Using Hyaluronic Acid for Dry, Dehydrated Skin
There is an important distinction between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Dehydrated skin is a skin condition, and it can affect all skin types. Even oily skin can be dehydrated if it’s lacking in water or if the skin barrier is not efficient at protecting against the loss of water.
Dehydration can occur when we don’t drink enough water, using drying or irritating products that can strip the skin, the weather and moisture content in the air can also have a huge effect on the skins water content.
Dry skin, on the other hand, is a skin type. Dry skin is when your oil glands don’t produce an adequate amount of oil (or sebum) to keep the skin moisturised. Your skin can become dry due to factors like age, genetics, hormones or untreated dehydrated skin. Dry skin lacks oil whereas Dehydrated skin lacks water.
Treating Dehydrated skin
The ultimate hydrator for all skin types is hyaluronic acid. HA works in a number of ways, it is naturally occurring in the human body and we all have hyaluronic acid in our bodies. The levels deplete with time, as we get older our collagen levels decline and hyaluronic acid helps with collagen synthesis.
It Holds onto water
Hyaluronic acid also helps the skin cells hold on to water, it helps plump skin and gives immediate relief from tightness in the skin.
For anti-aging
Applying hyaluronic acid on your face plumps up the skin to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. When your skin is supple and hydrated, it plumps up to appear firmer, less saggy, and more toned.
Helping with the skin barrier
By providing your skin’s outer layers from the environment with rich moisture, HA actually strengthens your skin’s protective barrier to give you stronger, healthier skin.
In healing and repairing
Hyaluronic acid supports your skin’s healing and repairing ability by giving skin-soothing moisture and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used in dressing wounds, burns and skin ulcers. People take hyaluronic acid for various joint disorders, including osteoarthritis. It can be taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint by a doctor, it is also used in certain eye conditions in the form of eyedrops to help replace natural fluids.
How to introduce Hyaluronic acid into your skincare
For me a serum with hyaluronic acid is the best way to get water into the skin. Because of the low molecular weight of HA, it very active in a serum. These are a
few of my favourites.
Pestle and Mortar HA serum €43
The lightweight formula, with added Vitamin E, can also be used as a velvety smooth makeup primer. Comes in a glass bottle with a dropper applicator. Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum is 100% free of animal derived raw materials and organic solvent remnants, paraben free, propylene glycol free, fragrance free and not tested on animals.
La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum €38
I love this serum, especially for anyone who has sensitised skin or if the skins surface has been weakened as it also contains vitamin B5 which is amazing at helping the skin repair itself, it stimulates the natural repairing process and works really well with HA to firm and plump the skin.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 €7.50
Such an Affordable option of HA- also contains the B5 to help with repairing any damage to the skins protective layer.
For a Quick Fix Seoulista Super Hydration Instant Facial €8.99
This one-step facial mask is infused with hyaluronic acid to quench dehydrated skin. The coconut gel mask is infused with hyaluronic acid and vitamins to really plump the skin. The material of this mask makes it a little different to others on the market. It is made of a bio- cellulose material that we would see often in dressings for burns. It means that the mask really pushes the ingredients into the skin so you see immediate results.