7 Hyaluronic Acid Benefits You Should Know

Over the past few years, hyaluronic acid has skyrocketed to superstar status in the skin care universe. It’s made its way into every type of product: toners, moisturizers, serums, and even dietary supplements.

You might be wondering: does hyaluronic acid really deserve this level of super stardom?

In a word, yes! This is due in part to its compatibility with pretty much every skin type (even sensitive skin). Hyaluronic acid is also packed with benefits for acne, aging, and hydration – all of which we’re about to cover!

Whether you’re dry and patchy, or oily and acne prone, keep reading to see how hyaluronic acid benefits your skin.

So what is hyaluronic acid, and how does it help our skin stay healthy?

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that is naturally found in our bodies, but can also be found in plants like sweet potatoes. Hyaluronic acid benefits our bodies by lubricating the joints, promoting tissue repair, and hydrating the skin.

When your skin is hydrated, it’s more likely to look plump, smooth, and soft to the touch. Hydration is also important to consider for your skin, And since we tend to become drier as we age – exacerbating signs of aging – hydration is crucial for a more youthful complexion.

With the addition of free radical and UV damage, a skin care regimen that supports hydration is essential. That’s where hyaluronic acid can make a huge difference!

#1: The Super Skin Quencher
If your skin’s been looking extra dull, you could likely benefit from hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, hyaluronic acid doesn’t just deliver hydration to the skin – it actually helps retain it. In fact, mega hydrator hyaluronic acid is known to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water!

While locking in moisture, hyaluronic acid also works to strengthen skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin looking dewy and fresh all day long.

#2: Plumping, Gel-Like Texture
If you’ve ever seen hyaluronic acid before (maybe in our Boost treatments), you’ve probably noticed its consistency: gel-like, watery, and lightweight. This is no surprise, because as a humectant, hyaluronic acid is noted for its ability to deeply penetrate the skin. It’s able to deliver hydration while adding a bouncy, unmistakable plumpness to skin.

#3: Collagen Support for Bouncy Skin
Speaking of bouncy skin, hyaluronic acid does more than hydrate! It also helps with a very important component in healthy, beautiful skin: collagen. By creating a hydrating, nourishing environment, collagen can function more effectively without tearing.

This piece of the puzzle is pretty important, since collagen is a key building block in our skin. If you can imagine your skin as a brick wall, collagen is like the mortar keeping the bricks together. And when you have good collagen support, your skin’s more likely to stay elastic, bouncy, and firm.

#4: Acne Defense
Did you know that hyaluronic acid benefits acne sufferers, too?

At first glance, acne doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with moisture – rather, the opposite. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! Clear skin is often about balance: balance of diet, balance of stress levels, and in this case, moisture balance.

When acne-prone skin is stripped of its natural oils, it’s designed to overcompensate by producing more sebum. And typically, this results in an excessive amount of oil, resulting in clogged pores and more breakouts.

Thanks to its lightweight and penetrating consistency, hyaluronic acid can promote moisture balance in the skin – thus protecting it from future inflammation and acne.

#5: Smoothing & Conditioning
While the skin looks smoother after applying hyaluronic acid, the long-term benefits are also worth noting. Thanks to its hydrating, super-humectant properties, hyaluronic acid can actually revitalize the lipid barrier while targeting surface cells to fill out fine lines.

6: Anti-Aging Benefits
Sometimes, it’s easy to ignore the importance of moisturizing – but it’s essential to lessening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles! While signs of aging are nothing to regret, moisture levels are simply a marker of healthy looking mature skin.

As a humectant, hyaluronic acid doesn’t just keep the skin looking plump and dewy; it also keeps the skin protected. And when the skin is feeling nourished and protected, cell turnover is encouraged. Along with supporting collagen, hyaluronic acid benefits as an anti-aging powerhouse for mature skin that’s smooth and nourished.

#7: Faster Healing
In placebo trials, the application of hyaluronic acid has been shown to help heal wounds in skin. It appears to do so by managing inflammation levels, while stimulating the body to form more blood vessels in the area that’s been damaged.

While this function of hyaluronic acid benefits the whole body, applying it to the face may be especially helpful to those with blemishes and acne scarring.