To understand why Hyaluronic Acid (also called Hyaluronate) really is a skin care miracle, you need to understand what it is, where it comes from and how it works.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan, which is a polysaccharide (Beauty by the Geeks calls it basically a ‘very large sugar’). It is a molecule with a gel consistency that exists to hold water.
It exists naturally in our bodies, being found in our joints (to help keep them mobile), our eyes (to help keep them moist) and up to 50% will be concentrated in our skin, keeping it hydrated and supple.
HYALURONIC FACT: Hyaluronic Acid gained its reputation for anti-aging when a journalist visited Japanese village of Yuzuri Hari, intent on discovering why its inhabitants remained youthful visages well into in their 80s and 90s, as well as being active and mobile.
It was found that their soy and tofu rich diets encouraged their cells to make more hyaluronic acid, keeping them young and fit for much longer.
How does it Work?
It is estimated that each of us carries between 15 – 17g of Hyaluronic Acid naturally, with up to 30% being renewed daily. It offers slightly different benefits depending on where it occurs.
These are proven to include:
- Increasing skin hydration
- Stimulating the production of collagen
- Scavenging damaging Free Radicals from the Skin
- Protecting joints and nerves
- Antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory, particularly following trauma
- Wound Healing
- Sun-damage repair
It is the key component of what scientists call our ‘extracellular matrix’ – the framework of our skin, holding the water our body needs to function.
Unfortunately, as we age, the quality and amount of Hyaluronic Acid we make declines – by the time you are in your mid-forties you will have less than 40% of the quantity you had in your teens.
Why Choose Hyaluronic Acid in Skincare
As anyone who drinks too much alcohol can testify, dehydrated skin is dull, tired, sallow and often shows fine lines very quickly.
Conversely, skin that is well-hydrated looks more even, firmer, fine lines are plumped and radiance is increased.
Hyaluronic Acid’s superpower is in its sponge like ability to hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water – so if your skin has more Hyaluronic Acid, it can be up to 1000 times more hydrated.
Renowned Makeup Artist Lisa Eldridge highly rates the power of Hyaluronic Acid in the products she chooses, saying:
“Hyaluronic Acid is definitely up there with my favourite skin enhancing ingredients.
It can come in lots of forms; supplements, gels, injections, creams and even in makeup but the most effective source per research tends to be in lightweight serums with a pure fluid texture, which can easily be absorbed by your skin.
You can also look for ‘low molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid, which means that the molecules are small enough to penetrate the skin’s surface and be truly effective.
Where do we source our Hyaluronic Acid from?
Which of our products contain Hyaluronic Acid?
Liquid Crystal Micellic Cleanser
