What is hyaluronic acid?Updated a year ago
Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been the skincare world’s favorite hydrating agent for a long time now. It’s a powerful humectant, which means it can absorb and hold onto water. There are plenty of humectants in skincare, but two factors make hyaluronic acid unique.
First, it’s powerful — a small amount is enough to significantly amp up the hydrating powers of any moisturizer or serum. Second, it has a pretty high affinity for human skin. Our bodies produce hyaluronic acid naturally, and it occurs as part of the skin’s extracellular matrix. It floats in between our skin cells, both in the epidermis and dermis, keeping the skin soft, strong, and supple.
As we get older, our body’s production of hyaluronic acid slows down (along with the production of many other important components). This is why the skin gets drier with age.
In skincare products, hyaluronic acid infuses the skin with moisture. Through increased hydration, hyaluronic acid plumps up the skin, tightening the epidermis from below. This is how HA improves other factors related to skin appearance, such as diminishing fine lines, enhancing skin luminosity, and reducing pore size and texture.
At Protocol, you can find hyaluronic acid in a few of our products, including our Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide Hydration Cream and Water Lock, our latest skin-rescuing release.