Hyaluronic acid is well known for its skin benefits, especially alleviating dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and speeding up wound healing. It can also help relieve joint pain in people with osteoarthritis.
Hyaluronic acid is best if they're looking to moisturize dry skin, while retinol works better by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production. They have several benefits that can work in tandem for better results, though patients need to be careful with the exact formulations they use.
Topical hyaluronic acid may not reverse superficial signs of aging, but the injectable forms of hyaluronic acid can. Hyaluronic acid can be injected directly into the skin to help fill deep lines and wrinkles. It also is used to recontour the face, adding a youthful fullness back to the cheeks or to fill out the lips.
While hyaluronic acid works its repairing and hydrating magic on the upper layers of the skin, retinol is able to have multiple effects deeper within the skin.
“Hyaluronic acid plays well with most ingredients, while caution must be taken when using retinol in combination with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, and some types of vitamin C.” Linkner echoes the tip about avoiding vitamin C.
First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.
Based on this research we can estimate that: Hyaluronic acid can improve skin hydration in 15 minutes. Hyaluronic acid can improve fine lines and wrinkles in 8 – 9 weeks.
Using a moisturizer is an essential step after applying hyaluronic acid. The moisturizer will help seal hydration into the skin and help hyaluronic acid absorb correctly if the air around you is dry.
While there's not a lot to go on when it comes to research on how hyaluronic acid works as a topical cosmetic, dermatologists often recommend it to patients since it can hydrate and plump skin while also softening the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging—all without added oiliness.
HA has the incredible capacity to attract and hold onto 1000x its weight in moisture. And here lies the key: Hyaluronic acid should be used in a moisturizer in order for it to work—when you add moisture to the skin, you're giving the HA added water to absorb and hold onto, rather than pulling moisture out of dry skin.
The evidence suggests that hyaluronic acid helps with soft tissue growth, prompts your body to make more collagen and elastin, keeps your skin moisturized, prevents tightness, boots elasticity, and reduces scarring.
Is it good to use hyaluronic acid every day? Yup! "Hyaluronic acid is safe and beneficial to use everyday for maintaining skin hydration," says Dr. Russak.
When using hyaluronic acid and retinol, apply retinol first, then hyaluronic acid.
It's perfectly safe and okay to use hyaluronic acid and retinol together. Using skin care products that contain these ingredients together shouldn't cause any interactions or side effects. Hyaluronic acid and retinol are one of the most popular skin care combinations.
There needs to be a layer of lipids — like those found in your moisturizer or facial oil — on top to serve as a barrier, especially if you're in a dry climate or your skin is naturally dry. Otherwise, the hyaluronic acid will actually start to draw moisture from your skin, which makes it feel tight and dry.
While some skincare ingredients, like retinol, are best used at night and others, like vitamin C, work their magic in the daytime, hyaluronic acid can be used both morning and night. “I recommend use of an HA serum up to twice daily, depending on your skin's needs,” says Abdulla.
If you are applying a Vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid separately, it's suggested that you apply the Vitamin C first, and then add the hyaluronic acid afterward in order to help fortify the skin barrier and lock in the moisture.
Hyaluronic acid will draw moisture from wherever it can find it to hydrate the surface of your face, including the deeper layers of your skin if there is no humidity in the air." Which is to say, too much hyaluronic acid can leave skin thirstier, and dehydration lines more prominent.
There's a reason it's ubiquitous: Not only does hyaluronic acid do a killer job when it comes to moisturizing the skin, but it minimizes signs of aging, since plump, hydrated skin makes fine lines and wrinkles less visible. Here's a scientific guide that touches on the basics of hyaluronic acid.
Add hyaluronic acid to your existing moisturizer.
If you have a moisturizer that works for your skin already, simply add hyaluronic acid to this to utilize its benefits. Research the ingredients in your product to ensure you'll achieve the correct concentration of hyaluronic acid.
Retinoids reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen. They also stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which improves skin color.
As skin loses volume, plumpness and elasticity with age, it's less able to spring back from repetitive facial expressions, which leads to lines, wrinkles and deeper creases over time. “Skin ageing is due to a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors,” explains Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Sharon Wong.