Most people have at least one area of their face that can have a little dehydration (not to be confused with dry skin – you can be oily and dehydrated). Whenever I am giving a professional skin treatment one of the ingredients I like to incorporate in my professional treatments is Hyaluronic Acid, which I lovingly refer to as the “ant of skincare.” If you’ve ever seen an ant at a picnic you know they can haul off a piece of food several times their size.
Well, Hyaluronic Acid has similar strength – it can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water – keeping your skin tissues hydrated and healthy. And you can find it as a single ingredient or mixed into products in various forms, e.g. oil-free serum or cream. Best of all – its great for both dry and oily skin, as it helps prevent skin from over-producing sebum (oil). Hyaluronic Acid, also known as Hyaluronan, naturally occurs in our bodies but the form found in skincare is usually synthesized.
I personally prefer and recommend it in a gel or serum base. The smaller molecule size allows it to penetrate deeper, giving the lower layers of the epidermis a nice tall drink of water. You then layer your moisturizer over it to lock moisture in.
Hyaluronic Acid can be a pricy product to buy, but a little goes a long way. Some of my favorites are:
- Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough Replenishing Hyaluronic Acid/Peptide Capsules (60 capsules / $50)
- Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster (1 oz / $54)
- Peter Thomas Roth VIZ-1000™ 75% Hyaluronic Acid Complex (1 oz / $65).
