When you hear the word "acid" mentioned, you might immediately think of a harsh substance that belongs nowhere near your skin — particularly your facial skin. But linear hyaluronic acid (HA) is actually produced by the body and found in abundance in your skin. It's essential for moisture retention and is a key element in maintaining a beautiful complexion.
This article will examine products containing hyaluronic acid, how they work, and when you should be incorporating a hyaluronic acid serum into your skincare regimen.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Linear Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring chemical molecule that exists in the membrane of your skin cells. The linear designator means that the HA molecules are not bound to each other. Many skincare products use linear HA in products where rapid absorption is required.
Cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid is a type of HA where the molecules are chemically linked to one another, forming a type of lattice work. Cross-linked HA is thicker and more stable. These properties make the effects of cross-linked HA longer-lasting.
Hyaluronic acid helps the skin retain moisture. A single hyaluronic acid molecule can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. Cross-linked HA, however, does an even better job by creating a three-dimensional structure, which allows it hold a greater amount of water for a longer period.
Skincare companies are able to produce linear and cross-linked hyaluronic acid chains through various processes, like fermentation or chemical synthesis. The two types of HA can be used in different products depending on the properties that the manufacturer is attempting to target.
Why Skin Hydration is Essential
Our skin is really a collection of tiny cells, which are mostly comprised of water. When the skin gets dry from lack of hydration, too much sun, alcohol, or a poor diet, the cells lose their water, causing the cells to shrink. If hydrated skin cells are plump and packed together, it makes sense that dehydrated skin cells would become smaller and separate from one another. The result of dehydration is thinner, looser skin and larger pores, which, of course, allows oil and pollutants to build. The bottom line is that hydration is essential to having healthy skin and an amazing complexion.
Products containing hyaluronic acid are not sufficient to ensure skin hydration alone. However, they are an effective way to boost the skin's natural hydration by helping it to retain water.
How Hyaluronic Acid Works
Hyaluronic acid molecules are extremely small and readily absorbed through the skin. One of the reasons why you'll see hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid (smaller HA molecules) in Serious Skincare serums like our Absolute Moisture Multiplier is because serums are designed to be rapidly absorbed into the skin. Where some products are designed to act as a hydration barrier to keep moisture escaping through evaporation, serums penetrate the skin barrier and epidermis, delivering hyaluronic acid and other essential nutrients and ingredients where they can benefit the skin the most.
Hyaluronic Acid Benefits for the Skin
Hydration is the foundation of skincare. Dry skin is susceptible to many other issues. Here are the main advantages of incorporating hyaluronic acid into your skincare regimen.
Wrinkle Reduction
When your cells are fully hydrated, they plump your skin, giving it a fuller, thicker appearance. Young skin tends to be thicker and elastic, and hydration is a significant factor in this. As the cells expand, the skin plumps, making fine lines and wrinkles disappear. Without proper hydration, the skin shrivels slightly, making these fissures more apparent. Over time, they can become permanent.
Pore Tightening
When the cells adjacent to the opening expand, the distance between these cells decreases — essentially shrinking the pores. So many undesirable skin conditions result from the clogged pores, including acne, rashes, folliculitis, and more.
Skin Tissue Regeneration
It may sound strange, but skin cells are designed to die and shed. Properly hydrated skin helps to replace dead skin cells with healthy living cells. Hyaluronic acid — whether its produced by the body or applied externally can speed skin cell regeneration.
Collagen Production
While hyaluronic acid does not directly promote collagen production, it helps create the healthy, hydrated environment that the skin requires to produce its own collagen.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
In addition to its formidable hydrating properties, hyaluronic acid is also an anti-inflammatory. While plump, hydrated skin is desirable, irritated and inflamed skin can make your complexion look uneven, blotchy, and discolored. There are many products that can help with this, but if hyaluronic acid is already in your regimen, it can reduce occasional inflammation.
Well Tolerated
Because hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin, few people have an adverse reaction to it. Like all skincare products, if you have an adverse reaction from a product containing HA, you should discontinue use. There is the possibility that another ingredient is interacting with your body's chemistry.
When you consider all that this naturally occurring molecule has to offer, is there really any doubt that you need hyaluronic acid in your skincare routine?
Hyaluronic Acid for Anti-Aging
HA is frequently marketed in anti-aging products for good reason. Because it works. In a ground-breaking study from 2012, researchers found that "the key molecule in skin moisture is hyaluronic acid (HA)." The researchers further determined that high water content was one of the principal reasons that youthful skin retains its "turgor, resilience and pliability." The study indicated that there is an intrinsic aging process that involves changes in hormone levels and other bodily factors.
However, there is also an extrinsic aging process that is caused by environmental factors, including — you guessed it — dehydration. The study's findings suggest that HA is key to keeping aging skin healthy and hydrated.
Choosing the Right Hyaluronic Acid Products
In many of our products, we use sodium hyaluronate, which is a derivative of HA. The key benefit of sodium hyaluronate over hyaluronic acid is that it's smaller and lighter, which makes it easier for the skin to absorb. This is one reason you will find it in Serious Skincare's serums, which you should apply after using cleanser and before applying facial oils or moisturizers.
Here are some of my favorite Serious Skincare HA products:
Olive Oil Hydra Flash – This olive oil facial serum product contains sodium hyaluronate, which is a derivative of HA with a smaller molecular weight for faster absorption.
Absolute Moisture Multiplier – This hyaluronic acid serum product uses multi-weighted HA for longer absorption. The smaller HA molecules are readily absorbed, while absorption of the larger molecules occurs later.
Pure Pep Concentrate – In addition to HA derivatives, this anti-aging concentrated serum contains a 30% pure peptide blend to accelerate skin rejuvenation and health.
Trace + Erase Needle-Free Wrinkle Filler – Target fine lines and wrinkles with this needle-free focused delivery system. This cross-linked HA needle-free deep wrinkle filler product was developed by Dr. Mark Pinsky — a world-famous cosmetic surgeon.
You deserve beautiful skin, and hyaluronic acid is part of the key to that goal. Shop Serious Skincare science-based skincare solutions for high-quality, laboratory-tested HA products.