Anti-Ageing Ingredients #1: Hyaluronic Acid

Lately, I have been obsessed with researching about Asian skin care products. Lets be honest, how many Asian people do you see, like, hectically wrinkled? Thought so... Not that that statement has anything to do with what I'm writing about, but just had to put it out there... maybe a write up will come in the not so distant future?!

So anyway, my plan is to go through a few "common" anti-ageing ingredients, over time, and hopefully that will help some of you with choices you make when buying your products.

HYALURONIC ACID

What is it?

A natural substance produced in large quantities by the body. It is the fluid you find around your cartilage and joints which ensures they remain supple as well as the fluid found around your body's tissues and fibers, known as a "space filler" etc.

Where to find it?

It comes in the form of an injectable eg. restylane, which is a gel substance doctors inject, as a filler/to plump up, directly into the site where wrinkles are prominent.

Also comes in the form of a cream/serum which you apply to the skin. This will yield better results when used as a "preventative" measure in your skin care routine as opposed to when the wrinkles have already appeared.

What does it do when it comes to the skin?

It forms a layer on the skin in which air can permeate (ie. pass) and get to the skin, it has the ability to penetrate into the dermis, therefore boosting the elasticity and hydration of the skin. It locks in moisture which in turn helps smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as giving the skin a smooth and supple texture. 

What affects the body's ability to produce sufficient quantities?

Diet  

Smoking
Sun

Age - as we get older the levels decrease

What food sources are high in hyaluronic acid?

Root vegetables eg. carrots, beetroot, sweet potatoes

Leafy green vegetables eg. spinach (best eaten raw)

Drinking plenty water

Some well-known brands containing hyaluronic acid:
Estee Lauder time zone anti-line/wrinkle eye cream
Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Milk
Regima's  Collagen III Booster
Dermalogica's Skin Hydrating Booster
Nimue's Vita Boost
Shiseido's Super Corrective Serum

image: http://hbcprotocols.com

NB: This is my personal opinion and none of the brands listed above have in anyway influenced or paid to be listed above, I have not used all of them so I'm in no way recommending them either, this is merely a snipet of some brands and there are many more out there containing this ingredient.