Hyaluronic Acid and Why I’m On It.

Yeah, thats right. Acid. I’m on it. And I love it.  I do want to get one thing straight before you think I’m a lot more fun or reckless than I really am.  The acid I’m talking about is not taking me on any hallucinatory trips or to the local rooms of recovery.

Nope. Nothing like that.  It does, however, keep me away from the countless MediSpas in this youth obsessed city…..and makes my skin very, very happy.

So what acid am I talking about?  Hyaluronic, of course!  I was turned onto this stuff by my aunt two years ago and I’ve been a religious user ever since.  Prior to entering the 4th decade of my life, I was very basic when it came to my skincare.  

My routine included the occasional mud mask, exfoliation by way of apricot scrubs, toner, face wash, and moisturizer if I could be bothered to remember. I didn’t use anything specifically age-defying or skin nourishing. Definitely couldn’t be bothered to use serums.  

I’m a mom. This means I don’t have extra time for extra steps, and even if I do, I’m normally too tired to want to add anything to my wash and go routine.  But hyaluronic acid….oh it was a game changer!  I was ready to start keeping Mother Nature and her effects on my skin at bay.

I mean, I embrace the wisdom and maturity that comes along with aging, but not entirely ready to look the part.  Just being honest.  I also knew that, even though I have toyed with the idea, Botox was not the route I wanted to go.

Sure it’s the quickest and easiest route, but I can think of better things I need to do with my money….and muscle atrophy isn’t something I want to deal with. Yeah…I did my research on that too, and Botox can lead to muscle atrophy and thinning when used repeatedly.  The earlier you start using it, the worse the end result. So….acid it was!!

Before I go off on a tangent as to why I love this stuff so much, let me tell you a little about what it is.

HA is a powerhouse anti aging compound.  It is a polysaccharide molecule that is naturally produced by our bodies and found in our skin and connective tissue.

It helps maintain collagen production and speeds up our skin’s natural healing process. Unfortunately, as with everything, our bodies stop producing as much HA as we age, which can lead to premature wrinkles, fine lines, and dull skin.  

HA helps to keep skin hydrated, youthful, and plump because it helps your skin retain moisture like nothing else. Basically, when you use it in serum form, it sits on your skin and absorbs moisture so that your skin won’t dehydrate.  

One gram of HA can hold up to six liters of water. Sit and think about that for a minute!  This is also why HA is so important for healthy joint function…..it essentially keeps your body from getting “rusty”.

Once your body stops producing mass amounts of HA on its own, you start noticing your skin looking less radiant, and your joints starting to stiffen.  Depressing, right?  

It can be….but the fact that you can take HA in supplement form for your joints, or in serum form for your skin, lets you fight the signs of aging as gracefully as possible.  

You’re still gonna get old, but you’ll look and feel far better in the process.  I’m going to add in a little side note here which makes me love this stuff a little more….HA was discovered by Endre Balasz….a Hungarian…..yeah!  Proud of my roots, what can I say?  

Prior to his discovery, no other molecule had been discovered that was deemed as uniquely beneficial as HA, and he went on to make the majority of the discoveries pertaining to it and its benefits.

Now, this is what I noticed when I started using HA regularly.  Due to the fact that I am olive complected and have a funny gene that makes me age slower (this does not stop my lower back from feeling like it belongs to an octogenarian, unfortunately), my skin looks pretty decent for my age.

However, I like to smile and have a penchant for squinting when I’m thinking hard (which happens too much) and I had started noticing some expression lines in those areas.  I also tend to be pretty animated when I talk so my forehead gets a decent workout…which puts me in danger of having it look like college-ruled paper.  

While everyone kept telling me I was crazy, every time I looked in the mirror, I felt like I could notice a new fine line….and I wanted to diminish those as well as help deter new ones from forming.

When I started using HA, I noticed within 2 weeks that the little expression lines around my eyes were going away, and my skin just felt and looked more dewy and hydrated.  I normally have a very oily T-zone, and am very wary of putting anything on that area of my face for fear of breakouts, but this stuff did nothing but balance my skin out.  

It was love at first use.

I do have to add that the best results I get are when I remember to drink plenty of water a day.  Hydrating internally in conjunction with using HA externally is a power duo for youthful skin.  

My only regret about HA is that I wish I had known about it sooner.  I wonder if I had started using it in my late 20’s or early 30’s if I’d somehow still look 18? Haha!!  I guess I’ll never know….but I am happy that I can pass this natural age fighter on to my daughter….and you!  

HA, along with essential oils, are my fountains of youth….I’ll share which oils I use in another post…can’t give you ALL of my secrets at once!