Hyaluronic Acid

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that our body produces itself – in the skin, the joints and the eyes. In the skin it is found mainly in the dermis, where it acts like a sponge: it can bind many times its own weight in water and keeps tissue plump and elastic. Over the years, and also due to UV radiation, its natural content declines – the skin loses moisture and firmness.

In cosmetics, hyaluronic acid is produced biotechnologically and usually appears on the INCI list as Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid or Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid.

How does hyaluronic acid work on the skin?

The size of the molecules is what matters:

• High-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid stays on the skin’s surface, forms a fine moisture film and protects against dehydration.
• Low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid is smaller and penetrates the upper layers of the skin, where it binds moisture and plumps the skin from within.
• Multi-weight hyaluronic acid – often labelled “5D” or “8 Hyaluronic Acid” in Korean products – combines several sizes for hydration in different layers of the skin.

The result: skin immediately feels softer and plumper, dehydration lines are smoothed and make-up goes on more evenly.

Which skin types is hyaluronic acid suitable for?

Hyaluronic acid is one of the best-tolerated ingredients of all and suits every skin type:

• dry skin that quickly feels tight and flaky
• oily skin that may be shiny but still needs hydration – light gel textures are ideal here
• sensitive skin, as hyaluronic acid hardly ever irritates
• mature skin that is losing plumpness – find matching products in our Anti-ageing skincare

How to use hyaluronic acid

To bind moisture, hyaluronic acid needs water:

1. Cleanse your face and apply a toner.
2. Work a hyaluronic serum or essence into still slightly damp skin.
3. Finish with a cream so the moisture doesn’t evaporate again – and in the morning also with sunscreen.

You can use hyaluronic acid morning and evening. When indoor air is very dry in winter, finishing with a richer cream is especially important.

What can you combine hyaluronic acid with?

Hyaluronic acid goes with almost everything and is the perfect partner for active ingredients:

• Niacinamide for pores, sebum balance and a strong skin barrier
• Ceramides and panthenol, which keep moisture in the skin
• Peptides for more firmness
• Retinol and acids – hyaluronic acid relieves the dry feeling these ingredients often cause

Hyaluronic acid in Korean skincare

In K-beauty, hyaluronic acid is considered the foundation of a hydrating routine. Toners and essences applied in several layers are typical – the so-called “7-skin method”. Many brands combine hyaluronic acid with Centella Asiatica, panthenol or ceramides to soothe and strengthen the skin barrier at the same time. Our Korean hyaluronic acid skincare collection has more than 600 products – from light toners to rich creams.

What does the research say?

Hyaluronic acid is well studied. In a study with serums of different molecular sizes, skin hydration and elasticity improved significantly after eight weeks, especially with the smaller molecules (Pavicic et al., Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011). Good to know: hyaluronic acid applied to the skin does not replace a filler treatment. But it reliably hydrates and makes other skincare steps more comfortable.