Here's Why You Should Be Using Hyaluronic Acid in Your Skincare Routine

Don’t let the word “acid” scare you. While we love most acids for their different roles in our skincare routines, hyaluronic acid should be the one that scares you the absolute least. Not only is it a substance that occurs naturally in the human body (and in many foods we eat regularly), but this hydrating ingredient can also hold up to a thousand times its weight in water. It's basically a moisture magnet, and we just can't get enough of it.

What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

“Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance produced in the skin’s cells. Its primary benefit is to help the skin maintain moisture,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kristel Polder, from the Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics. “Hyaluronic acid allows for plumping of the skin from the outside in, therefore immediate the benefits of hydration are observed.”

You've probably heard that you shouldn't combine certain acids (like alpha hydroxy acids) with other active ingredients in your skincare routine (like retinol), but hyaluronic acid is one that you can mix with nearly any other product out there. It replenishes the moisture that many other active ingredients diminish, so it's safe to mix and match accordingly.

"Hyaluronic acid is safe when injected by a licensed medical professional, taken orally, or applied directly to the skin," says Dr. Polder. "We do caution women who are pregnant or breastfeeding that the effects of hyaluronic acid are unknown for breast milk and nursing infants."

When Should You Start Using Hyaluronic Acid?

So, when should you start using hyaluronic acid? Well, basically when you're starting to experience any dryness, which can happen at any age due to numerous factors, but Dr. Polder says anytime within your 20s to 30s is great as well.

“The good habits established in your 20s will carry over into your 30s (when your career kicks into high gear, and the demands of work and family increase),” she says.

Best Hyaluronic Acid Products

• Best Overall: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
• Best Face Mask: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
• Expert-Approved: Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum
• Best Clinical Formula: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
• Best Luxury Formula: Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum
• Budget-Friendly: L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care
• Best Moisturizer: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
• Best for Severely Dry Skin: SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
• Best Anti-Aging Formula: Image Skincare Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler
• Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel
• Most Intensive Treatment: Bioeffect EGF Serum
• Best for Hair: Oribe Power Drops Hydration & Anti-Pollution Booster

So, if dry skin has gotten you down, try treating it with this quenching skincare essential. Read on to learn more about the best products containing hyaluronic acid.