How to hydrate the skin, then?Updated a year ago
If deeply penetrating low molecular weight hyaluronic acid may pose a risk, then how can you effectively hydrate your skin’s lower levels? The best way is to use water itself. The molecular weight of H2O is very low, so with prolonged saturation like in the bath or shower, your skin will absorb a ton of it. The trouble is that the water starts to evaporate pretty soon after it finds its way in.
That’s where occlusives come in - occlusives are water-repelling ingredients that don’t allow evaporation. If you’re experiencing noticeable signs of skin dehydration, get in the habit of slathering on a rich, occlusive product immediately after every shower.
At Protocol, we developed Water Lock for this purpose. It’s a silky, non-greasy balm with a powerful occlusive formula and just a bit of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. It creates a seal over the skin that prevents water evaporation while keeping the surface looking smooth and hydrated.
Another way to combat dehydration is to take a long-term approach. In our Hydration Cream, for instance, we combined hyaluronic acid with niacinamide. Niacinamide has a low molecular mass, but it’s not a humectant. Instead, niacinamide plays a role in improving the skin’s natural ability to retain moisture from below while also combatting irritation, signs of aging, and discoloration.
When they go low, we go for high molecular weight hyaluronic acid
The science isn’t conclusive, but we believe that high molecular weight hyaluronic acid is the safer option, especially with regular use. It doesn’t penetrate as deeply as its low molecular weight counterpart, but for those with sensitive skin, it’s less likely to irritate.
If you’ve been experiencing difficult-to-explain irritation or redness, consider how many products in your routine contain hyaluronic acid. Is any of it of low molecular weight? The solution might be as simple as cutting out one serum.
At the same time, there are plenty of ingredients with a low molecular weight that improve the skin by impacting its lower levels. They include niacinamide which improves long-term hydration to retinol which encourages complete renewal.