Written by OSEA Staff | Published January 2, 2022
Proper hydration is key to healthy skin. Over the last few years, many people have turned to hyaluronic acid for its hydrating effects. This skincare ingredient is vital to maintaining skin hydration, reducing the signs of aging, and maintaining a bright, smooth skin tone and texture.
Using a hyaluronic acid serum can help give you soft, supple, and radiant skin — but only when you use it correctly. To avoid drying the skin, make sure to apply a few drops in the morning and evening after cleansing. For the ultimate hydrating experience, apply moisturizer to seal in the serum.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
You may be surprised to learn that the body produces hyaluronic acid on its own. Naturally occurring hyaluronic acid is a clear, viscous substance produced by tissues throughout the body, including the skin. It contains hyaluronan, a humectant that attracts and retains moisture from the surrounding environment¹. It’s essentially a moisture magnet that collects water and brings it back to the skin.
OSEA’s Hyaluronic Sea Serum will hydrate your skin and improve its texture by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This serum is packed with Japanese miru seaweed, which helps balance and replenish the skin’s natural moisture levels to produce healthier and more hydrated skin. With 2x hyaluronic acid, this serum delivers hydration, fullness, and firmness.
How Can I Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum?
Because hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning that it attracts moisture, the most important step in applying hyaluronic acid serum is to dampen the skin before the application. Although the acid has a reputation as a super hydrator, it needs extra moisture on the skin to work effectively. Otherwise, it has to pull water from the deeper skin layers, which can minimize its hydrating effects ².
When using hyaluronic acid serum as part of a skincare routine, it’s recommended to apply it to damp skin to avoid transepidermal water loss — the evaporation of water from the skin into the environment. Applying the product on moist skin allows the serum to bind to the water molecules and deliver the most effective and optimized hydration boost.
Although some may claim that the best place to apply hyaluronic serums is in the shower, that’s not entirely correct. The skin should be damp, not soaking wet. Otherwise, you’ll just wipe off the product when you dry off and see no benefit.
Instead, apply the serum in a steamy bathroom after a shower so it can draw moisture from the air and your skin. Another option is to not dry your face all the way after cleansing then apply the serum. Or, you can cleanse, dry, and spritz on a facial toning mist like OSEA’s Sea Minerals Mist, which is infused with nourishing minerals for extra hydration.
When Should I Apply It?
Another key element in properly hydrating your skin is knowing when to use hyaluronic serum, especially if you live or travel to a dry area or if there is a sudden drop in humidity levels.
It’s especially important to make sure your skin is damp before applying hyaluronic serum in a dry climate, as dry air dehydrates the skin. Additionally, you can help your body produce and retain moisture by drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water when traveling to a dry area or if your area experiences bouts of heat waves. When the body is moisturized, the skin reaps hydrating benefits.
Apply a few drops of hyaluronic acid serum on damp skin in dry climate in the morning and before bedtime to optimize its effects, especially in dry weather.
What Is the Right Order to Apply Products?
An effective skincare routine includes applying products in the proper order to prevent ingredient interactions and interference. Hyaluronic acid serum can also help reduce irritation caused by harsher or stronger ingredients, like retinol.
For the most benefit to your skin, apply skincare products starting with the strongest ingredients and working from thinnest to thickest. You can enhance the effectiveness of a hyaluronic serum by adding a rich layer of moisturizer, such as OSEA’s Advanced Protection Cream or Atmosphere Protection® Cream, to lock in the hydrating effects of the serum. For an added boost of hydration, you can also apply OSEA’s seaweed-infused Seabiotic® Water Cream.
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful hydrating ingredient for all skin types when it’s used correctly. Add a serum to your skincare routine and see the difference it can make in your journey to achieving more even, radiant, and beautiful skin.
Sources
1. Baum, I. and Petrarca, M. (21 March 2023). What Is Hyaluronic Acid, and Why Is It in So Many Skin-Care Products? Allure. Retrieved on August 1, 2023, from https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-hyaluronic-acid-skin-care
2. Levy, V. (1 August 2018). There’s A Right & A Wrong Way To Use Hyaluronic Acid. Refinery29. Retrieved on August 1, 2023, from https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/hyaluronic-acid-skin-care
