What is Hyaluronic Acid?

The thought of applying an acid to your face is enough to make anyone squirm, but did you know that some acids actually have amazing skin care benefits? Hyaluronic Acid is one of my absolute favourite ingredients - it sounds a bit scary but Hyaluronic Acid benefits us in so many ways as a natural occurring ingredient that provides rich, deeply penetrating moisture to the skin. This wonder ingredient is perfect year round, but it’s especially useful when your skin is feeling parched and you need that bit of extra hydration. But what is Hyaluronic Acid and what does Hyaluronic Acid do?

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring sugar molecule in the form of a thick gel that lubricates parts of the body such as muscles and joints as well as connective tissue like the skin. Because Hyaluronic Acid already naturally occurs in the body, it makes an ideal ingredient in skin care products to provide rich, easily absorbed moisture which can deeply penetrate the skin's layers. In skin care, organic Hyaluronic Acid is often derived from plants and natural active extracts or through an organic fermentation process, so it's often called 'nature's moisturiser'.

What are the benefits of Hyaluronic Acid?

The biggest benefit of Hyaluronic Acid is that one molecule alone can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water!¹ Hyaluronic Acid for skin can work like a sponge, holding on to all this extra moisture to really boost the hydrating properties of the skin care you’re using. Because it can hold all that water, your skin looks and feels plumper, smoother and more hydrated thanks to increased moisture retention, and it also helps to boost the skin's natural healing process. This anti-ageing ingredient makes an ideal ingredient in Hyaluronic serums, moisturisers, eye creams and facial masks, and is also wonderfully soothing, skin correcting and anti-inflammatory.

Who is Hyaluronic Acid best for?

Hyaluronic Acid benefits are noticeable for any skin type, but it’s particularly good for those with dry and mature skin types. As we age, our skin gradually stops being able to retain as much moisture. As soon as we hit our mid to late 30s, our skin naturally starts to mature rapidly, losing its firmness and ability to prevent wrinkles.¹ Cells begin to degenerate and our estrogen levels decrease as we approach menopause, resulting in thinner skin that just can't hold as much water.² This is where a Hyaluronic Acid serum can help. A lack of hydration can lead to intense dryness, rough skin and a dull looking complexion, and also provides the ideal environment for wrinkles and other signs of ageing to develop. Keeping skin soft, smooth and plump with rich hydration not only ensures a youthful complexion but also helps to slow down the ageing process by preventing skin cell degeneration. Hyaluronic Acid is a super hydrating ingredient that has both instant and long-term benefits, helping to brighten the complexion as well as improve skin texture and tone over time. Our bodies' ability to produce its own Hyaluronic Acid significantly decreases with age, so it's important to replenish the natural levels in the skin's layers with deeply moisturising skin care.³

Best Hyaluronic Acid skin care

Pollen Botanicals Youth Lift Serum
The Pollen Botanicals Youth Lift Serum contains a high concentration of vegetable derived Hyaluronic Acid to plump the skin promote a younger looking complexion. Ideal for mature skin, this nourishing serum is part of a two-step system which may help combat the signs of ageing and encourage better moisture retention. This hydrating and rejuvenating serum helps skin stay moist and supple, and also delivers a boost of vitamins and antioxidants such as Vitamin E. When used once a week, this two-step Hyaluronic Acid based system makes a highly effective treatment for anyone in their 40s and over, helping to restore moisture to mature skin and creating lasting, visible results. Simply apply the serum as a base, add the mask on top and allow to dry, then remove with water and reapply the serum to retain the beneficial nutrients within the skin.



Madara Ultimate Facelift Day Cream
The Madara Ultimate Facelift Day Cream includes Hyaluronic Acid for instant and long-term improvements in skin texture and tone. With a base of Northern Birch Juice, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter, this lifting, tightening and smoothing cream works to improve skin elasticity and firmness, and contains Hyaluronic Acid to retain moisture within the skin's outer layers and leave it looking revitalised. This rejuvenating cream may help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promote healthy skin cell regeneration, making it ideal for dull, dry or mature skin.



La Mav Hyaluronic Acid Hydra-Max Serum
The La Mav Hyaluronic Acid Hydra-Max Serum delivers a concentrated boost of Hyaluronic Acid to dry and dull skin. This soothing, moisturising and protective serum allows skin to hold more moisture, improving skin tone and firmness. According to La Mav, pure Hyaluronic Acid has the capacity to hold more moisture than any other polymer, making it an ideal solution for a visibly luminous complexion, but the levels naturally found in our bodies decrease as we age. With Green Tea and Cranberry extracts, this potent, bio-active serum may help protect the skin from free-radical damage and is ideally used each morning after cleansing and toning to promote a bright complexion throughout the day.



100% Pure Caffeine Mask
For a quick and incredibly effective moisture boost, the 100% Pure Caffeine Mask provides instant hydration and refreshment thanks to its natural plant-based ingredients. Containing Aloe Vera, Coffee Extract, Green Tea and Vitamin C, this moisture replenishing and caffeine rich mask can be applied for 20 minutes to plump, refresh and firm the skin. Hyaluronic Acid and Sea Collagen reawaken and revive the skin to reveal a bright, healthy and youthful complexion. No need to rinse off the residue either - the entire mask has a Hydrogel base made from water and plant cellulose which the skin can absorb, providing lasting hydration and suppleness. This no-rinse mask means your skin will experience Hyaluronic Acid benefits all day.

100% Pure Retinol Restorative Neck Cream
As we get older, sun damage and signs of ageing can start to appear on our necks, which start needing extra care. The 100% Pure Retinol Restorative Neck Cream is formulated with nourishing Rosehip and Hydrolysed Red Quinoa to improve elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Deeply hydrating Olive Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid help to retain moisture in the neck, making it appear smoother and firmer. This rich cream helps to brighten and even out skin tone, and may also boost collagen levels and assist skin cell regeneration.



Lavera Illuminating Eye Cream
One of the best Hyaluronic Acid products for the skin around the eyes is the Lavera Illuminating Eye Cream. Containing Organic Caffeine to help tighten the eye area, Pearl Extract to assist in protecting against pigmentation and Hyaluronic Acid to provide hydration, this is a wonderfully soothing eye cream that aims to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Sanctum Moisture Concentrate
Containing a rich blend of Organic ingredients, the Sanctum Moisture Concentrate works to smooth and nourish the skin, providing deep hydration to target particularly dry patches. Carrot Seed Oil, Aloe Vera, Cocoa Seed Butter and Hyaluronic Acid can help to improve skin elasticity and fight signs of ageing, providing a boost of antioxidants to leave the complexion soft, smooth and conditioned. This Australian made, vegan and gluten free formula can be gently pressed onto the face and neck after cleansing and toning.



Vanessa Megan Group 11 Active Mist
The Vanessa Megan Group 11 Active Mist contains noble metals that have been used for healing, medicinal and anti-ageing purposes for many years. These are in the form of suspended micro-particles that are delivered into the skin to support collagen and elastin production along with the skin's natural repair processes. Blended with wild-harvested Australian Extracts and Hyaluronic Acid with hydration-boosting properties, this beautiful mist has been designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, leaving all skin types brighter and firmer.

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses® Heavenly Night Cream
This gentle moisturiser from Andalou provides a rich nutritional boost from BioActive 8 Berry Complex, Plant Stem Cells, Magnolia and Boswellia. The Hyaluronic Acid is an integral part of the formula, helping the moisture stay within the cells. Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses® Heavenly Night Cream also contains Shea Butter, Rosehip Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Rice Protein, Vitamin C, Cranberry, White Tea and Rooibos Extract which form a protective soothing complex which may help alleviate redness and inflammation to leave your skin nourished, plumped and calmed by morning. Ideal for dry, sensitive and mature skin types.

Source: ¹The Huffington Post, ²HealthDay, ³National Center for Biotechnology Information.