Hyaluronic Acid and Skin

What is Hyaluronic Acid (HA)? 

HA exists naturally in almost every cell in the body. It keeps our joints feeling supple, prevents our eyes from feeling dry and helps our skin look youthful and plump.

Hyaluronic acid works in harmony with collagen. The surface layers of our skin are supported from below by columns of fibres made up of collagen and elastin. This network of fibres forms the molecular sponge known as connective tissue. 

The spaces within this sponge are filled with water, protein and hyaluronic acid. It is the hyaluronic acid that attracts and holds water which makes skin appear plump and unlined. 

The average person has 15 grams of HA in their body, a third of which is lost and needs to be replaced each day. Unfortunately, as we age, we lose the ability to replace HA at the required rate, so our skin becomes drier and less elastic, and wrinkles start to form. In fact a 50-year-old is estimated to have only half of the hyaluronic acid they would have had in their 20’s.

Topicals vs Supplements  

Hyaluronic Acid is a key ingredient in many beauty creams and serums, all promising to moisturise and hydrate your skin. However, HA molecules cannot penetrate the skin. When applied topically, hyaluronic acid will sit on top of the skin, offering hydration only at the very surface. 

A supplement on the other hand will replenish your stores of HA from within. When you have sufficient stores of HA, this will help smooth wrinkles and allow your skin to appear plump and moisturised. 

Quality and Quantity 

If you are ready to choose a hyaluronic acid supplement, there are two things you should look for. First, check the quantity! So many supplements these days have added hyaluronic acid to their ingredients list, but do not use a dosage that will make any meaningful difference to skin. Studies show that 200mg of hyaluronic acid is the correct daily amount that will improve skin. Despite this, many supplements only include a fraction of this HA.

Secondly, check the quality. The hyaluronic acid found in most supplements and creams consists of only one length of HA molecule. At Ingenious we use a pioneering new type of hyaluronic acid (called Hyaluronan Complex) that mimics the physiology of the hyaluronic acid in our skin. You see, our skin contains varying lengths of hyaluronic acid molecules and so the hyaluronan complex we use matches this structure – leading to 19% more superior results than traditional hyaluronic acid.