Hyaluronic Acid for Skin: Forms & Benefits

Hyaluronic acid for skin
OVERVIEW

Produced naturally in skin, Hyaluronic Acid plays a key role in skin hydration and is a popular skincare ingredient. This article looks at what Hyaluronic Acid is, how it works, and which NIVEA skincare products use it as part of an overall formula helping to hydrate the skin.

What is
HYALURONIC ACID

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Hyaluronic Acid is a polysaccharide molecule (a big and complex carbohydrate) also known as hyaluronan. It’s formed by our cells and occurs naturally in our bodies. Along with Collagen and Elastin, it’s one of the main components of the connective tissue that surrounds skin cells where it helps to provide moisture and firmness to skin.

Young, healthy skin contains lots of Hyaluronic Acid but, as we age, our skin produces less, and existing reserves deplete¹.

Two translucent skincare gel droplets of different sizes on a softly textured pale blue surface

What Does
Hyaluronic Acid do?

Hyaluronic Acid is a powerful humectant which means that it acts like a magnet, attracting water to skin. It can bind and retain up to 1000 times its weight in water². To give an idea of the magnitude of this statistic, just one quarter-teaspoon of Hyaluronic Acid can hold 1.5 gallons of water³.

Maintaining optimal hydration is key to healthy looking skin: without the right amount of water, skin dries out and can lose its radiance and firmness. Hyaluronic Acid helps prevent skin from losing too much moisture and so is vital to skin hydration.

As skin ages, our cells produce less Hyaluronic Acid and existing Hyaluronic Acid starts to degrade. This can lead to age-induced dryness and is also one of the factors responsible for the visible signs of skin aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, a loss of volume, and a loss of elasticity⁴.

Research has demonstrated the value of certain forms of Hyaluronic Acid as an ingredient in topical skincare, and Hyaluronic Acid used as an ingredient in topical products is not the same as what we have in our body. Some skincare formulas containing Hyaluronic Acid can help to boost skin moisturization and make skin look more plumped.

What are the
BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID?

Moisture retention is the main advantage of Hyaluronic Acid, but there are more Hyaluronic Acid benefits:

1
Improves Skin Flexibility:
Hyaluronic Acid helps to support skin looking or feeling firmer, and elasticity and flexibility in the skin⁵

2
Helps Reduce Signs of Aging:
As we age, it’s normal for our skin to lose moisture, leading to dry skin as the natural production of Hyaluronic Acid decreases. Depending on the formula, products with Hyaluronic Acid may help to increase the amount of moisture in skin , helping to improve the look of dry skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines caused by dry skin.

What Products
CONTAIN HYALURONIC ACID?

NIVEA’s skincare products formulated with Hyaluronic Acid help to hydrate skin, helping it look smooth and healthy. From serums to moisturizers, find the right hydrating skincare products for you.

NIVEA skincare formulated
with Hyaluronic Acid for men

Fine lines and wrinkles appear as the skin’s own production of Hyaluronic Acid decreases, causing the skin to look older. Thankfully, with NIVEA MEN’s Age Defense line, you can help restore skin’s moisture while helping to promote a more youthful look-

Man dispensing NIVEA MEN Anti-Age Power Serum from a blue pump bottle onto his fingertip beside a sink

Daily serum with Hyaluronic Acid for younger-looking skin

For instant hydration and to help reduce the look of wrinkles, NIVEA MEN Age Defense Instant Hydrating Face Serum delivers 24-hour hydration for refreshed, healthy- and younger-looking skin. Its light, non-greasy formula with Hyaluronic Acid and Pro-Retinol helps to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and visibly firm skin with regular use.

As we age, our skin can show other signs of aging such as dark spots or uneven skin tone. NIVEA MEN Age Defense Advanced Serum has been specially formulated to address signs of aging such as the look of dark spots and fine lines and wrinkles. NIVEA’s unique formula combining Hyaluronic Acid and Thiamidol® provides 24 hours of moisture to the skin, reduces the look of wrinkles, and helps to visibly even skin tone for younger-looking skin in as little as 4 weeks.*

*with regular use. Use as directed. Limit the use of this product to 2 times a day.

Eye Cream with Hyaluronic Acid

Reduce the look of crow's feet and dark circles under the eyes with NIVEA MEN Age Defense Eye Cream. This eye cream with Hyaluronic Acid helps to reduce the appearance of puffiness and helps reduce the look of dark circles under the eyes while providing intensive 24-hour hydration. Specially formulated for men with sensitive skin, this cream provides firming benefits with regular use, leaving your skin looking younger.

Day cream with Hyaluronic Acid and SPF

Exposure to the sun can contribute to dryness and signs of aging such as sun-induced dark spots and wrinkles known as photoaging, so it’s important to properly protect your skin from the sun. NIVEA MEN Age Defense Daily Face Moisturizer SPF30 is a beard-friendly broad spectrum sunscreen formula that helps defend against harmful UVA & UVB rays. It provides 24hr moisture* to help protect skin from drying out. Its lightweight formula with Hyaluronic Acid and Pro-Retinol helps improve the look of wrinkles and protect skin from aging caused by the sun*. Suitable for all skin types and dermatologically tested on men with sensitive skin.

*for sun protection, use as directed.

Facts Overview

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits: Enhances hydration in the skin, supports a plumped appearance and helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles due to dry skin.

Application: Skincare products formulated with Hyaluronic Acid can be applied to the skin as serums, body lotions, eye creams and more.

Uses: Found in skincare products formulated to help hydrate skin.

Special features: Naturally present in the skin, it binds water to keep skin hydrated and can hold up to 1000x its weight in water.

Incorporating Hyaluronic Acid into Your Body Skincare Routine

Beyond facial serums and moisturizers, Hyaluronic Acid can also be found in body care products formulated to help moisturize the skin. Here are some ways you can use Hyaluronic Acid enriched formulas while building your body skincare routine.

Hyaluronic Acid Body Lotion

Applying a body lotion formulated with Hyaluronic Acid can help to nourish and hydrate skin. NIVEA Essentially Enriched Body Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid, Almond Oil and Deep Nourishing Serum delivers 72 hours of moisture in a non-greasy formula for dry to very dry skin. This body lotion provides deep nourishing moisture for noticeably soft, healthy-looking skin with every use. This lotion with Hyaluronic Acid is dermatologically tested and can also be used as a hand and foot cream.

Clusters of translucent yellow and white spheres floating against a bright blue background

Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid for Crepey Skin

Crepey skin refers to skin that resembles crepe paper, marked by a thin and wrinkled appearance. Do you have crepey skin on your neck, chest, upper arms, or elsewhere? NIVEA Skin Firming & Anti-Crepe Body Serum-Lotion is specially formulated to help firm skin and reduce the appearance of crepey skin. This clinically tested moisturizing lotion formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, Q10, and Vitamin C works to firm and tighten skin in as little as 7 days* while providing 72-hour moisture.

*with twice daily regular use, use as directed.

SUMMARY

Hyaluronic Acid is a commonly used skincare ingredient in formulas promoting skin hydration and moisture retention. Found naturally in the skin, Hyaluronic Acid is a powerful humectant that depletes as we age. Using skincare products with Hyaluronic Acid can help t hydrate the skin. When skin is hydrated, it can look firmer, healthierand smoother

Hyaluronic Acid FAQs

Sources

1. Walker, K.; Basehore, B. M.; Zito, P. M. Hyaluronic Acid. Nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482440/.

2. Price, R. Perspectives in the Selection of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Facial Wrinkles and Aging Skin. Patient Preference and Adherence 2009, 225. https://doi.org/10.2147/ppa.s3183.

3. Cleveland Clinic. Hyaluronic Acid: What It Is, Benefits, How To Use & Side Effects. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22915-hyaluronic-acid.

4. Papakonstantinou, E.; Roth, M.; Karakiulakis, G. Hyaluronic Acid: A Key Molecule in Skin Aging. Dermato-Endocrinology 2012, 4 (3), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.21923.

5. Anjali Sharad Ghatge; Sharad Balasaheb Ghatge. The Effectiveness of Injectable Hyaluronic Acid in the Improvement of the Facial Skin Quality: A Systematic Review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2023, Volume 16, 891–899. https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s404248.

Hyaluronic Acid
Benefits & How to Use It

Hyaluronic acid for skin
OVERVIEW

What is
HYALURONIC ACID

What Does
Hyaluronic Acid do?