The benefits of hyaluronic acid for the skin are no longer a skin care industry secret. With almost instant visible hydration, minimal risk of skin irritation and some serious scientific backing, hyaluronic acid has wide appeal. Whether you have dry, dehydrated or oily skin, every skin type and condition can benefit from an added dose of hydration. Read on to discover a step-by-step skin care routine designed to plump and hydrate.
Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Skin Care Routine
What is hyaluronic acid (HA) and why is it essential for a glowy, dewy look? HA is a sugar that naturally occurs in the skin and helps the skin retain moisture, keeping the complexion hydrated and slowing the signs of aging.
HA is also a humectant, capable of holding over one thousand times its weight in water. Put simply by EverydayHealth.com, HA “works to attract and bind to water molecules and increase the water content of the skin,” which is how your skin almost instantly looks plump after just one application.
Hyaluronic acid’s hydration capabilities are its number one draw; when the surface of the skin is dry, it’s more likely to develop into wrinkly skin that shows the signs of aging. Dry, dehydrated skin is also a sign that the skin barrier has been compromised, which can make your skin more sensitive, or vulnerable to breakouts or irritation. By adding HA to your skin care routine, this substance transforms your complexion in the following ways, listed below. Before we dive in, you can also watch Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar demonstrate a hydrating skin care routine for thirsty skin:
Step 1: Cleanse
Gently cleanse with a hydrating cleanser and some warm water. We love the Stone Crop Gel Wash because of its ability to gently wash away impurities without drying out the skin. The botanical extracts in the cleanser also help even skin tone and minimize the appearance of blemishes to leave a healthy complexion.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Use the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant to lightly exfoliate with lactic acid, gently smoothing the skin and break down dead skin cells. Dispense a dime sized amount of dry Dermafoliant to the palm of the hand, adding a half teaspoon of water. Rub hands together to create a creamy paste and apply to the face using circular motions, careful to avoid the delicate areas around the eye. Leave for a few minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with water to remove.
Step 3: Tone
Quench the thirst of dry skin with a hydrating toner. Softly spray the Stone Crop Hydrating Mist once or twice onto face and neck or apply with a cotton pad, avoiding the eye area and leave on. Infused with hydrating stone crop juice, softening aloe and brightening bearberry, a spritz of this toner is a refreshing boost of hydration for the skin.
Step 4: Mask
Apply the hyaluronic acid-rich Strawberry Rhubarb Masque around the face and décolleté, emulsifying with a few drops of water, to calm and plump the skin. Leave the mask on for at least five minutes (or longer if you like). Actor Busy Phillips said this one “smells like a strawberry milkshake,” and we absolutely agree. After sitting on the skin for a while, use a soft, lukewarm face cloth to gently remove the product, moving in circular motions. Finish with a rinse.
Step 5: Essence
Follow with a hydrating essence, such as the Birch Water Purifying Essence. Dispense a small amount of product in your hands or on a cotton pad and pat onto cleansed skin. Formulated with botanical collagen and snow mushroom (which holds 500 times its weight in water!), this essence leaves the skin replenished and prepped to absorb the benefits of the next steps.
Step 6: Treat
While the skin is still damp from the application of the essence, use a hyaluronic acid-rich serum, like our deliciously scented Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum to plump and smooth the skin. Apply to the face, neck and décolleté areas.
Step 7: Moisturize
While your serum is still wet on the skin, support your skin’s moisture barrier by applying a layer of our Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Hydrator over the entire face, neck and décolleté area, leaving it to sink in. Providing deep absorption and instant hydration, this versatile hydrator can be applied in a lightweight layer, slathered more thickly over dry areas, or simply layered under your usual moisturizer.
Step 7: Eye Cream
Finish by depuffing the skin around the eyes and delivering intense, long-lasting hydration with our Marine Flower Peptide Eye Cream, which plumps and protects the skin against transepidermal water loss. Use the fingertips to tap the cream very lightly around the eyes, locking in moisture and supporting the skin care moisture barrier around the delicate eye area.
BONUS! Step 8: Body Care
Soften tough body spots with our Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Body Lotion. Infused with aloe, strawberry and rhubarb, massage this quick-absorbing lotion into tough spots on the body, like the elbows or the knees, and soothe dehydrated, irritated or dry body skin with a quick hydration boost.
You can watch Natalie in this In The Mix video to learn even more about the benefits and uses of HA:
Have you noticed any difference after using HA in your skin care routine? Let us know in the comments below or on social media or check out the Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Collection.