?
- Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Moisturiser, available from Clicks and Dischem.
- Lamelle Correctives Hydrating HA Serum, available at Skin Renewal.
- Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, available from good dermatologists.
- Solal Technologies have a range of products containing hyaluronic acid.
So tell us –
Have any of you been using hyaluronic acid? How have you found it?
Do you know of any other products that contain hyaluronic acid, and where we can find them?