Hyaluronic acid can dry out your skin when you use it wrongly and under the wrong conditions. Every skincare ingredient has wonderful benefits for your skin but these benefits are only available when you use the ingredients correctly.
Unlike some active ingredients, hyaluronic acid is highly compatible with every skin type. It’s highly hydrating and boosts moisture levels.
However, the wonderful hyaluronic acid can do the opposite on your skin and this can lead to a worse situation than you were trying to contain.
All the blame cannot go to hyaluronic acid because there’s something you must do to get maximum benefits from this acid. Continue scrolling to see why hyaluronic acid turns against your skin. Also, there is a way to prevent this.
Can Hyaluronic Acid Dry Skin?
Yes, it can. When you don’t use hyaluronic acid correctly, it turns against your skin and strips it of moisture. Consequently, your skin is dehydrated and can become flaky and itchy.
When you apply hyaluronic acid to dry skin, it can dry out your skin. This is because this acid needs to bind to water before it can amp moisture. Also, when you use hyaluronic acid without layering a moisturizer over it, it’ll cause your skin to dry out.
Under these circumstances, hyaluronic acid will not hydrate your skin. It’ll strip it of moisture and cause it to dry out.
Why Does Hyaluronic Acid Dry Skin?
Hyaluronic acid dries out your skin when there is insufficient moisture in the atmosphere or its immediate surroundings. Hyaluronic acid needs moisture or molecules of water to retain moisture and hydrate your skin.
For instance, when you apply hyaluronic acid to your skin, it looks to its first moisture reserve which is your skin. When there is no moisture in the outer layer of your skin, it draws moisture from the deeper layer and dries your skin.
Furthermore, when you apply hyaluronic acid to your skin during dry climate conditions without sealing in moisture with a moisturizer, it again draws moisture from your skin because there’s no moisture in the atmosphere.
The moisture hyaluronic acid attracts and retains in your skin is gotten from the atmosphere. When there isn’t any moisture, it turns to your skin.
Can Hyaluronic Acid Make Your Skin Peel?
Yes, it can. There is a possibility that hyaluronic acid peels your skin when you use a serum that contains low molecular weight hyaluronic acid.
Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid has inflammatory properties that can be bad for sensitive skin and consequently disrupt your skin barrier.
The hyaluronic acid in the serum will irritate your skin, causing it to dry out and lead to flaking and peeling. However, if you stop using low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, the skin redness and peeling will stop.
Can Hyaluronic Acid Make Dry Skin Worse?
Hyaluronic acid may worsen your dry skin. When it strips moisture from your skin due to insufficient moisture levels in the atmosphere, it makes your skin drier.
As a result of this dryness, your skin is dehydrated and the signs of aging are more prominent. The fine lines and wrinkles may appear deeper and your complexion will look duller.
Also, your skin may take on a saggy appearance, feel tighter and itchier. This itching tends to come with flaking.
Does Hyaluronic Acid Help Dry Skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful skin hydrator. It hydrates the skin by using its humectant properties to attract moisture from the atmosphere and retain it in your skin. Unlike other acids, this acid doesn’t strip your skin of moisture.
Additionally, it doesn’t compromise the skin barrier, if used correctly. On the contrary, hyaluronic acid replenishes moisture, enhances your skin barrier, and prevents moisture loss. This can help alleviate dryness and even keep dryness at bay.
Hyaluronic acid plumps your skin and keeps it smooth and supple. With consistent use, it can reduce itching, and flaking, brighten your complexion and improve the texture of your skin.
Is Hyaluronic Acid a Moisturizer?
Hyaluronic acid is a great moisturizing ingredient and is commonly found in facial moisturizers. As a humectant, it pulls moisture from the atmosphere and retains it in your skin.
It plumps your skin and keeps it looking smooth and soft.
Is It Okay to Use Hyaluronic Acid Every Day?
Yes, you can use hyaluronic acid on your skin every day. Apply hyaluronic acid to your skin during your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated and glowing.
Most importantly, always layer on moisturizer after applying hyaluronic acid to your skin. In addition, do not apply acid to dry skin.
Can You Overuse Hyaluronic Acid?
There is a possibility that you’re overusing hyaluronic acid on your skin. One sign that you’re using too much hyaluronic acid is that your skin becomes red and inflamed. Also, excess hyaluronic acid can make your skin drier and age prematurely.
In addition, when you overuse this acid, it increases the penetration of other ingredients into your skin. Consequently, this increases the rate of absorption of these actives and it can be too irritating for skin types like sensitive skin.
Use hyaluronic acid in moderate concentrations to preserve the integrity of your skin barrier.
How to Use Hyaluronic Acid Correctly
Cleanse your skin
A proper skincare routine starts with cleansing your skin. Use a clean cotton ball with your face cleanser or micellar water to remove makeup residues, oil, and dirt from your face. This creates a better canvas for ingredients to penetrate.
Moreover, it helps to hydrate your skin and prevent it from stripping your skin of moisture.
Apply hyaluronic acid
Apply hyaluronic acid to the cleansed skin while it is still damp. The moisture enhances the molecules of hyaluronic acid to act faster on your skin. It also enhances its ability to attract moisture and retain it in your skin.
Tap the serum into your skin until you have even coverage. Give the acid a minute to absorb into your skin before you go on to the next step.
Seal in moisture
After hyaluronic acid, you should seal in moisture with a moisturizer. The moisturizer keeps the acid trapped in, amps moisture, and prevents moisture loss.
It also enhances your skin barrier and helps to protect your skin from the harsh chemicals in some products. You may use a face oil after moisturizer to nourish your skin, hydrate, and seal in more moisture.
Use sunblock
Finally, finish your routine with sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from UV rays during the day. When you use hyaluronic acid at night, you can get by without using sunscreen over your face.
FAQs
Is hyaluronic acid hydrating or moisturizing?
Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating acid that replenishes moisture and increases moisture retention capacity. As a skin hydrator, it plumps your skin and keeps it smooth and soft.
The hydrating benefits of this acid helps to improve the signs of premature aging.
Should you apply hyaluronic acid to damp or dry skin?
You should apply hyaluronic acid to damp skin. Applying it to dry skin will make the acid draw moisture from your skin and strip it of moisture. Hyaluronic acid needs to hold onto moisture before it can deliver optimum hydration to your skin.
Do you need hyaluronic acid?
Yes, you need hyaluronic acid to amp skin moisture levels and keep your skin hydrated. It perfectly suits every skin type and helps improve almost every skin condition. It works well with active ingredients that target skin concerns like acne and aging.
Moreover, it soothes your skin and prevents the drying effect of ingredients like retinol, AHA/BHA, and vitamin C.
Should you use moisturizer after hyaluronic acid?
Always layer on moisturizer after applying hyaluronic acid to your skin. The moisturizer will seal in moisture and boost moisture levels. It also prevents moisture loss and enhances the proper functioning of your skin barrier.
Conclusion
Every skincare product and ingredient must be correctly applied for it to function at its total capacity. Otherwise, it will do the opposite of everything it is supposed to do. The same applies to hyaluronic acid, the wonderful skin hydrator that seems all perfect.
Hyaluronic acid can dry out your skin when applied to dry skin and under dry weather conditions. Also, when you do not use a moisturizer over the acid, it’ll dry out your skin.
Follow the correct application of your ingredients and reap maximum benefits.
Thanks for reading.
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