Hy
Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate · Hyaluronic Acid · Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydrator
Humectant that holds many times its weight in water. Doesn't add new moisture so much as it binds existing moisture in place.
What it does
Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan naturally present in skin. Topical HA pulls water from the dermis or environment to the surface — which is why applying it to dry skin in low humidity can backfire (it pulls from below and you end up drier). Apply to damp skin and seal with a moisturizer.
The evidence, graded
emergingNiacinamide reduces transepidermal water loss while hyaluronic acid adds hydration. They work well in the same routine and are commonly co-formulated.Bissett 2002 · Cutis ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
sodium hyaluronate, ha
Pairs worth knowing
Read more
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Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
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