You already have a pretty good idea about the basics of hyaluronic acid. It has made its way into the ingredient list of nearly every skincare product and makeup, too. It has been postulated it can bind up to 1000X its weight in water but how does this translate into anything meaningful for the skincare you put on your face? If this stuff is so amazing, why are negative comments circulating around the net that HA causes irritation? Keep reading. We'll answer that.
There are various molecular weights of hyaluronic acid. Molecular weight refers to the size of the molecule. The following molecular weights are provided by Lotioncrafter. These can range between High Molecular Weight (HMW) 1.0 - 1.5 million daltons right down to ultra low molecular weight (ULMW) less than 6,000 daltons. According to simpleskincarescience the hyaluronic acid you want to be using should be between 80,000 and 1,000,000 daltons. They have identified this as the sweet spot. Anything lower might cause inflammation and anything higher really isn't increasing its efficacy. Wait. HA might cause inflammation?
According to preservskincare.com HMW (high molecular weight) HA displays anti-inflammatory activity (good thing), whereas low molecular weight HA can induce inflammation. Why is that? The lower molecular weights are smaller and can reach the deeper layers of the skin. Low molecular weight HA can trigger an immune response to have a pro-inflammatory reaction, a sign that the body is attempting to protect itself from a "foreign invader".
Lizabee Skincare's Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a 1% concentration of 99% pure Hyaluronic Acid. It has a molecular weight between 800,000 and 1.5 million daltons. This will provide a plumping effect and will sit ON the surface of the skin. It does not penetrate into the lower levels of your skin as the molecule is too big. Because it draws water to itself, it is important to apply HA to damp skin. Layer other serums and finish up with a good moisturizing day or night cream.