Why Hyaluronic Acid Should Be a Staple in Your Skincare

If you're into skincare, you've likely heard of hyaluronic acid. It's a buzzed-about ingredient that has become a staple in many skincare routines and is found as an active ingredient in several different forms, like serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and just about everything else.

It’s no secret why hyaluronic acid has become a “holy grail” product over the last several years; it keeps skin plump and hydrated and minimizes early signs of aging. In this article, we will explore all the benefits of hyaluronic acid and why you should consider adding it to your skin care routine.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which simply means that it is able to retain moisture.¹ Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced and is found throughout your body, including in spots like your eyes, joints, and, of course, your skin.

Hyaluronic acid has become well known for its hydrating properties when applied to the skin, helping with skin elasticity and the overall appearance of dry skin.

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for your skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a popular skincare ingredient because of its ability to absorb water, which is essential to healthy skin, and because it helps skin flexibility and elasticity, which makes skin bouncy and soft. Plus, when skin cells are hydrated and balanced, they not only function better but also look great.

This is especially important for preventing skin dehydration, which happens when your sensitive skin barrier loses more water than it is taking in. It can be caused by things like not drinking enough water or sweating too much, and may lead to itchiness, dullness, under-eye circles, sunken skin, and more noticeable fine lines.

Don’t confuse this with dry skin. Dry skin is when your skin barrier produces less oil than other skin types. Dehydrated skin is when your skin cells lack water in their top layer. So even those with oily or acne-prone skin can have dehydrated skin.

What are the Key Hyaluronic Acid Benefits for Your Skin?

There are several unique benefits of hyaluronic acid, which is why so many people are searching for skincare products to incorporate it into their routine:

Deeply Hydrates

Hyaluronic acid is great at retaining (or holding on to) water. Just a quarter teaspoon of hyaluronic acid holds about one and a half gallons of water (meaning it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water). In skincare products, it makes for an excellent ingredient that helps moisturize dry and dehydrated skin.

Improves Skin Elasticity

Over time, our skin starts to lose elasticity, which is part of the natural aging process. When elasticity decreases, this can lead to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. By incorporating hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine, you can help improve the elasticity of your skin over time with one study finding that skin firmness and elasticity were significantly enhanced after just eight weeks of use.²

Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles

As mentioned, when we lose skin elasticity, this leads to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles on our skin, and because hyaluronic acid helps to improve skin elasticity, it in turn helps to reduce the appearance of those fine lines and wrinkles as well.

Enhances Skin Barrier Function

It's more commonly known that your skin barrier is sensitive, and damaging your skin barrier can be detrimental when trying to protect your skin from environmental stressors and pollutants. Hyaluronic acid has been shown to help strengthen the skin barrier's structure and function.³

Calms and Soothes the Skin

Hyaluronic acid has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, making it a super beneficial ingredient for those with sensitive or acne prone skin. Hyaluronic acid has been shown to play a pivotal role in cell turnover and tissue repair, therefore aiding in the reduction of inflammation on the skin.⁴

So How do you Keep your Skin Hydrated?

Pick COOLA products to add to your skincare routine that contain hyaluronic acid. Our Refreshing Water Collection features hyaluronic acid and other deep hydrators to keep your skin type healthy.

Looking for mess-free hydration? Check out our Refreshing Water Hydration Organic Face Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 for weightless hydration and effortless protection. The easy-to-use stick delivers a cooling formula infused with organic Aloe, Coconut Water, hyaluronic acid, and plant-derived BlueScreen™ Digital De-Stress™ technology. This innovative complex helps mitigate the blue light effects on skin of today’s modern-world skin-aggressors: High Energy Visible light (which includes blue light emitted from digital devices), IR (infrared), and pollution—all in a convenient stick.

Looking for even deeper hydration to add to your skincare routine? Our Refreshing Water Cream Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 is infused with hydration-boosting Hyaluronic Acid and refreshing Coconut Water to deliver a dewy surge of lightweight moisture and powerful SPF 50 protection. Powered by our plant-derived BlueScreen™ Digital De-Stress™ technology, this groundbreaking cream also helps mitigate the effects of High Energy Visible light (including blue light from digital devices), infrared light, and pollution to help guard you against modern-day skin stressors.

Want to keep your skin hydrated and protected all day long? Just spritz on our Refreshing Water Mist Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 18 for extra protection and moisture. The alcohol-free formula is infused with organic Aloe and Coconut Water, antioxidants for skincare, and Indian Jasmine plant stem cells, plus plant-derived BlueScreen™ Digital De-Stress™ technology.

Sources:

1. Liu K, Nassim J. The hype on hyaluronic acid - Harvard Health. Harvard Health. Published January 23, 2020. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-hype-on-hyaluronic-acid-2020012318653

2. Jegasothy SM, Zabolotniaia V, Bielfeldt S. Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-hyaluronic Acid in Humans. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology. 2014;7(3):27-29. Accessed May 8, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970829

3. Sundaram. Pilot Comparative Study of the Topical Action of a Novel, Crosslinked Resilient Hyaluronic Acid on Skin Hydration and Barrier Function in a Dynamic, Three-Dimensional Human Explant Model. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD. 2016;15(4). Accessed May 2, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27050698/

4. Widgerow AD, Ziegler M, Garruto JA, et al. Designing topical hyaluronic acid technology—Size does matter…. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2022;21(7):2865-2870. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.15027