Top 12 Hyaluronic Acid Benefits for Skin

Hyaluronic acid has many benefits to offer your skin. It is a natural ingredient created to help all skin types, and it does so much more than increase skin hydration to your skin. The more you learn about this gel-like substance, the more you will search for products that contain it.

What is hyaluronic acid? 

First, you must know what hyaluronic acid is before you learn how it will benefit your skin. 

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar that is in your skin that retains water. It is an ingredient that our bodies already produce. Having it as an ingredient in skin care products helps to increase the hydration of your skin. 

What benefits does hyaluronic acid have for our skin?

There are twelve main benefits that our skin gains from hyaluronic acid. 

1. Helps Retain and Lock in Moisture 

Hyaluronic acid is the powerhouse of hydration. It acts like a sponge drawing in moisture deep into our skin, keeping it plump and dewy. 

To grasp how powerful hyaluronic acid is in hydrating your skin, you need to understand how much water weight it can hold. Alex Moore, M.D. mentions, “One molecule of hyaluronic acid can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water. If you can think of it, one gram of hyaluronic acid is equivalent to holding up two gallons.”

Now, that is what I would call a super hydrating ingredient!

2. Increase Skin Resilience 

Hyaluronic acid helps your skin become more resilient by keeping it from drying out. When your skin is hydrated and healthy, it can fight the toxins and pollution in the environment.

3. Reduces the Appearance of Wrinkles

Again it comes back to the hydrating benefits that hyaluronic acid has to offer. Because it draws moisture into the skin, it will reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines. This ingredient is mature skin’s best friend. 

4. Reduces and Prevents Dark Spots

In reducing and preventing dark spots, hyaluronic acid can not do it all alone. It is recommended to pair hyaluronic acid with vitamin C to help with reducing and preventing dark spots on your skin.

The dark circles under your eyes are typically caused by dehydration. Because hyaluronic acid is a powerful moisturizer, it will help in reducing the dark circles under your eyes. 

For the dark spots on your skin, hyaluronic acid needs the assistance of Vitamin C.

5. Encourages Cell Regeneration 

Hyaluronic acid also promotes cell regeneration because of the hydration it gives your skin barrier. 

It is important to note that hyaluronic acid does not accelerate the cell renewal process. Hyaluronic acid promotes skin cell regeneration. It does this by continuously hydrating the skin and, in turn, this creates a barrier of protection.

6. Smooths the Texture of Your Skin

You will be able to see and feel the silky smooth finish that hyaluronic acid will give your skin.

How does it do this, you may wonder. It is because of the hydrating benefits that hyaluronic acid has. It will plump out your cells making them hydrated and filled with moisture.

7. Lipid Barrier Enhancement 

The epidermis layer of your skin protects you from the toxins and pollution that are in the air. As your skin ages, the lipid barrier will start to slow down. 

Hyaluronic acid increases the hydration level and fortifies the skin’s natural barriers. This will help slow down the deterioration of the lipid barrier.

8. Reduce Redness and Irritation

Redness and irritation on the skin can be caused because it is dry and needs hydration. Hyaluronic acid will give your skin the hydration that it needs, fighting off the redness and irritation that your skin may be experiencing.

Also, hyaluronic acid is an antibacterial. This will help your skin fight off irritation as well. 

9. Safe to Use During Pregnancy 

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, you start to wonder if the products and ingredients you use are safe for you and the baby. This wondering includes hyaluronic acid. Is it safe to use while being pregnant?

The answer is yes. Dr. Nazarian and Dr. Zeichner mention that it is safe for pregnant women to use hyaluronic acid in skincare products. It is a natural substance and safe in high quantities.

10. Brightens Skin

Some people may raise the question, “Does hyaluronic acid brighten skin?” The answer is yes! 

Due to it being a moisturizer, it will smooth and plump your skin, giving it a brighter appearance. It does this because it helps your skin retain moisture like a sponge. As it retains moisture, it will, in turn, create a beautiful dewy glow.

11. Speeds Wound Healing

Hyaluronic acid is already present in your skin. Increasing the amount of it will help regulate the inflammation levels and tell your body that you need more blood vessels in the area that is damaged.

Another way that hyaluronic acid helps in wound healing is because of its antibacterial properties. When applied to a cut or wound, it will help fight off a possible infection that could occur.

12. Helps Fight Acne

One cause of acne is the overproduction of sebum in your skin. This oil can clog pores and cause acne. A study in 2017 was conducted on hyaluronic acid and sebaceous glands. It concluded that hyaluronic acid helps in controlling your skin’s sebum production.

Is Hyaluronic Acid Safe for All Skin Types?

Although hyaluronic acid is safe for all skin types, it is especially helpful to people with dry skin. It helps dry skin because it provides your skin with the hydration that it needs.

It benefits oily skin because it is non-comedogenic. What this means is that it does not clog pores while hydrating your skin. It also helps to regulate the sebum that your skin produces.

Skincare Products with Hyaluronic Acid

When looking for a product with hyaluronic acid, it is best to purchase serums and moisturizers. The reason is that these products will stay on your skin for a while. These products will offer you the maximum benefits that hyaluronic acid has to offer.

Paula’s Choice: C15 Super Booster 

100% Pure: Rose Hyaluronic Acid Serum

100% Pure: Retinol Restorative Neck Cream

Conclusion

While reading all the benefits that hyaluronic acid has to offer, you may have noticed a trend. Each benefit is because of hyaluronic acid’s ability to give your skin so much hydration.

Hydration is necessary for healthy and happy skin. Meaning that hyaluronic acid is a necessary clean and natural ingredient.