If you're immersed in the world of skincare, chances are the term 'hyaluronic acid' has popped up on your radar. Maybe you've heard the term touted by Eva Longoria in a glamorous TV ad, or you've seen the name embedded in the ingredients list of your favorite overnight moisturizer. But for people who really care about their skin, simply hearing about how amazing hyaluronic acid is may not be enough. In this article, we will dive into the nitty-gritty of what hyaluronic acid really is and explain why we included it as a key ingredient in our best-selling No-Tox Skin Serum.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid was first discovered in the 1930s by scientists Karl Meyer and John Palmer, who isolated it from cow eyes.1 Hyaluronic acid2, or HA, is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies, primarily found in the skin, connective tissues, and eyes. It acts as a humectant3, meaning it helps our tissues retain moisture, keeping our skin and eyes hydrated. Chemically, it's a glycosaminoglycan, which is a fancy name for molecules composed of long chains of sugar units.4 Despite the complex name, its function is simple and essential: it holds water. Not only does this help our bodies to work properly, but it also contributes to making our skin look plump and youthful.

How Hyaluronic Acid Can Benefit Your Skin

There is a reason you might see hyaluronic acid on the ingredient list on all your favorite skincare items - it's because, when it comes to hydrating, plumping, and de-aging the skin, little can compare to the results of hyaluronic acid.

First and foremost, hyaluronic acid is known as the ultimate skin hydrator. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water5, making it an incredible thirst quencher for your skin. This means smoother, plumper skin that's less prone to fine lines and wrinkles. This anti-aging effect was shown in a 2011 study6, where results revealed that, between a hyaluronic acid cream and a placebo cream, hyaluronic acid caused a significant decrease in wrinkle depth. Many corroborating studies show that HA is the perfect ingredient to seek out if you're looking to dial back signs of aging.

What's more, hyaluronic acid has also been found to help to strengthen the skin's barrier.7 This is especially good news for people with acne-prone skin, as a strong skin barrier is essential for keeping out pollutants and locking in moisture. Lastly, as an added bonus to hyaluronic acid's moisturizing effects, HA also gives the skin a 'dewy' or 'glowy' look. Plus, hyaluronic acid is a gentle compound that plays well with other ingredients, so you can easily incorporate it into your existing skincare routine.

Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid

While hyaluronic acid has a multitude of benefits, it's important to know about potential side effects-though, luckily, they are quite rare. For most people, hyaluronic acid is a gentle and well-tolerated ingredient. However, in some cases, you might experience mild irritation, redness, or itching, especially if you have extremely sensitive skin or if you're using a product with a high concentration of HA.8

Overall the side effects of hyaluronic acid are rare, minimal, and can be easily repaired with a few tweaks to your skincare routine. So, while it's always good to do a patch test first, hyaluronic acid remains popular for a reason-its benefits far outweigh the occasional minor hiccup, making it a safe addition to your skincare lineup.

How My Derma Dream's No-Tox Skin Serum Makes the Most Out of Hyaluronic Acid

From our research, we at My Derma Dream have concluded hyaluronic acid is one of the best hydrating ingredients on the market today. So, to bring this powerful hydrating ingredient to customers, we've included hyaluronic acid as one of the four main components of our best-selling No-Tox Serum, the Botox-in-A-Bottle serum.

No-Tox is our revolutionary skin serum that harmoniously blends the skin-plumping hydration of hyaluronic acid with other skin-firming compounds, such as Argireline®, Stay C®, and Matrixyl®.9 Argireline® is a peptide renowned for its ability to relax facial muscles, simulating the lifted appearance of Botox without the pain (or the high price tag)9. No-Tox is also blended with Matrixyl®, a peptide found to boost skin's collagen production to fill in fine lines.9

Beyond skin-toning ingredients, No-Tox also incorporates Stay-C®, a stabilized form of Vitamin C to help fade dark spots and improve skin tone. Stay-C® eliminates anything from dark under eyes to aggravating age spots by addressing their root cause, which is the overproduction of melanin in the skin. What's more, Stay-C® is also an extraordinary antioxidant that shields the skin from environmental damage.9

By combining hyaluronic acid expertly with these advanced skincare compounds, No-Tox Serum is meticulously crafted to deliver comprehensive skincare benefits in one potent formula. In pairing these cutting-edge ingredients, we've created a solution that not only hydrates and firms but also brightens and protects your skin. For more information, or to treat yourself to plumper, younger-looking skin, click here.

FAQ's: What Else Do You Need to Know About Hyaluronic Acid?

Q: Who is able to use hyaluronic acid?

A: Hyaluronic acid is excellent for almost all skin types. Its ability to provide non-greasy, deep hydration makes it a great addition to the skincare routine of people with oily, dry, or combination skin types. Whether you have acne-prone skin10, rosacea11, or just want to maintain a healthy complexion, hyaluronic acid is both a safe and savvy option.

Q: How many times a day can I use hyaluronic acid?

A: Generally, it's recommended that you apply hyaluronic acid 2-3 times a day. In the morning and at night are the most common times to apply hyaluronic acid, usually in a skin serum like our No-Tox Serum. Another time hyaluronic acid can be used is as an activator serum for an at-home spa device, such as our Myoglow or our Lift & Glow Gua Sha Pro. An HA serum can help these devices glide effortlessly over the skin and lock in results. Because hyaluronic acid is a gentle ingredient, it rarely causes side effects; however, I would recommend using it no more than three times a day to avoid over-hydrating your skin.

Q: How long do the effects of hyaluronic acid last?

A: The immediate hydrating effects of hyaluronic acid can last for several hours after applying. This is why I suggest using a hyaluronic acid serum both morning and night to maintain continuous hydration. Long-term effects, such as improved skin hydration, plumpness, and fine line reduction, will improve with time and consistent use. To get the most out of your HA serum, be sure to use your serum consistently and follow up with a moisturizer to seal the effects of HA in.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hyaluronic acid is a moisturizing miracle, with solid academic research supporting its effectiveness. However, if you don't have the time to read these scientific studies, I hope this article provides a nice starting point to understanding hyaluronic acid, from its basic definition to its extensive benefits. After reading up on HA, it's hard to argue to disagree that hyaluronic acid is definitely worth the hype, and worth adding to your daily skincare repertoire.

References

1. Article which includes a description of the discovery of hyaluronic acid: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/4/838.
2. Cleveland Clinic article describing the basic definition of hyaluronic acid: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22915-hyaluronic-acid.
3. Mirriam-Webster definition of humectant: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humectant.
4. Article discussing the composition and function of hyaluronic acid and its structure in greater detail: https://fjps.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43094-024-00636-y.
5. Article stating hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/8/1800.
6. 2011 study showing that hyaluronic acid caused significant reduction in wrinkles compared to placebo treatment: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Efficacy-of-cream-based-novel-formulations-of-acid-Pavicic-Gauglitz/9a1d822a19605bf8ce9d25106e4e54e88db8a362.
7. Study examining how hyaluronic acid improves skin barrier function: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Pilot-Comparative-Study-of-the-Topical-Action-of-a-Sundaram-Mackiewicz/71d2ff693f5e59e977eca35e9c44903247dd67fd.
8. Article on utilizing hyaluronic acid in treating skin disorders, which mentions minor side-effects associated with HA: https://karger.com/spp/article-abstract/17/5/207/295394/Hyaluronic-Acid-in-the-Treatment-and-Prevention-of?redirectedFrom=fulltext.
9. MyDermaDream's No-Tox Serum: https://shop.mydermadream.com/products/timeless-skin-serum.
10. Study that mentions hyaluronic acid is a non-comedogenic skin hydrator: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29228816/.
11. Study that found hyaluronic acid in a cream reduced rosacea symptoms, including dryness: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23839183/.