Hyaluronic Acid for Skin, Hair & Makeup

Known as a modern day 'Skincare Hero', Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has quickly become one of the most talked about ingredients when it comes to attaining smooth, hydrated, and youthful skin. If you are wanting to know more about this must-have active ingredient and how to incorporate it into your daily beauty routine then read on.

WHAT IS HYALURONIC ACID

Naturally found in the epidermis layer of skin, Hyaluronic Acid plays a vital role in preserving the skin's tone, elasticity, and volume. With age, our natural hyaluronic acid levels drop and our skin becomes drier, duller, and less plump. This is where formulated products containing Hyaluronic Acid becomes a 'must-have' when looking to replenish the skin.

WHAT DOES HYALURONIC ACID DO FOR SKIN

There are multiple types of HA molecules, each with a different function. Macro hyaluronic acid works to intensely hydrate and smooth the skin’s surface by retaining 1000x its weight in water, while micro hyaluronic acid works to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and soften wrinkles. Our L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Range harnesses both micro and macro hyaluronic acid molecules for maximum efficacy and skin plumping power. When looking for hyaluronic acid based products, look for a variety of HA molecule sizes to ensure your skin gains maximum results. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID

Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring molecule in our bodies which depletes as we age. And the result is often dryness, wrinkles and a loss of volume or plumpness in the skin. That's why dermatologists recommend to include Hyaluronic Acid in your skincare, particularly to re-plump the skin and reduce signs of ageing. Due to its ability to retain up to 1000x its weight in water, Hyaluronic Acid is able to deeply hydrate the surface layers of dry skin, and actually re-plump fine lines and wrinkles from within.

HOW OFTEN TO USE HYALURONIC ACID

There is really no limit to how often you can use Hyaluronic Acid on the skin, but we recommend you use it both morning and night, depending on your skin needs and skincare routine. You can also layer multiple products with Hyaluronic Acid in your regime, such as serums, day and night creams and treatments, making it a very versatile and easy-to-use ingredient.

DISCOVER MORE GUIDES TO HYALURONIC ACID FOR SKIN

WHEN TO USE HYALURONIC ACID IN SKINCARE ROUTINE

Hyaluronic acid’s hydrating effects can be put to use day and night in a variety of skincare steps. You’ll find HA in many formulations, from serums to ampoules to sheet masks and more, lending its hydrating properties as both a hero ingredient and alongside other efficacious actives. If you’re exploring hyaluronic acid for the first time, a serum plus a night or day cream is a good place to start. With these products, you can utilise HA and see a boost of hydration at any time of day, with products that play well under sunscreen and makeup, or combine safely with other ingredients depending on your needs.

WHAT IS A GOOD ANTI-AGEING SKINCARE ROUTINE

Skincare can deliver anti-ageing effects in a variety of ways. It all depends on your desired outcomes, which may include hydration, plumping, softening fine lines and wrinkles and brightening dark spots. Different active ingredients can be incorporated into your skincare routine to address these concerns and can be combined together or used in different product formulations. For all-around anti-ageing ability, we recommend combining two powerhouse actives: hyaluronic acid and retinol.

To provide you with some focus areas and recommendations for your anti-ageing skincare routine, L’Oréal Paris offers the AI Skin Diagnosis tool Skin Genius. The technology virtually diagnoses and assesses your skin across five key dimensions (lines & wrinkles, radiance, firmness, pore quality and tone) and provides you with a personalised diagnosis and regime.

TRY SKIN GENIUS: OUR ONLINE SKIN ANALYSIS TOOL

Get Your Skincare Analysis Online with Skin Genius

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID IN MAKEUP

Hyaluronic acid can be included in makeup formulations to add both immediate and long-term hydrating effects and enhance the look of your makeup, be it a lip product, primer or foundation. If you wear makeup regularly, hyaluronic acid makeup is a perfect way to incorporate more of this skin-loving, anti-ageing ingredient to your beauty regime. Makeup with hyaluronic acid has the unique ability to plump the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and cracks, providing flawless, dewy makeup coverage and keeping you hydrated all day long.

WHAT DOES HYALURONIC DO FOR HAIR

The benefits of hyaluronic acid can be harnessed by any hair type as it can assist with many hair concerns – whether you’re dealing with dryness, damage or frizz. Introducing hyaluronic acid hair products to your regular routine can help to maintain hair health and assist in overall moisture retention. When applied to hair, hyaluronic acid helps to reduce porosity and lessen moisture loss. Porous hair tends to retain less water, so by locking in the moisture of hair follicles with hyaluronic acid, it can help to eliminate frizz and give your mane that extra volume. If you suffer from dry hair, hyaluronic acid can also help to moisturise dry and flaky areas on your scalp. Dry and frizzy hair typically see the most noticeable benefits, as does over-processed, damaged hair.

What are the differences between hyaluronic acid and retinol?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that lends skin plumpness, volume and bounce due to its ability to hold up to 1000x its weight in water. As we age, our skin’s water retention ability declines and incorporating topical HA into skincare can be a useful way to replenish hydration and plumpness. Retinol, on the other hand, is a powerful derivative of vitamin A, an unparalleled anti-ageing active. Retinol works by increasing the rate of cell turnover which helps to visibly renew the skin, smooth texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Can you use hyaluronic acid with retinol?

Yes, hyaluronic acid and retinol work excellently in tandem and have properties that complement one another, making this one of the most popular skincare combinations. The benefits of retinol are strengthened when accompanied by HA as it helps the skin to stay hydrated and works to counteract skin prone to irritation caused by retinol - especially in the early stages of introducing retinol into your skincare routine.

Should you use hyaluronic acid before or after retinol?

The answer to this question depends on whether or not you’re looking to amp up the potency of your retinol. As hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate the skin and the effects of retinol are amplified by moisture, applying your HA product before retinol will intensify its effects. If you’re new to retinol or have sensitive skin, you’ll want to swap that order. For a milder result, apply retinol to clean, dry skin, and wait up to 30 mins before applying your hyaluronic acid step.

Can you use hyaluronic acid with retinol and niacinamide?

Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid pair well together and combined with retinol makes for an impressive trio of ingredients that can tackle several skin concerns. Whether these ingredients are combined into one, multi-tasking product or layered in a regime, their hydrating and brightening properties are unmatched. As dry and flaky skin is a common side effect of regular retinol use, niacinamide and HA make for an excellent accompaniment to your retinol application. Our Laser X3 Retinol + Niacinamide Pressed Night Cream also contains hyaluronic acid, so you only need to apply one product to reap the benefits of all three ingredients.