What is hyaluronic acid?
"Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring sugar molecule,It can be used in both skincare ingredients and in injectables, but it's also found in the body as one of the agents that helps to make collagen. So the collagen in your skin and joints is composed partly of hyaluronic acid, plus protein."
What do we use hyaluronic acid for?
"Its main use in skin creams is as a humectant - which is one of the agents that's able to hold moisture on the skin's surface,It can actually hold up to 1000 times its weight in moisture! So it's a really good hydrator of the skin."
"The other main use is as a volumising and line-filling injectable,We connect multiple hyaluronic acid molecules together to give a more robust substance, which is then injected under deeper scars, wrinkles and fine lines - it comes in different thicknesses. Because it's injected, it penetrates much further and produces collagen, to more effectively plump and reduce lines."
What else do we need to know?
"Applied topically on the skin, hyaluronic acid makes the skin feel smoother and look smoother - but it is only temporary,It's an excellent skin ingredient, as it rarely produces any allergies or irritation."
Can anybody use it?
"Hyaluronic acid is a really great product no matter your skin type - in the winter, many people find their skin surface becomes a little dull or flaky, and that's because the outer skin cells are drying out in the colder weather. Those who've been on sunny holidays might also find their skin becomes dry - it's these situations where humectants like hyaluronic acid are particularly useful as they smooth the skin surface, hydrate those skin cells and restore that healthy glow to the skin."