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Hyaluronic acid is a common ingredient in skincare products. It's used chiefly in moisturizing creams, lotions, and serums because of its ability to hydrate and plump the skin.
Because it has "acid" in its name, it's often mistaken for an exfoliating ingredient, much like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. However, hyaluronic acid has little in common with alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids such as these. Hyaluronic acid attracts water from within the dermis and moves it along to the skin surface, the epidermis. Hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans also play a role in skin elasticity and tone, cell metabolism, regeneration, and healing.
As you age, hyaluronic acid levels in the skin naturally taper off. Your skin doesn't manufacture it as effectively as it used to. That is partly why the skin becomes thinner and drier as you get older. Hyaluronic acid levels in the skin begin a steep decline after age 40.
Apply a topical hyaluronic acid product and it will help pull moisture from the deeper layers of the skin to infuse the top layers of the skin with moisture. If you live in a humid area, it can also help pull water from the air into your skin.
Hyaluronic acid products also help reduce trans-epidermal water loss. This is another way of saying that it helps keep the water in your skin, rather than letting it evaporate out into the air.
Wrinkles are creases and folds that form in our skin, usually most prominent in our face, neck and hands. Wrinkles are caused by the natural process of aging on our skin, though there are a few circumstances that increase the appearance and depth of wrinkles. Exposure to sun, pollution, and cigarette smoke increase the rate of wrinkling. Genetics also plays a role in the skin’s elasticity, plumpness, and the age at which wrinkles begin appearing.
To prevent wrinkles, it’s best to moisturize daily and wear sunscreen. Additionally, antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals that damage cells and speed up aging. Ingredients and nutrients like rosehip oil, alpha-lipoic acid, herbal extracts, retinol, coenzyme Q10, alpha-hydroxy acids, etc are all beneficial for preventing and reducing wrinkles.
hyaluronic acid may be effective for wrinkles, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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