Ingredient Highlight: Hyaluronic Acid

Where has the month gone? So many times I’ve meant to gather my thoughts and post, yet each time it has eluded me. I must say that while I’ve been a bit lax in blogging, my excuse is that my time has been very well spent. My parents arranged for my kids and I to cross the States for an impromptu visit. A five week visit!

Lots of mornings and evenings spent out doors breathing country side air, and spending much needed time catching up with my family has brought refreshment to our souls. And also makes me appreciate my husband that much more when he’s not able to be with us right now, and how much we miss him.

Traveling by air, I experienced first hand how drying it can be to our skin. Also, how traveling from one side of the country to another can have a big impact on the hydration of skin due to humidity in the air. Now that I have somewhat become accustomed to humid summers, my skin was in shock when I arrived at my in-laws’ and then my parents‘ home. The first two weeks felt like winter dryness all over again. Thirsty thirsty skin!

Right away I knew what I needed. The impactful ingredient hyaluronic acid. If you are even a little bit of a skincare nerd, you surely have heard of it. It’s become a popular ingredient over the last few years and for good reason. HA is actually present in our bodies, and about half of it is found in our skin. Its job is to bind water to our skin to retain moisture. It can, in fact attract up to 1000 times it weight in water. Hydrated skin helps it stay more supple, which is what we want for healthy skin.

Dehydration is very easy to confuse with dryness. They are similar in symptom, but of two different categories. And it’s very important to differentiate the two.

Dryness is a skin TYPE, meaning this is the way your skin tends to lean throughout your life. Genetics often play a role too. Tightness, roughness, and dry patches are common symptoms. If you wake up in the morning and can’t start your day without a generous layer of moisturizer, this might be you.

Dehydration, on the other hand is a skin CONDITION, which means its a temporary condition that can be addressed and improve in as little as a week to up to a month. This is what I experienced at the beginning of my travels. Within a few days of using HA my skin was in tip top shape again. Symptoms are tightness, itchiness, and dryness.

Here is what’s important to understand about HA. If the outside humidity or place you spend most of your day is too low, HA will suck hydration from your skin. The relative humidity should be around 60% so that it draws moisture to your skin, not from it. Also good to know when shopping for a Hyaluronic Acid serum is to look for one that uses low HA molecular weights so that it penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin and doesn’t just sit on top for a temporary feel good. Even better is if you can find one with low, medium and high HA molecular weights. The brand The Ordinary has a really great one for an affordable price. I’m not affiliated with them, but I do use and love their hyaluronic acid serum. That molecular weight really is key, as it determines the depth and impact-fulness of your HA product. However once you’ve got that it doesn't take long to feel the difference in your skin.

So there you have it. A peak into this popular ingredient that is beloved for good reason. I hope you will give it a try, when your skin finds itself thirsty. I’m so glad I did.

Thank you for joining me today, and I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Until next time!