There’s a lot of hype around hyaluronic acid; it’s basically the new It-girl of the beauty world. It’s popping up in skincare creams and serums everywhere, but if we’re honest with ourselves, we’re not actually sure why we want it. But there is a reason hyaluronic acid is awesome – or HA for the initiated – it’s going to do wonders for your skin. We’re talking ahhhhmazing anti-aging results and crazy hydration!

What even is Hyaluronic Acid?

Without taking you back to chemistry class, it’s an intensely moisturizing molecule responsible for plumping and moisturizing the skin. It occurs naturally in our bodies to lubricate eyes and joints, help retain collagen, and 50% of it lives in our skin tissue. The awesome jelly-like substance is a humectant, which means it draws water from the environment into your skin, making it incredibly hydrating.

Why we want as much Hyaluronic Acid as we can get…

There’s one flaw with HA, our bodies slowly stop producing it the older we get; hence our skin can tend to get drier, fine lines appear, and eventually, wrinkles and saggy skin take hold – nightmare! Thank the gods, the beauty industry has found a way to make HA so we can defend ourselves against the signs of aging.

How Hyaluronic Acid will make you more beautiful

Able to hold huge amounts of moisture (1,000 times its weight in water), HA makes an incredibly good moisturizer for your skin when applied topically. To put it simply, it turns your skin into a heavily saturated sponge, and the more moisture it holds, the plumper your skin gets, and the less visible fine lines become. Dry patches will disappear, and your skin will look firmer and more youthful.

How Hyaluronic Acid replaced Collagen fillers

Too large to be absorbed into the skin topically, HA broke into the beauty world as a dermal filler and was quick to replace collagen; HA lasted longer than collagen, and it was less likely to cause reactions. Hyaluronic acid fillers (like Juvéderm and Restylane) look more subtle and can last between three to 12 months, in which time the body will gradually absorb it. It’s also reversible, so if you don’t like the effect, the enzyme hyaluronidase can be used to dissolve it.

How you can incorporate Hyaluronic Acid into your beauty regime

Fortunately, chemists have found a way to decrease the size of HA molecules so they can penetrate deeper into your epidermis and plump your skin where it’s most needed. The result is a substance with a lower molecular weight called Sodium Hyaluronate, the ingredient you’ll see listed on Hyaluronic Acid products.

How to use Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate is usually listed alongside water because the two ingredients bind together, delivering the moisture into your skin. To make the most out of hyaluronic acid as an anti-aging ingredient, use it in the form of serum or drops and apply it on damp skin, then apply a moisturizer on top. This will seal in the moisture and also provide moisture for the HA to absorb, should the air around you be dry.