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Makeup Blog

Ingredient Education: What is Hyaluronic Acid Serum & How Hyaluronic Acid Benefits Skin

  • 4 min read

BY CHELSEA SIMMONS

Hyaluronic Acid is one of those ingredients that you always hear called a "super ingredient," but some of you may not really know anything about it! That's why we are here. We are going to answer some of your burning questions about Hyaluronic Acid and the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum from the simple ones like "What is Hyaluronic Acid?" to "Will Hyaluronic Acid help extend the life my fillers?"

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Let's start with the basics. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a mucopolysaccharide (say that 5 times fast) found in most cells in your body. It’s often called "the body’s moisturizer." One of its main functions is to bind water and to lubricate movable parts of your body. The greatest amount is found in your skin, which has almost 50% of your body’s HA.

What is Hyaluronic Acid Good for?

Is Hyaluronic Acid good for skin? Well, it's a very important part of your skin’s cellular matrix and is responsible for preserving healthy moisture levels, maintaining cell structure, keeping your skin smooth and plump, regulating healing and upholding your skin’s defense against environmental damage. As you age, the levels of Hyaluronic Acid diminish.

What is the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum?

Our BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum is a combination of ingredients that concentrate on hydrating the top layers of your skin, the epidermis and then above that the stratum corneum. These are the layers that take the most environmental stress and are most prone to dryness. The BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum helps your skin cells hold onto moisture, maintain plumpness and flexibility, and aids the overall health of your skin.

What ingredients in the Serum help achieve healthy skin?

We have a number of ingredients in the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum that work together to aid your skin’s health and to make this product a powerhouse of hydration without being sticky or heavy. Just some of the ingredients are Ulva lactuca which is the backbone of Hyaluronic Acid and comes from a beautiful green seaweed called jade alga. Also included are beta glucan, hydrolyzed collagen, and, of course, Hyaluronic Acid as sodium hyaluronate.

What is the difference between Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate?

Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of Hyaluronic Acid found in most of our connective tissues. We use sodium hyaluronate because it’s a smaller molecule which has a better plumping action than the larger molecule of straight HA.

What is Beta Glucan and how does it affect your skin?

The Beta Glucan we use is certified natural by Ecocert and is extracted from oat kernels. It acts as a natural moisturizer barrier and film forming agent. This film helps to prevent trans-epidermal water loss, which means your skin cells are able to hold on to more of their own moisture. It also helps relieve dry itchy skin because it replenishes your skin’s moisture barrier and generally locks in so much hydration that your skin looks smoother and younger. It's pretty much your favorite new ingredient!

When should I apply the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum?

To get the Hyaluronic Acid benefits you're looking for, you can apply the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum in the morning, in the evening, or both! Just make sure you apply it in this order: 1) Cleanser, 2) Toner, 3) Serum, and 4) Moisturizer. We recommend using one pump, or two pumps, at the most! A little goes a long way.

When to apply Hyaluronic Acid in your skincare routine

Should I exfoliate before using a Hyaluronic Serum?

Global Educator Hannah Hatcher says, "Yes, yes, YES!" By removing dead skin cells from the surface of your prior to applying the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum, you will help the ingredients to penetrate deeper into your skin's epidermis. That will help give your skin more visible and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid benefits.

Is the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum good for dry, oily, sensitive, aging, etc. skin?

YES! The BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum is great for all skin types. It's particularly wonderful for dry, irritated skin and aging skin. As we mentioned, everyone's skin holds onto less moisture as we age because cell turn-over isn’t happening as rapidly as is was when we were younger. This also means the protective barrier isn’t as efficient and we lose Hyaluronic Acid. So, the Beauty Prep Serum gives skin a bit of a helping hand.

Will Hyaluronic Acid help get rid of dark spots?

"Unfortunately, Hyaluronic Acid does not prevent or brighten hyperpigmentation spots on the skin," says Hannah. "HA focuses more on hydrating and adding water/moisture to your skin. This helps plump, firm and smooth your skin. When it comes to hyperpigmentation, look toward products with SPF. They will help prevent the dark spots from becoming darker. Exfoliation will help brighten areas of darkness."


Can Hyaluronic Acid extend the life of fillers?

"Fillers are injected deep into your skin's dermis, and Hyaluronic Acid works topically on your epidermis. So, unfortunately, HA does not extend the life of your fillers," says Hannah. "However, the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum does help plump up the surface texture of your skin. In some cases, it even eliminates superficial lines and wrinkles caused by dehydration in your skin cells!"

Questions?

What other questions do you have about Hyaluronic Acid or the BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Acid Serum? Ask your questions in the comments below.
Chelsea Simmons

Chelsea Simmons

Chelsea began her beauty journey in 2010 as a fashion and beauty freelancer at Ladies’ Home Journal magazine. There she had the chance to test and review hundreds of products while quickly falling for the benefits the clean makeup she tried. After leaving the magazine industry, she worked as a publicist for international fragrance and beauty brands until 2016 when she landed at jane iredale. Here, she has discovered liquid eyeliner doesn’t have to burn her eyes, foundation doesn’t have to feel heavy, and that the jane iredale Global Educators truly have the best beauty hacks. Since then, she’s shared her 10+ years of experience with you on The Good Glow Blog.