Hyaluronic Acid is a powerhouse skincare ingredient that plumps and tightens skin, deeply moisturizes, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It is an ingredient that can be found in facial serums, moisturizers, lip balms, and other cosmetics. While Hyaluronic Acid may seem intimidating to pronounce, the ingredient is not as scary as it sounds- Hyaluronic Acid is naturally occurring. Hyaluronic Acid is also great for all skin types- whether oily, dry, sensitive, or combination.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic Acid is a protein that is present in all connective tissues and is found in high concentrations in the viscous fluid that surrounds your eyes. Hyaluronic Acid cushions and lubricates your joints, attracts moisture, and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. Unfortunately, the presence of Hyaluronic Acid in our bodies tends to fall away as we age. This is why it is an ingredient found in serums and moisturizers, lip plumpers and even makeup. There are many forms of Hyaluronic Acid, so multiple varieties can be found in a single product.
The Perks of Hyaluronic Acid in Skincare
1) Plumps the Lips and Skin
The moment you apply a product containing Hyaluronic Acid, your skin will appear plumper and more hydrated than ever before. This is because the ingredient binds with water in order to make it easier for cells on our bodies to do their job- which means that they are able rejuvenate old looking or thinning out facial features.
2) Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles
The power of Hyaluronic Acid is also found in eye care products. Hyaluronic acid draws in water to temporarily fill out fine lines upon application. While some may hesitate to put skincare products around their eyes because of how sensitive the area can be, hyaluronic acid is safe to use and will lessen the appearance of fine lines around the eyes.
3) Improves Makeup Application
Hyaluronic acid is like a built-in beauty blender, making foundation go onto your skin in perfect lines. The ingredient Hyaluronic Acid has the ability not only to hold moisture but also smooth out any rough patches of our complexion making concealer and other products applied over it glide across smoothly without creasing or settling into wrinkles unlike many others do.
4) Hydrates your Skin
Many moisturizers only draw on the available moisture in your complexion, but Hyaluronic Acid actually provides its own moisture when applied to your skin. This delivers a powerful boost of hydration that leaves skin dewy, healthy, and youthful. Applying a serum that contains Hyaluronic Acid before your moisturizer will attract even more moisture than just applying it on its own. Aging skin loses its firmness, becomes less supple and often looks dehydrated. Using a product that contains Hyaluronic Acid can replenish the moisture that aging skin is lacking, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and make the skin appear smoother.
Other Factors of Hyaluronic Acid
There is a persistent myth that adding moisture to an acne prone complexion will cause more breakouts. However, drying out your skin with overprocessing or exfoliates can irritate skin and allow bacteria to grow. Hydrating inflamed or irritated skin can help speed up the healing process and improve your complexion. Hyaluronic Acid has already proven to be a powerhouse moisturizer and can help to hydrate inflamed skin.
While the “acid” in Hyaluronic Acid may sound dangerous or scary, it is actually incredibly gentle and can be used on even the most sensitive skin types.
Although Hyaluronic Acid is already present in our skin and body, it is still important to include a Hyaluronic Acid serum in your skin care routine since our naturally occurring levels tend to decline with age. For the best use, it is recommended to apply a moisturizer containing Hyaluronic Acid at least twice a day- once in the morning and once at night. However, more oily skin types can reduce their use to once per day with a serum or moisturizer.
We all want to stay youthful and healthy, but sometimes it is hard to know what products will work for us. Fortunately, we know products containing Hyaluronic Acid and its varieties will improve the health of skin. Regardless of age, skin type or concern, everyone can and should be using a product containing Hyaluronic Acid.
In these uncertain times, it has never been more important to stay informed and aware. The rise of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 has resurfaced concerns in some over how to stay safe during the continuing pandemic, and we want to help alleviate your fears as much as possible and help you practice healthier hygiene habits. We have compiled a list of ways to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy during these unprecedented times.
Cover Your Face
We have seen the practice of wearing a mask transform from being simply to protect your health and that of others, into something more political. However, simply covering your nose and mouth when around others greatly reduces the chances of transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. Some places require face masks; where it is not required, it is still best to wear one. Masks work best when everyone is wearing one.
When you wear a mask, you protect others as well as yourself. COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near you, or they may breathe these droplets in. Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others.
Wash Your Hands
Keeping up good hygiene is an important way to keep yourself healthy. The rise of COVID-19 made us all become more aware of the way we wash our hands- and this is a good thing. Washing your hands well and often is a great way to protect yourself against the virus, and other illnesses. The CDC provides a five-step reminder for handwashing:
1) Wet your hands with cold or warm water.
2) Lather your hands with soap. Lather the backs of your hands, under your fingernails, and between your fingers.
3) Scrub your hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the tune of “Happy Birthday” twice through. It is also okay to not scrub aggressively. Scrubbing too hard can irritate your skin.
4) Rinse your hands under clean, running water.
5) Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dryer
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Follow Proper Sneeze and Cough Etiquette
To help slow or stop the spread of germs, it is important to cover your nose or mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After tissues have been used, immediately throw them away and then wash your hands. If no tissue is available, then cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm to stop the germs from spreading.
Stay Home if You Feel Sick
Staying home from work, school, or other social situations when you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 is a simple way to protect the people in your life. Symptoms to look out for include a cough, a fever, or any shortness of breath. If you are experiencing any symptoms of being ill, whether it is from COVID-19, the flu, or a cold, then staying home will help to stop the spread and keep your loved ones safe.
Be Aware of Your Community & Covid-19
Staying informed about outbreaks in your local community can help you be more aware of when to practice stricter safety protocols. When COVID-19 cases are higher, it is a good idea to practice social distancing and shrink your “COVID bubble” to a smaller group of people. While this can be hard to put into practice in a consistent way, it is smart to limit the number of people with whom you interact. Wearing a mask in public during outbreaks can also protect those around you.
Get Vaccinated or Boosted
While the vaccine has been surrounded by myths because of its politicization, it has been shown to protect against catching COVID-19 or preventing its symptoms. The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johson & Johnson vaccines do not alter your DNA, nor do they contain ingredients like preservatives, tissues, antibiotics, food proteins, medicines, latex, or metals.
If you received your vaccine over 2 months ago (for Johnson & Johnson) or over six months ago (for Pfizer or Moderna) then you are eligible for the vaccine booster. Boosters are a half-dose of the vaccine which increase your protection against COVID-19. Moderna has been shown to increase your protection 37-fold from the new Omicron variant. Learn more about the effectiveness of a vaccine booster, from the CDC, here.
The key to staying safe during a pandemic is understanding how it has changed and adapting your own personal habits accordingly. Although we are still in the midst of this global health emergency, there have been some great strides made towards ending COVID-19. Wearing a mask, practicing good hygiene, getting vaccinated, and social distancing all play a part in ending the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.
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