Hyaluronic serum is a serum that contains hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate and is applied to the skin. Once called a “goo” by scientists, hyaluronic acid and its sister compounds are now one of the cornerstones of proactive skincare. Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in your body’s joints and in your eyes (don’t worry, it’s not being harvested from people—all hyaluronan is lab-made), and well as in tissue repair, being the main component of the extracellular matrix. When your skin is damaged by UVB rays, it begins to produce less hyaluronic acid.
Serums are lighter weight than moisturizers and should be put on after cleansing and before moisturizing. Serums have a higher concentration of certain ingredients than moisturizers, so they’re lighter so your skin absorbs them more readily. They can be moisturizing, but you still want a moisturizer to seal in the active ingredients of the serum and protect your face. Because of how targeted serums are, a little goes a long way, so that 1 oz bottle (that probably cost you more than you wanted to pay) will go the distance. However, there are different kinds and sizes of HA; smaller molecules absorb deep into the skin, and the larger the molecule gets, the fewer layers it’s able to penetrate. Make sure when you’re buying a hyaluronic acid serum that it labels what kind of HA it contains; it does you little good if the molecule sits on the surface of your skin.
Hyaluronic acid is used for wound healing, and in some cases, to treat burn victims. Hopefully, you don’t have wounds to that degree that you need to treat (if you do, please go see a healthcare professional), but the most common kind of opening in the skin that people have, though it isn’t thought of that way, is acne or acne scars. Hyaluronic acid also contains anti-inflammatory properties, so it’ll help improve the redness and overall appearance of your acne when applied.
Hyaluronic serum is water-based and water binding, and hyaluronic acid a the main component of Juvaderm Ultra Plus; if you can’t afford to inject it into your skin (or if you straight up don’t want to, which I respect), applying it in serum form will help your skin regain its suppleness.
If you are starting to get fine lines and wrinkles, hyaluronic acid and serums can fight free radicals that seek to destroy you. Hopefully, you’re wearing some kind of sunscreen or moisturizer with broad-spectrum sun protection to protect you, but if you haven’t up until now, please start doing so, and please start using a hyaluronic serum to treat whatever the sun’s done to you so far.
If you’re not at that life stage where you have fine lines, hyaluronic serum can help your face look more glowy and youthful (or prevent you from getting fine lines in the future) by hydrating your skin, not just on a surface level, but on a cellular one. Your skin will look brighter and less dull, and its non-comedogenic properties make it the Goldilocks serum for people with dry skin, oily skin, in between skin, or combination skin.
Hyaluronic serum can be used by anyone, of any age, of any skin type, texture, and problem; its versatility as an additional step between cleansing and moisturizing (not to mention that cleansers and moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid exist and can further help your skin regain its glow) make it a must-have for your skin.
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