Ingredient
Hyaluronic Acid
A humectant, not a moisturiser — and the difference is why it sometimes backfires.
Also on labels as: Sodium hyaluronate · HA
What it is
A humectant: a molecule that holds water. It does not seal anything in and it does not repair anything. It brings water to the surface layers of skin, and something else has to keep it there.
Who it suits
Skin that feels tight, and especially skin that is tight *and* shiny — dehydrated rather than dry. Oily skin often needs water more than it needs oil, and this is how to give it some.
Strength and how to start
Percentage is not the useful number here; formulation is. Apply it to **damp** skin — within a minute of washing — and put a moisturiser over the top. Used on dry skin in a dry room it can pull water out of your skin instead of into it, which is why some people find it makes them tighter.
Pairs with
The classic pair: humectant brings water in, ceramides stop it leaving.
No conflict, and hydrated skin tolerates actives better.
Be careful with
Nothing
There is no active it conflicts with. The only mistake is using it on dry skin with nothing over the top.
In Bangladesh
For most of the year Bangladesh's humidity does half this ingredient's work for it — there is water in the air for it to draw on. For about ten weeks from December it is the opposite, and a hyaluronic serum that felt wonderful in August can feel tight in January unless you seal it.
Common questions
Why does it make my skin feel drier?
Almost always because it went on dry skin, or because nothing went over it. Damp skin, then a moisturiser. That one change fixes it for most people.
Is an expensive one better?
Rarely. This is one of the ingredients where a cheap formula does the same job as an expensive one. Spend the money on sunscreen instead.
Products coming at launch
We are not selling yet. When we open in early 2027 we will stock products built around this ingredient — with the source of every batch recorded. Leave your number and we will tell you once.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Skincare products are not medicines. Speak to a dermatologist about persistent or worsening skin conditions.