Youth Refresh® Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum

KEY INGREDIENTS

Hyaluronic Acid	Plumps skin cells and gives a firm, youthful appearance. Delivers deep, lasting hydration. Smoothes and softens fine lines. Hydrated, nourished skin appears more youthful-looking.
Chamomile Extract	Soothes and reduces irritation, making it ideal for sensitive skin Helps calm inflammation and redness. Promotes healing and healthy-looking skin.
Aloe Vera	Nourishes with a wealth of vitamins and minerals. Heals and soothes sensitive skin. Provides non-greasy moisture and deep hydration suitable for all skin types.
Grape Seed Extract	Potent source of antioxidants including flavonoids, linoleic acid, procyanidins and more that prevent oxidation and damage. Naturally-occurring AHAs provide gentle exfoliation and toning benefits.
Sodium PCA	Natural occurring humectant, derived from the amino acid proline. Important to skin's health and youthfulness. Boosts effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid by pulling in moisture. Holds several times its weight in water, and binds moisture to cells.
Bladderwrack Extract	This coastal seaweed is rich in minerals vitamins that keep skin healthy and youthful. Reduces inflammation. Improves elasticity, making skin look more toned and smooth.

FULL INGREDIENT LIST

Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Gel, Hyaluronic Acid, Vegetable Glycerin, Fucus Vesiculosus (Bladderwrack) Extract, Sodium PCA, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract.

Paraben, sulfate and phthalate free. Not tested on animals.Made in the U.S.A.

Everything You Need to Know About the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

Incorporating hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine can make a major difference in the overall appearance of your complexion. Hyaluronic acid can be found in many skincare products, including face serums, sheet masks, acne treatments, and even sunscreen.

But what exactly is hyaluronic acid? In this article, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about this super star Everything You Need to Know About the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acidskincare ingredient and the benefits of hyaluronic acid.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is a clear, gooey substance that is naturally produced by your body. The largest amounts of it are found in your skin, connective tissue, and eyes. Its main function is to retain water to keep your tissues well lubricated and moist.

Hyaluronic acid binds to water, helping your skin to stay hydrated, elastic, and healthy. It also plays a major role in the health of your joints, stomach and eyes. Some studies even show that your body’s natural hyaluronic acid helps to keep your bones strong and healthy and could potentially play a key role in helping the body produce new bone tissue.

Hyaluronic Acid and Hydration

Hyaluronic acid has many benefits but it’s most coveted from a skin care perspective is hydration. Roughly half of the hyaluronic acid in your body is present in your skin -- where it binds to water to help retain moisture.

Hyaluronic acid’s incredible hydration power makes it essential to keeping your skin supple and strong. As skin ages, it becomes drier as its ability to retain water lessens, which results in a loss of firmness and deepening of fine lines.

Regular use of a hyaluronic acid serum for face will rehydrate your skin for a plumper appearance and will minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some dermatologists even inject hyaluronic acid fillers into the skin to keep it looking firm and youthful.

What is a Hydrating Serum?

Hydrating serums help to nourish skin before moisturizing with the intent to deliver powerful ingredients like hyaluronic acid into the skin. Hydrating serums such as Hyalruonic Acid Serums are often used to target a specific concern on your skin such as dark spots, blemishes or dry areas.

Other Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

Hydration is just one of the benefits of hyaluronic acid. It also has antioxidant properties to protect your skin from free radical damage and environmental stressors.

Over time, things like the natural aging process and sun exposure can reduce the amount of hyaluronic acid your body produces, often by a significant amount. Adding a hyaluronic acid serum for face can even help with skin elasticity.

In a 2011 study, researchers found that the use of a topical hyaluronic acid produced significant improvements in skin elasticity. Another study showed similar results, with women experiencing a significant improvement in wrinkle depth reduction after using a topical hyaluronic acid for eight weeks.

The topical application of hyaluronic acid also improved skin firmness and elasticity by as much as 55% over the course of the study. In short, using hyaluronic acid serum for face regularly can make your skin appear more dewy and youthful because of the improved skin elasticity.

Hyaluronic acid also plays a key role in wound healing. It’s naturally present in the skin, but its concentrations increase when there is damage in need of repair. Hyaluronic acid helps wounds heal faster by regulating inflammation levels and signaling the body to build more blood vessels in the damaged area.

What Other Ingredients Does Hyaluronic Acid Work Best With?

Hyaluronic acid plays well with most other skin care ingredients and can be paired with peels, retinols, vitamins, and most other acids.

Hyaluronic acid works best with anti-aging ingredients like vitamin C serum, which protects skin youth and improves the appearance of dark spots, uneven texture, and enlarged pores. This pairing together encourages and protects collagen, while hydrating and brightening aging skin.

How to Use Hyaluronic Acid in Your Skin Care Routine?

Another one of the benefits of hyaluronic acid is that it can be used by everyone. It's great for dry and mature skin due to its hydrating and anti-aging properties, as well as oily and combination skin types.

Hyaluronic acid is also great for sensitive skin, helping to calm irritation. It can also be used safely during pregnancy.

Like with any new product you add to your skin care routine, you should start using a hyaluronic acid serum for face slowly -- using it just once per day to see how your skin reacts. If you find your skin is benefiting from the additional hydration, use it twice daily; once in the morning and once in the evening. Apply hyaluronic acid after cleansing and exfoliating, but before sealing the ingredient in with a moisturizer. 

Should You Use Hyaluronic Acid?

There’s no question that the benefits and versatility of hyaluronic acid make it one of the most coveted skin care ingredients on the market. It’s found in products from anti-aging creams and masks to serums, acne treatments, sunscreen, and more.

If you want plumper, softer, smoother skin, with less fine lines and dry spots, there's only one skin care ingredient you truly need: hyaluronic acid. So If your regular moisturizer just isn’t cutting it, or if you’re just looking to amp up the products in your skin care rotation, consider giving hyaluronic acid a try.