Hyaluronic acid: moisture for a smooth skin feel

Does your skin feel tight after washing or often feel dry? Hyaluronic acid binds water and can help your skin retain moisture. In this way you support a smooth, soft skin feel.

The key points in brief

• Your skin forms hyaluronic acid itself, and it holds on to a lot of water.
• In a laboratory study, small molecules got deeper into the skin than large ones.
• You use it morning and evening, before your cream.
• There are also light serums with hyaluronic acid for sebum-rich skin.

What does hyaluronic acid do in the skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that your skin forms itself. In German it is often simply called Hyaluron. It holds on to water, similar to a sponge. Young skin stays plump because it has a lot of water.

Over the years, the skin loses water. External influences in everyday life also contribute to this. A review calls hyaluronic acid the key to the skin's moisture.

On the ingredient list, it appears as Hyaluronic Acid or as Sodium Hyaluronate. Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt of the acid. Hyaluronic acid consists of long chains. Depending on the length, one speaks of large or small molecules.

This matters, because not all of them get equally deep into the skin. In a laboratory study on samples of human skin, small molecules got through the horny layer. This is the outermost layer of your skin. Large molecules stayed in front of it.

Who is it suitable for?

Hyaluronic acid suits you if your skin is dry or feels tight.

It also has its place with mature skin. It loses water over the years.

Is your skin sebum-rich? It can also need moisture. According to the product information, the Hydra-Cool Serum absorbs quickly and does not leave the skin looking greasy.

Do you use retinol? Retinol can dry out the skin. According to the product information for HA Densimatrix, you therefore apply hyaluronic acid first in the evening and then retinol.

Who is it less suitable for?

If you are looking for a replacement for retinol or sun protection, hyaluronic acid is not the right choice. It gives your skin moisture, but no protection against the sun.

If your skin reacts quickly, look at the entire ingredient list. Besides hyaluronic acid, every product contains other substances, some also fragrance.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: please consult your doctor.

How to use it

1. Cleanse your face morning and evening.
2. Take the amount given in the directions for use: 3 to 4 drops of HA Densimatrix, 3 to 5 drops of Hydra-Cool Serum or 1 to 2 pumps of Pep Up.
3. Gently pat HA Densimatrix in, gently massage the Hydra-Cool Serum in. Let it absorb briefly.
4. Then follow with your cream. This is what the directions for use of HA Densimatrix state.
5. In the morning, sun protection with sun protection factor 30 or higher comes last.

Good to combine, better not together

Good together:

• Retinol in the evening: first hyaluronic acid, then retinol.
• A cream on top: according to the directions for use, HA Densimatrix goes before the moisturiser.
• Sun protection in the morning: as the last step.

Better not together:

• Irritated skin and serums with retinol, acids or vitamin C: according to the product information for the Hydra-Cool Serum, they can further irritate irritated skin.

What you can expect

There are studies in humans on moisture. We present two of them here.

In a study with 76 women between 30 and 60 years of age, the women applied a cream with 0.1 percent hyaluronic acid around one eye twice a day for 60 days. A cream without the active ingredient was applied around the other eye. On the side with hyaluronic acid, the researchers measured more moisture and more elasticity.

They measured less deep fine lines after 60 days only with the two smallest of five molecule sizes.

In a second study, 36 people between 60 and 80 years of age with dry skin received three lotions on three areas of the leg for 4 weeks. With small molecules, the researchers measured more moisture than with large ones. The lotion without hyaluronic acid was lower still. They found no difference in the skin's water loss.

For you, this means: each result applies to the formulation tested. How much hyaluronic acid of which size our products contain is not stated in the information.

In our shop

You can find all products in our Hyaluronic acid collection. These four contain hyaluronic acid according to their ingredient list:

• HA Densimatrix from mesoestetic: serum with Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate and two other forms of hyaluronic acid, for moisture morning and evening.
• Hydra-Cool Serum from iS Clinical: cooling gel serum with Sodium Hyaluronate and pantothenic acid, according to the directions for use also for sensitive skin.
• Moisturizing Complex from iS Clinical: light cream with Hyaluronic Acid, glycerin and panthenol. It also contains retinyl palmitate, so sun protection with sun protection factor 30 belongs to it during the day.
• Pep Up Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum from Colorescience: serum with Sodium Hyaluronate and peptides for face, neck and décolleté, morning and evening before your cream.

Frequently asked questions

What is hyaluronic acid serum good for?

With a serum with hyaluronic acid, you give your skin moisture. Hyaluronic acid binds water and supports a smooth, soft skin feel. Fine lines caused by dryness can look visibly softer this way.

How often can you use hyaluronic acid serum?

You can use it twice a day, morning and evening. This is what is stated for HA Densimatrix and the Hydra-Cool Serum.

When do you apply hyaluronic acid serum?

You apply it after cleansing, before your cream. In the morning, sun protection follows last.

Which is better for wrinkles: hyaluronic acid or retinol?

Hyaluronic acid gives your skin moisture. In a study, researchers measured less deep fine lines after 60 days, but only with 2 of 5 molecule sizes. Retinol is an active ingredient of its own and needs sun protection during the day. You do not have to choose: in the evening you apply hyaluronic acid first, then retinol.

Sources

1. Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G (2012): Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermato-Endocrinology 4(3):253-258. DOI 10.4161/derm.21923, PMID 23467280.
2. Essendoubi M, Gobinet C, Reynaud R et al. (2016): Human skin penetration of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights as probed by Raman spectroscopy. Skin Research and Technology 22(1):55-62. DOI 10.1111/srt.12228, PMID 25877232.
3. Pavicic T, Gauglitz GG, Lersch P et al. (2011): Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 10(9):990-1000. PMID 22052267.
4. Muhammad P, Novianto E, Setyorini M et al. (2024): Effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in xerosis cutis treatment in elderly: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Archives of Dermatological Research 316(6):329. DOI 10.1007/s00403-024-03003-2, PMID 38829483.