"Look for a product containing 2 percent hyaluronic acid and use it under your favorite moisturizer," suggests Dr. Murphy-Rose. Dry skin: Look for ingredients like essential ceramides and squalane for skin barrier support.
In the same way, since sodium hyaluronate is a salt rock, too much of it can draw moisture away from the skin, Benjamin claims. She says that 2 percent is the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid you can put in a solution without any drying effects.
"Hyaluronic acid is safe and beneficial to use everyday for maintaining skin hydration," says Dr. Russak. You just need to make sure you're applying it correctly. As a rule, you want to apply your hyaluronic acid product to clean, damp skin, and the lock it in with a moisturizer and face oil.
Look for Its Molecular Weight
That study found that even a 0.1 percent concentration of hyaluronic acid led to increased hydration and elasticity, though most products will have 1 or 2 percent.
2% Hyaluronic Acid is a powerful humectant that draws in moisture and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. It infuses moisture to the deeper layers of the skin, intensely hydrating the skin.
You can use hyaluronic acid as often as you like, both morning and night. If your hyaluronic is in serum form (which most are), apply it to damp skin after cleansing/toning and before moisturising.
Hyaluronic acid is safe for all skin types. There are no hyaluronic acid contraindications when used in skincare, that is, applied topically. However, there can be issues where patients are undergoing medical treatments and/or injections – in which case, the reaction should be discussed with a medical professional.
Can You Overuse Hyaluronic Acid? No, it is advised not to overuse HA. It is a humectant (draws moisture from the environment); excess HA in skincare can cause retention of more hydration than needed. Research suggested that overuse of HA can cause redness and inflammation.
Look for a concentration of at least 0.1% hyaluronic acid in your cream. Any less than this and you'll reduce the effectiveness of the moisturizing cream. Studies show that this level of hyaluronic acid is effective for hydrating skin and maintaining skin elasticity.
“Hyaluronic acid plays well with most ingredients, while caution must be taken when using retinol in combination with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, and some types of vitamin C.” Linkner echoes the tip about avoiding vitamin C.
You'll want to avoid products with more than 2 percent HA to avoid irritation or dryness. The sweet spot is actually 0.75 – 1.5 percent. It can be especially drying to use too much HA if you live in a drier climate without a lot of humidity.
Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.
As for what moisturizer to pair with your favorite hyaluronic acid serum? Dr. Shah suggests one with ceramides or niacinamide. “Ceramides hydrate the skin, and both ceramides and niacinamide help strengthen the skin barrier, which allows the skin to hold on to moisture and stay more hydrated,” she says.
The way you want to use hyaluronic acid in a skincare routine is to start by cleansing your face with a nice simple cleanser. And then, with slightly damp skin or even slightly wet skin, apply the hyaluronic acid serum to your face followed by a moisturizer and sunscreen (during the day).
Each study used a daily amount of hyaluronic acid ranging from 60-200 mg. Most supplements recommend hyaluronic in the 100-200 mg range, but Novisyn, perhaps one of the best known supplements, contains only 17 mg of hyaluronic acid in its once a day packets.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Together? Not all powerful skincare ingredients can be mixed, but hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are two that become even stronger when paired with one another. These ingredients can provide both immediate and lasting results when used together in anti-aging formulations.
If you're using a hyaluronic acid serum, use it after you wash your face with cleanser and/or toner. Don't dry your face after cleansing or toning. Apply a couple of drops of hyaluronic acid serum to your damp face and rub in. Wait a moment for it to absorb, and then continue with the rest of your skincare regimen.
The rule says that only molecules that are less than 500 Daltons in weight are able to penetrate healthy skin.
There are no known side effects to topical lotions and creams with hyaluronic acid, as it's already present in your body. Still, you could have an allergic reaction to a specific formulation or brand. Potential side effects of hyaluronic acid dermal filler include: Bruising.
Sublime's verdict: Hyaluronic acid-based products to be applied on damp skin and let it absorb for a minute before layering.
The hero ingredient of any skincare routine, hyaluronic is perfectly safe to use every day. In fact, most experts would encourage you to apply it twice a day, every day, as part of your morning and evening rituals.
If you're looking for an ingredient that can help to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone, retinol may be the better option. However, if you're looking for something that will keep your skin hydrated and plump, hyaluronic acid may be a better choice.
Polyglutamic acid's biggest claim to fame is its hydrating powers, specifically the ability to hold 4000 times its weight in water (that's 4 times more than hyaluronic acid—the most iconic hydrating ingredients out there…for now).
Can hyaluronic acid and retinol be used together? Unlike many other skin care ingredients out there, hyaluronic acid and retinol can be used in the same skincare routine. Not only that, but using them together can help to lessen the severity of the side effects that often come with retinol usage.