A:

To go alongside our newest addition to the Q+A family, the highly requested Hyaluronic Acid Face Mist, I thought we’d tackle a question that may have crossed your mind… Can you have too much Hyaluronic Acid in your routine? Whilst some of us have our holy grail ingredients, others love to change it up, but is there anything wrong with applying the same ingredient several times a day?

How does Hyaluronic Acid work?

This ingredient is a humectant, which means it draws moisture from the atmosphere , so when it absorbs into our skin it can release that moisture directly into our cells. This also makes retaining the moisture in our skin for longer easier, which is why we produce it naturally as well! Unfortunately, we produce less and less over the years, so it’s an important ingredient for any dry or mature skin type routine. In fact, often oily skin is caused by our sebaceous glands overcompensating for lack of moisture in the skin, so it’s actually for the spectrum of skin types.

Are there different types of Hyaluronic Acid?

Technically, yes! The Hyaluronic Acid molecule comes in different sizes, or weights, which dictate how deeply they can penetrate the skin. The highest weight is too big to get past our natural skin barrier, so its primary function is conditioning and calming the surface layer of skin whilst forming a moisturising barrier, whereas the lowest weight can go deep within the layers of your skin, carrying that moisture with them. The medium weight draws moisture into your skin, particularly around your connective tissue. Different sizes can be good for different functions! For example, our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum uses the middle weight molecule to draw moisture into your skin and absorb well, ready for the next layer to be applied on top. On the other hand, our new Hyaluronic Acid Face Mist uses two weights, mid and high, one to draw the moisture into your skin cells, the other to make sure your complexion is also being taken care of!

Is there any risk to using Hyaluronic Acid?

It’s sounding like a ‘too good to be true’ situation, isn’t it? Well, unfortunately, if you’re not taking care to apply your Hyaluronic Acid correctly, it could start to have the opposite of the desired effect. One of the primary reasons our skin gets dry is to do with evaporation as we lose moisture up through the layers of our skin and into the atmosphere (otherwise known as Trans Epidermal Water Loss). If you have a weakened skin barrier (think sensitive or stressed) this can be a real issue, and also tends to affect people more in warmer, dryer climates. As I mentioned, Hyaluronic Acid draws its moisture from the atmosphere or environment, but when it can’t find an external source, it instead collects the moisture already in your skin to draw further down, leading to increased dryness, especially at the surface level. This is why you’ll see us recommend that you apply your Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum to a damp face (whether that’s water you’ve spritzed on, or your toner before it absorbs) to ensure there’s enough moisture to satiate those hungry molecules! Having the two weights in one product also helps to minimise your risk of irritation and dehydration, as that heavier weight is working to keep all your moisture safely inside your skin. A cleanser is also a great Hyaluronic Acid product as you’ve got plenty of moisture to work with, and it’s drawing moisture into your skin as the surfactants (or cleansing ingredients) might be taking away. And not forgetting our brand new Hyaluronic Acid Face Mist, which is paired with lots of hydrating actives (plus a water-based) for maximum hydration!

Which leads me to...

Can I use the Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleanser, Hyaluronic Acid Face Mist and Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum together?

Absolutely! So long as you’re keeping your skin damp before serum application, using water to cleanser, and spritzing on your face mist (don’t worry, we’ve included all the water you’ll need in the formula so you can apply on the go!) to clean skin, you’re guaranteed a gorgeous, hydrated glow! In fact, we’re certain the new Hyaluronic Acid Face Mist will slot perfectly into your routine, with silky Betaine and Aloe Vera to help our hero ingredient refresh and revive your complexion, bring the glow back to your makeup, or cool you down on a hot day.

Seeing as we’re in summer, it’s the best time to perfect your hydration game and make sure you’re effectively applying your Hyaluronic Acid. I hope you’re enjoying the sunshine and feeling confident!

Til next time,

Amy @ Team Q+A