Everything You Need to Know About Hyaluronic Acid

It’s heralded as the hydrating ingredient and is a key component of plump, healthy-looking skin, but how exactly does Hyaluronic acid work?

Hyaluronic acid. To the less-skincare-savvy, this ingredient might sound a little daunting but what if we told you that it’s actually a key component of plump, dewy, rested skin. It can even be the secret to giving your complexion back its bounce and ensuring tired skin starts to glow again.

Found in everything from sheet masks to serums, moisturisers to masks – and a hero ingredient in Olivanna’s day moisturiser, eye cream, night serum and night cream – if you’ve heard the word but aren’t sure how it works, here’s everything you need to know…

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

While it’s a mainstay in many moisturisers and skincare staples, hyaluronic acid can be something of a mystery, especially for those of us beginning to build an effective skincare regime. ‘HA, also known as hyaluronic acid, is a molecule that occurs naturally in our bodies to help maintain moisture levels,’ explains Olivanna founder Janine. ‘It’s what’s known in the skincare world as a humectant – an ingredient that helps to prevent moisture loss and maintain hydration levels in skin.’

‘Despite having ‘acid’ in its name, the ingredient is in fact a sugar that naturally occurs within our skin. Most hyaluronic acid is found in the deeper layers of the dermis and works to hold onto water to keep our skin hydrated, plump and healthy,’ adds Janine.

How does hyaluronic acid help keep skin healthy?

‘When we’re exposed to environmental and lifestyle aggressors, the level of hyaluronic acid in skin can dip and lead to increases in sensitivity, dullness, rough texture and an increase of fine lines,’ explains Janine.

‘Hyaluronic can help to hydrate skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple and radiant. It can also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making it a great youth-booster – and works across all skin types, including oil-prone complexions as it hydrates deeply without weighing skin down. Although technically labelled an acid, it has a moisturising not an exfoliating effect and therefore can help to effectively hydrate skin when you need it most,’ she adds.

Why is hyaluronic acid a key anti-ageing ingredient?

‘Similarly, to elastin and collagen, the levels of hyaluronic acid in the body decline as we age,’ explains Janine. ‘This can lead to less elasticity and firmness, which exaggerates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

‘Studies have shown that applying hyaluronic topically can help to improve skin elasticity, and as such, improve the appearance of wrinkles¹,’ adds Janine. ‘After eight weeks of being applied topically to skin, hyaluronic acid was shown to help decrease the depth of wrinkles by up to 40% and boost hydration levels by 96%.’

‘A high-performance hydrator that also helps to boost elasticity and skin firmness, it’s exactly the ingredient we home in on at Olivanna as it offers proven benefits to skin,’ she adds. ‘Pairing hyaluronic acid with other natural, skin-performance ingredients allows us to offer full-spectrum skincare that delivers real results.’

Where can I find it?

Hyaluronic acid is a hero ingredient in almost all of the Olivanna launch line. You’ll find it in everything from our Firming Day Moisturiser to our skin smoothing Bakuchiol Eye Cream.

Olivanna Hyaluronic Firming Day Moisturiser Our deeply hydrating and firming moisturiser is powered by hyaluronic acid to help maintain skin’s moisture levels throughout the day.

Olivanna Bakuchiol Eye Cream Designed to care for and cosset the delicate eye area, this lightweight, skin-smoothing formula blends collagen-boosting bakuchiol with hydrating hyaluronic acid.

Olivanna Bakuchiol Miracle Night Serum Enriched with hyaluronic acid, collagen-boosting bakuchiol and proven powerhouse botanicals, our advanced overnight serum delivers a triple-action effect to lift, firm and smooth.

Olivanna Intense Repair Night Cream Our ultra-reparative overnight cream is enriched with collagen-boosting organic cotton thistle extract and hydrating hyaluronic acid helps to replenish moisture levels.