You may have noticed the Hyaluronic Acid sensation that’s been happening in the cosmetics industry. Now, more than ever, almost every makeup and skincare brand you can find is embracing this sensational ingredient. Whether it be for foundations, moisturizers, serums or lip products, HA is the “it” ingredient to use. At jane iredale, we’ve become quite fond of it ourselves using it in a variety of our products.
So, what is all the hype about? Well you may be surprised to hear that this isn’t just another ingredient trend. Loaded with benefits both long term and immediate, the widespread opinion of professionals everywhere is that HA is here to stay! Let’s look a little deeper into this extraordinary ingredient.
Where Does Hyaluronic Acid Come From?
What is hyaluronic acid and where does it come from?Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance that can be found throughout the human body from our skin to our connective tissue to our eyes. Its main function is to retain water to keep our tissues lubricated and moist. Because it is naturally produced within our system, it can easily be accepted when introduced to the body through products. It can be applied topically, injected or even ingested for a variety of beneficial results.
Something many people may not know is that HA research has been around for well over three quarters of a century. Initially isolated by scientist Karl Meyer in 1934, one of Hyaluronic Acid’s first uses was to treat traumatic arthritis in track horses. The first pharmaceutical-grade HA was produced in 1979 by Endre Alexander Balazs who developed an efficient method to extract and purify it for medical purposes. But it wasn’t integrated into skincare products until the 1990s.
Hyaluronic Acid Skin Benefits
Over and above medical indications for treatment of everything from joint pain to acid reflux, Hyaluronic Acid is one of the most effective skincare treatment ingredients you can find. Noted for its ability to attract and bind water molecules to the epidermis increasing the overall water content of the skin, research suggests that it can prompt the body to produce more collagen and elastin resulting in a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. It enables the skin to retain 1000 times its weight in moisture making it an excellent treatment for dryness and dehydration. And because it helps skin to stretch and flex, HA is also known to help wounds to heal faster and with less scarring.
What makeup artists and skincare professionals love about HA is its skin smoothing qualities and its humectant ability to pull moisture from the environment and keep the skin looking beautiful and hydrated even in the driest and coldest of climates. When applied in conjunction with any skincare routine, it can dramatically improve moisture retention and keep the skin looking more luminous.
Hyaluronic Acid Products
Because we love this ingredient, jane iredale has integrated HA into several products that can be used in a variety of ways. These products are:
BeautyPrep Hyaluronic Serum – For skincare, this is going to be our most straight forward use of Hyaluronic Acid that you can find within our line. Using two distinct forms of HA, this serum helps toplump and smooth texture while soothing, hydrating and softening skin. It can be used alone or under a moisturizer part for your daily skincare regimen. Learn more about the benefits of hyaluronic acid serum.
Smooth Affair Illuminating Glow Face Primer – Primers are such an important part of makeup application as they enable makeup to go on smoother and last longer. Because we use Hyaluronic Acid in this formula, it helps create a more hydrated and luminous finish making your complexion look even more beautiful. It can be worn alone or under any foundation.
HydroPure Tinted Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and CoQ10 – This is our most therapeutic foundation formula and a very popular choice for anyone who wants their skin to look dewy and youthful. By combining HA with other hydrating ingredients such as CoQ10 and Olive Squalene, it creates fresh natural–looking finish. It can be worn alone or under one of our powders. Learn more about how to use HydroPure Tinted Serum.
HydroPure Hyaluronic Lip Gloss – In this day and age, everyone wants fuller, smoother lips. By combining HA with plumping ingredients like Palmitoyl Tripeptide 5, you can achieve the appearance of fuller, smoother lips that stay hydrated all day. It can be worn alone or in combination with our other lip products. Learn more about our hydrating lip gloss.
HydroPure Hyaluronic Acid Lip Treatment – In this format, we’re focusing on the reparative value of HA and combining it with Padina Algae. This formulation is excellent for treating dry, cracked lips. The rich texture of it immediately soothes the lips while helping to stimulate collagen synthesis. It can be worn as a lip treatment or on top of other lip products for a luminous glow.
As technological advances continue to emerge, we eagerly anticipate even more exciting uses for Hyaluronic Acid in future products at jane iredale. If you’re interested in seeing the benefits for yourself, stop into your local jane iredale provider or reach out to us for recommendations on which products will best meet your needs. Consider adding these products as a staple in your hydrating makeup routine for winter! And check out our other favorite complexion-boosting, hydrating skincare ingredients.