Sick of dehydrated skin, fine lines, or dry, brittle, frizzy hair? It’s time to get up close and personal with hyaluronic acid! Found in everything from serums and sunscreens to conditioners and fake tanning foams, this super effective ‘acid’ has zero to do with exfoliation – and everything to do with MAJOR hydration.
A powerhouse humectant (more on that later), hyaluronic acid helps restore hydration, volume and vitality to the skin and hair – fast! And you’d better believe it’s found its way into a bunch of Coco & Eve formulas ☺.
But what exactly is hyaluronic acid – and why should you be putting it on your skin and strands? We’ve answered these questions and more in our go-to guide to beauty’s beloved moisture magnet. Read on!
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring sugar that exists in the human body in the skin, eyes and joints. Clear and gel-like, the powerful moisture-binding molecule helps to keep the skin plump and hydrated thanks to its ability to attract, and retain, 1000 times its weight in water! It’s pretty impressive stuff, and it’s the reason HA’s earned the nickname of ‘Mother Nature’s sponge’.
Since we all want to hang on to our plump, youthful skin but our natural HA levels start dropping in our 20s (sad face), synthetic hyaluronic acid is a super popular skincare ingredient. In fact, it’s also the ingredient many volume-enhancing facial fillers are made from!
Can’t see hyaluronic acid on an ingredients list? Don’t despair. It often appears as sodium hyaluronate – a salt form of HA with a lower molecular weight that enables increased penetration.
What are the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid for Your Skin?
Ask any beauty buff about the benefits of hyaluronic acid and they’ll talk your ear off! This is because the moisture-binding molecule is the absolute bomb if you want to hydrate, plump and smooth dry, dehydrated or ageing skin.
Popular in serums and moisturisers, HA acts as a humectant – meaning that it draws water from the environment into the skin for a soft, moisturised complexion. (Tip: If both your skin and the air are dry, HA can actually draw moisture from deep in the skin. It’s therefore best to always apply HA to damp skin and follow immediately with your favourite face cream to lock in that newfound moisture.)
Remember that gorgeous volume your face had when you were a teen? Hyaluronic acid plays a major part in that. Since natural HA depletes over time, topical application of HA can help re-plump the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as the years roll by.
What are the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid for Your Hair?
Think hyaluronic acid is just for the skin? Think again. Thanks to its ability to trap moisture, HA’s also one of the best ingredients for promoting hydrated, healthy and smooth (read: frizz-free) hair – and a hydrated, comfortable, flake-free scalp.
While hyaluronic acid can benefit all hair types, it’s extra beneficial for dry, coarse or curly hair, and anyone prone to frizz. We’re such a fan of the moisturising ingredient that you’ll find an extra-potent HA complex in our Like A Virgin Super Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner!
Which Coco & Eve Products Contain Hyaluronic Acid?
As we just mentioned, our Super Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner both contain hyaluronic acid. Hydrated hair is happy hair and, alongside nourishing and strengthening botanicals, our formulas boast ResistHyalTM Hyaluronic Acid technology for 26 times more hydration!
Instead of aggressively cleansing hair with drying sulfates, our Super Hydrating Shampoo delivers a gentle but super-effective clean to the scalp and strands thanks to a combo of soap nut, coconut oil and exfoliating fruit enzymes. Meanwhile, HA helps to replenish and plump fine and damaged strands for an improvement in volume and shine.
Once your hair is cleansed, it’s time to condition and detangle. Rich in hyaluronic acid and nourishing and moisturising oils, our Super Hydrating Cream Conditioner helps to seal the cuticle and prevent dreaded frizz.
Also packed to the brim with HA are our Sunny Honey Bronzing Face Drops! We all know how drying fake tanning can be, but our Sunny Honey prods are a dryness-free zone. 100% free of alcohol, our easy-to-use tanning drops combine lush Balinese Botanicals with 5 types (yes, 5 types!) of hyaluronic acid for hydrated, plump and dewy skin. Plus, an unBalievably natural, buildable glow that can be tailored to your complexion!
Written By: Pip Jarvis
Edited by: Vidhya
Join the club & get 10% OFF*!
Get 10% OFF* your first order, plus first access to new product launches, exclusive offers, expert tips and routines.
Receive exclusive offers via email/SMS, for more information see our Privacy Policy. *Excludes travel size items and accessories.
