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Hyaluronic Acid is a water-loving sugar molecule that is naturally found in skin. A humectant — meaning that it helps preserve or retain moisture — Hyaluronic Acid is a trusted skincare ingredient in hydrating formulas.

Hyaluronic Acid helps replenish skin to boost hydration, improve elasticity and strengthen skin. Since it is already naturally occurring in skin, it is highly compatible with skin making it a trusted and effective skincare ingredient. As you age, Hyaluronic Acid levels decrease and adding a moisturizer or facial serum with Hyaluronic Acid can help plump and hydrate.

As a humectant, Hyaluronic Acid draws moisture into the skin and helps maintain moisture levels to visibly smooth and plump skin. Boosting skin’s moisture retention also helps strengthen skin which helps improve resilience and suppleness and plump dry fine lines.

You may notice that Hyaluronic Acid is in your favorite serum or moisturizer but what does it actually do? In addition to boosting hydration, Hyaluronic Acid benefits skin by helping to:

• Immediately smooth rough surfaces
• Provide a protective layer to help skin retain moisture
• Strengthen skin to improve elasticity and resilience

Hyaluronic Acid was first used in skincare in the 1960s. In the 1990s, it was included in more cosmetic and skincare formulas.

Skin loses moisture and Hyaluronic Acid with age which can cause skin to become dehydrated. When skin is dry or dehydrated, fine lines, wrinkles and rough texture are often more visible. Using hydrating products with Hyaluronic Acid can help visibly improve lines and wrinkles for smoother, younger-looking skin.

While Hyaluronic Acid is a trusted skincare ingredient, it also has moisturizing properties for your hair and scalp. Within hair care formulas, Hyaluronic Acid hydrates hair and helps it retain moisture for a smoother and softer appearance.

Sodium Hyaluronate is actually a form of Hyaluronic Acid. Like Hyaluronic Acid, it works as a moisturizing agent within skincare formulas to help replenish, hydrate and visibly refine skin’s texture. Kiehl’s also formulates some products with Sodium Hyaluronate Filling Spheres which contain dehydrated Hyaluronic Acid fragments. These fragments rehydrate within the formula while absorbing water within the skin’s surface to help visibly plump and smooth.

Fragmented Hyaluronic Acid is a form of Hyaluronic Acid that is in tiny pieces that are more easily able to penetrate the surface layers of skin. Within our formulas, this form of Hyaluronic Acid helps visibly smooth and plump while helping to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Our smallest form of Hyaluronic Acid, 11kDa Hyaluronic Acid is micronized to penetrate deeper than standard Hyaluronic Acid. Within our formula, it delivers strengthening hydration to the most vulnerable layers of skin. 11 kDa Hyaluronic Acid is also acetylated, meaning that it is uniquely modified to increase its stability in skin.

Every product with Hyaluronic Acid is different so it is important to look for formulas for your skin type and concerns. Hyaluronic Acid by itself is a lightweight molecule so it can be an effective ingredient in formulas for oily skin. While oily skin may feel greasy, it can actually be dehydrated (lacking in water) and need the moisture boost of a lightweight hydrator. Products with Hyaluronic Acid are often beloved by dry and dehydrated skin types who benefit from hydrating and moisturizing formulas to plump and smooth skin with moisture.