Ingredient Highlight: Hyaluronic Acid

What it is: a substance naturally produced by the body, moisturizer/humectant

You can find it in: Fullmoon Serum

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an “it girl” ingredient in the skincare world. And for good reason.

Unlike acids like glycolic acid and salicylic acid, HA isn’t an exfoliant. Instead, it mainly acts as a humectant to hydrate the skin.

Here’s a fun fact: HA can be found naturally in our body. In fact, it’s one of the most important molecules that makes up our skin. 

So what makes hyaluronic acid (HA) such a wonderful skincare ingredient? 

There are three main reasons why you may wanna consider adding this ingredient to your routine:

1. It’s an amazing humectant 

What does this mean? 

Simply put, humectants are compounds that can draw and hold onto water. And among all the humectants, HA is one of the most effective at its job. 

In fact, HA can attract up to 1,000 times its own weight in water. To make this easier to visualize, imagine this: 1 gram of HA can bind up to 6 litres of water. That's insane! And this is exactly why HA is such an incredible ingredient. 

When used properly, HA will keep your skin moisturized, soft and plump. It will also help to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

 2. It’s super skin-friendly 

Since HA is naturally made by the body, there's almost no risk of an allergic reaction.

HA is one of the most important molecules in the extracellular matrix - the largest component of our skin - and contributes to the skin's unique properties, including elasticity, resistance and malleability. Most of the HA in our skin is found in the dermis, aka the deeper layer of our skin. However, HA can also be found in the epidermis, which is the upper layer of our skin.

3. It’s a real team-player

Since HA is a natural component of the skin, you can pair it with pretty much any other ingredient without worry.

For example: You can layer it with an exfoliating acid like an AHA or a BHA. You can also pair it with retinoids to reduce your chances of skin irritation. 

So, who is it good for?

No matter what your skin type is, you can add HA to your skincare routine. If your skin is on the dry side, then you'll really reap the benefits of this extremely hydrating ingredient. If not, you can still use HA to keep your skin feeling smooth and plump.

We use a vegan HA alternative called Cassia angustifolia seed solysaccharide. Find it in our Fullmoon Serum.

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Sources

Brown TJ, Alcorn D, Fraser JR. Absorption of hyaluronan applied to the surface of intact skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1999 Nov;113(5):740-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00745.x. PMID: 10571728.

Keen MA. Hyaluronic Acid in Dermatology. Skinmed. 2017 Dec 1;15(6):441-448. PMID: 29282181.

Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012 Jul 1;4(3):253-8. doi: 10.4161/derm.21923. PMID: 23467280; PMCID: PMC3583886.