hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a superstar skincare ingredient, but it’s always important to know exactly what your cosmetics can and cannot do for you. Hyaluronic acid — which often shows up on the list as either hyaluronan or sodium hyaluronate — is much beloved for its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its own molecular weight in water. But what is this ingredient exactly? It’s a sugary molecule, sometimes referred to as HA, that occurs naturally in the body and acts as a lubricator for skin and joints. So when it comes to HA in topical skincare, the ingredient acts as a mega hydrator for skin, which, over time, loses moisture and produces less of its own hyaluronic acid.