A Word On Winter Skincare~ A Potential Caveat To Hyaluronic Acid (And a Product Alternative)

Topical hyaluronic acid is used in skincare products across all spectrums of price and product type in both conventional and Green Beauty lines around the world. It comes in multiple forms such as sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, and many others, all having the capacity to both bring in water molecules from the outside environment into our skin and help keep it there. As humans, we do produce hyaluronic acid in our own bodies, and though the amount we make decreases with age, we use it on a permanent basis in our bodies to lubricate joints and muscles, hydrate hair follicles , adequately cushion our eyes, and yes, help the skin self- hydrate. But as with a lot of things in our body, including the nutrients we take in, the skin often receives the last dose of hyaluronic acid, so applying it topically like a miracle boost. And as someone with both dry and very dehydrated skin that has difficulty keeping its hydration and moisture in check, it really seems to be. Additionally, for those with oily skin, products containing hyaluronic acid often have a refreshing, fairly weightless feel that not only gives the skin some plumpness without adding oil but also some hydration to help the body, in turn, balance any excessive oil production. However, there is one small caveat to hyaluronic products that I have learned about recently and one that will be crucial to keep in mind, especially as the colder months come in and central heating kicks on.

In order for hyaluronic acid to truly be an effective hydrator and hydration trapper, it must be able to get moisture from outside surroundings. This means that if you are living in a dry climate or are in a dry inside environment, these types of products alone may not be very effective for you. Not only that, they may actually do more harm than good. Why? Because hyaluronic acid will always be attracted to and draw up any water it can find, and if it can't find any in the air around you, it will take it from the only other place it can, the deep layers of your skin and put it on the surface, which could leave you feeling parched. tight, and uncomfortable, and leave you more dehydrated in the long-term. Some skin experts go even so far as to suggest that this will create a kind of "dependency" on hyaluronic acid for your skin because when you have depleted your deeper water/moisture reserves by putting it on the surface, your skin becomes less equipped and less efficient at holding on to water and craves the trapping effects of the topically applied hyaluronic acid.

So how do we avoid this when winter dryness is at its worse and we are in heated buildings most of our days? Well, you can totally still use your hydrating, hyaluronic-inclusive serums, but it may be good to perhaps reduce the number of days or skincare sessions within a day that you apply it. It also can be helpful to spritz your face with a watery mist before you put on the hyaluronic acid product just to give it some water to feed on and bring into your face as it absorbs in. Also, if you are in the market for a new hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid in it, it's a good idea to check for one that contains other emollients like some form of glycerin or aloe vera gel, for example, to, again, give the hyaluronic ingredient something to cling on to and also give your skin multiple hydration (water) or moisture (oil)-rich resources to benefit from. And lastly, following up with an occlusive moisturizer at the very end of your routine can also stave off some of the drying effects of the air and add more oil to the skin to keep it comfortable while sealing everything in.

You can read more about this side of hyaluronic acid by checking out the articles here as well as this one by Oumere skincare, a Green Beauty biotechnology hybrid skincare brand that systematically eliminated all hyaluronic acid from its products to help combat the issues it causes and the prevalence of the ingredient in the skincare market as a whole.

if after reading more about some of these pitfalls to hyaluronic acid, you want to try cutting out the ingredient from your routine but you will really miss your hydrating serum step that would normally contain the ingredient, never fear! I have found a beautiful liquid moisture/serum that puts most others I've tried to shame, the Aloha Ambrosia Moisturizer from the Hawaiian-based skincare brand, Leahlani ($58 USD, Beauty-Heroes,.com) It is a refreshing silky gel serum comprised of deeply moisturizing, skin-softening and reparative ingredients like conditioning squalane from olive oil, soothing and tone-evening guava fruit, and antioxidant-rich and smoothing mangosteen. I cannot tell you how unbelieving refreshing and smoothing this product is and the hydration lasts all day on me and leaves all other moisturizing steps I could put over top of it optional. That being said, it really refines the pores, so makeup applies beautifully over the top. The scent of this product is a potent smell natural fresh jasmine,which also aids the skin to fight against breakouts and discoloration. The scent concentration may be a bit strong for some, but it does fade fairly quickly once it is rubbed into the skin. And as jasmine is known in aromatherapy as being both calming and a mood-lifter, I suspect that it could help chase away some of the winter blues to and transport you to your own oasis for awhile. But it is really the silky all-day moisture I am here for, giving a viable alternative to step away from hyaluronic acid to give the skin a break from it, so as not to incur some of its potential negative side effects.