“Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar molecule that is found in our skin, joints, and connective tissues to provide hydration, lubrication, and stability,” says Christine Choi Kim, MD, a Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist. When it comes to the skin, Dr. Choi Kim explains that because the molecule acts like a sponge, if you are in low-humidity conditions (which tend to be the case during the winter months, when the air is cold and dry), HA may draw water from your deeper skin layers. This can cause the moisture to evaporate, leaving your skin even drier.
“Instead, try applying a hyaluronic acid serum before you shower so that your skin can draw upon the ambient moisture from the steamy water,” says Dr. Choi Kim. This way, your skin will get an added boost of moisture simply from standing under the stream.
Plus, you’ll get even more bang for your buck from any post-shower moisturizers you apply to your skin, because the hyaluronic acid will help to draw them deeper into your complexion to hydrate you from the inside out. “If you have dry skin, choosing products with hyaluronic acid will help give your skin a boost of hydration that it needs, and will also help plump up the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” she says.
You can use this trick on your face, as well as on any other spots on your body that might feel a little extra thirsty this time of year (knees and elbows, anyone?). With that in mind, keep scrolling for the best hyaluronic acid serums worth slathering on all over ahead of your next shower.
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Dr. Choi Kim names this as her HA serum of choice. “It contains hyaluronic acid in the form of sodium acetylated hyaluronate, along with powerful antioxidants,” she says. “Not only will this serum amp up your skin’s hydration, but it will also fortify your skin against environmental stressors.”