Hyaluronic acid for skin

If you suffer from chronically LEARN MORE How we picked the best hyaluronic acid products | We spoke to dermatologists about what to look for, and how to use it, plus we got their specific recommendations for the best creams and serums to buy. We also rounded up top-rated products based on their advice. Our top picks • Top hyaluronic acid serum: • Top hyaluronic acid cream: • Top hyaluronic acid lotion: What is hyaluronic acid? Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring chemical your body produces that cushions and moisturizes the skin — it’s found in our skin, eyes, joints and connective tissue, Stevenson said. It acts as a humectant, which means that it “draws in water like a sponge [and] can really help in hydrating our skin,” she said. Despite its name, hyaluronic acid should work for virtually all skin types since it isn’t actually an acid. “It’s not like salicylic acid or some of the other acids that can be more exfoliating or abrasive on our skin,” Stevenson said. Shopping How we picked the best hyaluronic acid products Hyaluronic acid is generally well-tolerated by most skin types and choosing one comes down to personal preference, according to our experts. They recommended looking at the following factors to determine the best products: • Consistency: You’ll typically find hyaluronic acid in lightweight serums, but you’ll also see it in face creams, gels and lotions. • Hydrating ingredients: Hyaluronic acid works well with other moisturizing ingr...

So we all know hyaluronic acid to be the MVP of skincare—or, at least, that’s what you’ve read/heard/seen in every single article, commercial, and product description for the past year, right? (We get it, hyaluronic acid—YOU’RE POPULAR.) And although, yes, this little ingredient is usually the key to plump, glowing skin, it still needs to be used correctly or it could make your face sincerely unhappy. So if you have officially reached peak levels of confusion about WTF hyaluronic acid even is and how to use it, please allow myself and the experts to explain everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid for skin and the Meet the experts: • Ana Mansouri, MD, is a • Julie Russak, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of • Lily Talakoub, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at What does hyaluronic acid do for skin? "It's is a humectant—meaning it pulls water from the environment to the upper layers of the skin like a sponge." Hyaluronic acid molecules can attract up to 1,000 times their own weight in water, which is why they're so effective at hydrating the skin and keeping it moist and dewy throughout the day. "By increasing water content in the skin, hyaluronic acid can help plump the look of Hyaluronic acid is also the go-to ingredient used in fillers (like ), says dermatologist Lily Talakoub, MD. It works similarly when injected as it does when applied topically, binding to water in your body and making the skin plump up. The hyaluronic acid used in Whic...

For non-chemists, reading an ingredient label on a skincare product can be overwhelming, to say the least. As if it weren't difficult enough to keep track of every As it turns out, aside from a few differences, the two ingredients are basically the same thing and serve a similar purpose in skincare. To find out why brands use the terms interchangeably, what exactly the difference is between the two, and why sodium hyaluronate should be on your radar, we spoke to dermatologists Mara Weinstein, MD, FAAD, and Sejal Shah, MD, FAAD. Type of ingredient: Humectant. Main benefits: Improves dryness and reduces wrinkles, replenishes the skin, and provides structure and volume. How often can you use it: Sodium hyaluronate is safe to use in concentrations of up to percent twice daily, morning and night. Works well with: Moisturizers. Don't use with: Generally, sodium hyaluronate is safe to use with most, if not all, ingredients. What Is Sodium Hyaluronate? According to both dermatologists, sodium hyaluronate is a water-soluble salt that's derived from hyaluronic acid, which can be found naturally in the body. Like hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate is incredibly hydrating, but this form can penetrate deeper into the skin and is more stable (meaning it will last longer) in cosmetic formulation. Weinstein describes sodium hyaluronate as a fiber- or cream-like powder, which can be found in As Weinstein puts it, sodium hyaluronate "serves as a water reservoir in the skin, helping it to r...

When it comes to getting dewy, hydrated skin, few skin-care products deliver the way some of the best hyaluronic acid serums do. While the fact that "acid" makes up 50 percent of the name hyaluronic acid, don't be fooled into thinking the skin-care ingredient is not for everyone; in fact, the substance is naturally produced by our bodies and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. However, your skin's level of hyaluronic acid decreases with age, so if you're looking to maintain your moisture barrier and ramp up hydration levels, you may want to consider incorporating HA-laced products into your daily Known as a humectant, "[hyaluronic acid] is great at holding water and giving skin resilience and firmness," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Allure. "We can With their non-irritating nature, hyaluronic acid serums are generally usable across multiple skin types, including Allure. To get the most benefits out of your serum experience, she shares her preferred application method. "Hyaluronic acid serums are best applied to slightly damp skin and before applying other products," Dr. Sink explains. "Moisturizing with a You'll likely notice an immediate improvement in the hydration of your skin with use, Dr. Sink says. "Long-term benefits are seen as early as two weeks with continued improvement through several months," she ads. All year round, our skin craves moisture to counteract a rainbow of skin-care concerns, such as sun exposure, signs of aging (like f...