HYALURONIC ACID: MOISTURE FOR THE SKIN
HYALURONIC ACID: MOISTURE FOR THE SKIN
Instant hydration: Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient in skincare. It can bind moisture and make the skin look hydrated and plumped up - with an instant effect.
Are you looking for a product that makes your skin feel hydrated? The Essential Essence Skin Balancing Toner contains moisturizing ingredients, including amino acids. Go directly to the store here:
WHAT IS HYLURONIC ACID?
You should not be put off by the ending "-acid": Hyaluronic acid is generally well tolerated. It is an originally natural substance that also occurs in the body and plays a crucial role in various tissues - especially in the skin. Otherwise, the clear, gel-like substance is found in joints, eyes and other connective tissue structures.
When hyaluronic acid absorbs water, it becomes transparent. Fittingly, its name is derived from "hyalos", the Greek word for glass.
HYALURONIC ACID IN THE SKIN
Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin and has the special ability to bind large amounts of water - around a thousand times its own weight. This makes it an excellent moisture reservoir that makes the skin appear plump.
Its role in the skin goes even further: hyaluronic acid acts like a "lubricant" between the collagen and elastic fibers of the skin, which are responsible for firmness and elasticity. It therefore ensures that the skin can retain its elasticity even when it is moved or stretched.
Hyaluronic acid: function and effect on the skin
The term hyaluronic acid is often used colloquially. Hyaluron is also often advertised as a miracle cure for the skin - scientifically, however, it does not exist as a single substance, the correct term is "hyaluronic acid". It is a popular ingredient in skincare products such as creams and serums for the face, because:
- With increasing age, production in the body decreases - the result: reduced skin moisture and possible dryness lines
- Hyaluronic acid acts as a moisture reservoir and can make the skin appear plump and elastic - optical wrinkle reduction with hyaluronic acid is possible, but it is not a classic anti-ageing active ingredient
- Hyaluronic acid is not an antioxidant in the classic sense, but it can indirectly help to reduce oxidative stress by strengthening the skin barrier and binding water
- Together with lipids, natural moisturizing factors (NMFs), sebum and aquaporin, hyaluronic acid is one of the substances responsible for moisture in the skin
- As the main component of the extracellular matrix, the network that supports our skin cells, hyaluronic acid plays a crucial role in keeping the skin hydrated
- As a moisture reservoir, it works together with NMFs. This is a group of substances such as amino acids, lactic acid and urea as well as other smaller molecules that occur in the outer layer of the skin, strengthen the skin barrier and bind moisture. They form a natural moisturizing film on the skin.
Natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) are a group of substances that occur naturally in the outer layer of the skin (horny layer) and are crucial for maintaining a healthy moisture supply and barrier function of the skin. They bind water from the environment and keep it in the skin. NMFs include, for example, amino acids and their derivatives, lactic acid, glycerin and urea.
Hyaluronic acid in the skincare routine
Hyaluronic acid is not only suitable for the face, it also has a moisturizing and plumping effect on the lips, which makes the skin on the lips look plumper.
With the Perfect Plump Collagen Lip Boost, the lips appear full and plumped up with the help of hyaluronic acid, among other things. The plumping complex it contains promotes blood circulation, while the moisture-binding hyaluronic acid visually minimizes fine lines.
Collagen Lip Boost
- Postbiotics have a nourishing and antioxidant effect.
- Plumping Complex has a temporary plumping effect.
- Peptides^2 stimulate collagen synthesis and have a plumping effect.
- Hyaluronic acid has a moisturizing and plumping effect.
Pull off the Perfect Plump!
HYALURONIC ACID IS NOT JUST HYALURONIC ACID
One term, several types and many variations - there are a few important criteria when it comes to hyaluronic acid:
- In the ingredients of skin care products, hyaluronic acid is listed under the INCIs "Sodium Hyaluronate", "Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer", "Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate", "Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate" or "Hyaluronic Acid", for example. "Hyaluronic Acid" (hyaluronic acid) is the pure form. However, the respective INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) says nothing about the chain length of the hyaluronic acid it contains. The effect of the product may vary depending on the raw material used.
- When choosing a product with hyaluronic acid, the molecular size (chain length) plays an important role.
This is because hyaluronic acid consists of long sugar molecules that vary in size. The skin penetration of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights was investigated in a study by Essendoubi et al. (2016).
The result: the smaller the molecules are, the deeper they can penetrate into the skin.
-> Hyaluronic acid with a low molecular weight (20-300 kDa) can penetrate the uppermost skin layer, the stratum corneum, and reach deeper skin layers - it therefore has a higher skin penetration than hyaluronic acid with a higher molecular weight. By comparison, hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight (more than 1000 kDa) remains largely on the surface of the skin and does not penetrate the first skin layer. It acts as a barrier and helps to prevent water loss, which has a visually plumping effect.
WHY HYALURONIC ACID IS NOT SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE
Hyaluronic acid is an excellent moisturizer and can be particularly effective for dehydrated skin as it attracts and binds water. Important: Dehydrated skin does not necessarily mean dry skin. In the case of dehydrated skin with a lack of water, hyaluronic acid can help to retain moisture and make the skin look plumper and fresher again.
However, hyaluronic acid is not always the best choice for dry skin that lacks natural lipids. Although it attracts water, without sufficient lipids this water can quickly escape again. As a result, the skin may dry out even faster. Richer care with ingredients such as oils or ceramides is then more sensible in order to strengthen the skin barrier and retain moisture in the long term.
Also helpful are active ingredients such as ectoine, which can improve skin moisture, skin elasticity or the skin's surface structure in a care cream.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful moisturizer and makes the skin look hydrated, plump and elastic. As hyaluronic acid can bind water, it is a particularly popular ingredient in cosmetics for dehydrated skin. It can help to retain moisture and make the skin look plumper and fresher again. The molecular size of hyaluronic acid is decisive for its effectiveness: smaller molecules penetrate deeper into the skin, while larger molecules remain on the surface and protect the skin from moisture loss like a barrier.
FAQ
Hyaluronic acid binds moisture and ensures that the skin looks plump and elastic. It is particularly effective for dehydrated skin as it retains water and strengthens the skin barrier. It also has an antioxidant effect and protects the skin from free radicals.
Hyaluronic acid can help to reduce wrinkles, at least visually, as it moisturizes the skin and makes it look smoother. Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid in particular can penetrate into deeper layers of the skin and thus increase skin hydration in the long term, which can help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Important: This is only an optical effect.
Hyaluronic acid can be found in many skincare products, including serums, creams and masks. In DR. EMI ARPA SKIN, it is contained in the Perfect Plump Collagen Lip Boost, where it plumps up the lips and provides them with moisture. It is also used in aesthetic medicine in the form of injections or fillers.
The choice of hyaluronic acid depends on the skin's needs and the desired effect. Low-molecular hyaluronic acid can penetrate deep into the skin and moisturize it, which is particularly effective for dehydrated skin. High-molecular hyaluronic acid lies on the surface of the skin and protects against moisture loss, for example.
Hyaluronic acid and retinol (or retinoids as well as retinal) have different effects on the skin. Hyaluronic acid moisturizes and can improve skin elasticity, while retinoids can stimulate cell regeneration and improve skin texture by stimulating collagen production. The ingredients can complement each other well within a skincare routine: Hyaluronic acid provides hydration, while retinoids can further improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Hyaluronic acid can be used at any age, especially to moisturize the skin and prevent premature skin aging. Especially from the age of 25, when the body's own production of hyaluronic acid gradually decreases, its use in skin care products can help to moisturize the skin.
Hyaluronic acid is generally considered safe for skin care, even during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Hyaluronic acid is generally considered to be well tolerated. In rare cases, however, skin irritation or allergic reactions may occur. If you experience redness, itching or swelling, you should stop using it immediately and seek medical advice.
Hyaluronic acid is primarily known for its moisture-retaining properties in the skin, but hyaluronic acid can also do something for the hair. Through its ability to bind moisture, it can keep the scalp hydrated and promote the foundation for healthy hair growth. This can lead to healthier looking hair.
Related blog posts
Baldwin, H., Del Rosso, J. (2024). Going Beyond Ceramides in Moisturizers: The Role of Natural Moisturizing Factors. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 23 6, 466-471.
Barel A.O., Paye M., Maibach H.I. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology (3rd ed.). CRC Press.
Bukhari, S., Roswandi, N., Waqas, M., Habib, H., Hussain, F., Khan, S., Sohail, M., Ramli, N., Thu, H., Hussain, Z. (2018). Hyaluronic acid, a promising skin rejuvenating biomedicine: A review of recent updates and pre-clinical and clinical investigations on cosmetic and nutricosmetic effects. International journal of biological macromolecules, 120 Pt B, 1682-1695.
Björklund, S., Engblom, J., Thuresson, K., Sparr, E. (2013). Glycerol and urea can be used to increase skin permeability in reduced hydration conditions... European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 50 5, 638-45.
Essendoubi M., Gobinet C., Reynaud R., Angiboust J. F., Manfait M., Piot O. (2016). Human skin penetration of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights as probed by Raman spectroscopy. Skin Research and Technology, 22(1), 55-62.
Heinrich, U., Garbe, B., Tronnier, H. (2007). In vivo assessment of Ectoin: a randomized, vehicle-controlled clinical trial. Skin pharmacology and physiology, 20(4), 211-218.
Price, R., Berry, M., Navsaria, H. (2007). Hyaluronic acid: the scientific and clinical evidence. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS, 60 10, 1110-9.