Self Care Series #16:
Avoid These Hyaluronic Acid Mistakes

Your cells crave water. Without water, they shrivel up.

Good thing our bodies produce their own ingenious solve:
Hyaluronic acid is an essential intracellular lubricant naturally found in our muscles, joints, and it's especially concentrated in our largest organ – our skin.

A natural humectant, it has a very important role; to attract water into our thirsty cells so they stay saturated and healthy. But it doesn't stop there. It also helps reverse free radical damage.

But as we age, our natural levels of hyaluronic acid begin to deplete. So many beauty products nowadays incorporate Hyaluronic acid as part of their formula.

However, if you don’t use it right, you could end up with even drier skin than before.

How Hyaluronic acid works

Hyaluronic acid is used as a humectant. Humectants can either be man-made or derived from nature. Each works differently and may have properties that make them suitable for certain applications.

It is a substance that helps the skin hold on to water. Humectants work by attracting water from our surroundings onto our skin help moisturize the skin — if the humidity is over 70%.

Likewise, it also pulls water from the dermis (the second layer of skin) to the epidermis (the top layer of skin). This process increases the level of moisture in our skin, and by doing so, the skin will look less flaky and be less prone to cracking and chafing.

The right way to use Hyaluronic Acid to prevent moisture loss

If the weather is especially dry (particularly during the winter months), or if your skin is dehydrated, humectants can actually draw too much water from the dermis and cause premature drying.

MISTING BEFORE
You should never apply Hyaluronic acid on dry skin because you want to put a water buffer between your skin before it starts drawing water from your skin. So mist your face with a supercharged mist beforehand.

LAYERING AFTER
Moisturizers or oils layered on top of the Hyaluronic acid will add an occlusive agent that prevents moisture loss by creating an oil or lipid barrier on the skin.

Think of your regimen as a hydration "sandwich" — mist your face with water or a facial mist, apply the hyaluronic acid treatment, then spritz again.

OILS
Oils are a great way to restore moisture to dry skin. Some plant oils possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which can help improve the health of your skin barrier. It is a great occlusives form a barrier on the skin to protect it from losing water. Mature and very dry skins tend to love occlusives because they lose water so easily.

Hyaluronic acid works for people with any skin type — even those who have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts. Just remember to layer them correctly.

An Extra Step For those with Dehydrated Skin

For those with dehydrated skin, you need to take an extra step in your lifestyle change because no amount of good skin care will help if you are not hydrated inside.

DRINK UP
Replenishing your hydro is the first major step. Start with the old rule of eight glasses of water per day if you don’t drink enough water already.

TEAS & TONIC
Drink decaffeinated tea if you hate water. Green tea, Ginger tea, Peppermint tea are great for skin as they are high in antioxidant and also replenish your Chi.

We have a range of teas crafted to bring balance the mind, body, and soul.

WATER VEGGIES
Eating water-rich veggies and fruits can also help increase your intake. Vegetables and fruits high in water include lettuce, celery, bok choy, radish, cucumber, zucchini, watercress, tomatoes, green bell peppers, and asparagus, peaches, watermelon, oranges, and the like.)