All About Hyaluronic Acid for Dry & Sensitive Skin

There’s buzz around hyaluronic acid in the skincare world, and with good reason. Hailed for its hydrating properties, it’s an ingredient that has become ubiquitous in everything from serums to moisturisers and cleansers. Given the appearance of our complexion relies so heavily on being appropriately hydrated, hyaluronic acid’s ability to draw and retain moisture in skin has cemented its status as a must-have in any skincare ritual. There are two skin concerns that can especially benefit from the ingredient – dry and sensitive skin. If you’re wondering “can you use hyaluronic acid on dry, sensitive skin?”, here’s everything you need to know.

The role of hyaluronic acid in skin

Hyaluronic acid is a group of sugar molecules called polysaccharides that are naturally found throughout the body. Its role is to moisturise the skin and keep it looking plump and hydrated. As we age, our hyaluronic acid reserves deplete, and it can be helpful to apply it topically via skincare. For this reason, it’s worth learning how to apply hyaluronic acid in skincare and which ingredients you should pair it with.

Although it works well for most skin types, hyaluronic acid for dry skin, sensitive skin, or a combination of both can benefit from its potent hydrating properties.

The benefits of hyaluronic acid for dry or sensitive skin

Can you use hyaluronic acid on sensitive skin, and does it have benefits for dry skin too? Absolutely. Maintaining the health of our skin is a delicate balancing act, and hydration is always key. Skin that is dehydrated may appear dry, dull, rough and flaky. Experiencing dryness in the skin also contributes to the appearance of more signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles, while sensitive skin may be prone to dryness too. Adding hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine can help target these concerns elevating skin’s moisture levels.

1. Enhance hydration

Hyaluronic acid and dry skin are one of the great pairings when it comes to skincare. As hyaluronic acid is a humectant, it attracts and retains water within skin. Impressively, it can hold 1000 times its weight in water. If you’re looking to enhance hydration, it’s a powerhouse ingredient that can really make an impact and can be seamlessly introduced into your skincare routine.

Try using a lightweight moisturiser for day such as Hydra Zen Glow Liquid Moisturiser. This glow-giving facial cream contains hyaluronic acid with a blend of aloe vera, rose extract and 14 amino acids, delivering up to 24 hours in hydration. At night, use Advanced Génifique Night Cream to help seal in moisture to the skin during its critical overnight regeneration period.

2. Support the skin moisture barrier

One of the most notable benefits of hyaluronic acid for dry, sensitive skin is its impact on the skin moisture barrier. The skin moisture barrier is the skin’s outermost layer and is the natural defence system against environmental stressors, pollutants and bacteria. Given its crucial role in the appearance of skin, it’s important to keep the skin moisture barrier healthy and hydrated – a department in which hyaluronic acid shines. Products such as Génifique Ultimate Serum or Advanced Génifique Sensitive Serum both feature hyaluronic acid, and work to repair and strengthen the moisture barrier.

3. Improve complexion texture

Hydration is important for skin that looks plump, smooth and radiant. Not only is hyaluronic acid good for sensitive skin and a dry complexion, its ability to boost and retain moisture also helps to improve roughness and promote skin elasticity. Common signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles can be targeted by hyaluronic acid, with the hero ingredient said to help decrease the depth of wrinkles and contribute to the improvement of skin’s firmness. It’s one of the reasons why hyaluronic acid features in anti-ageing Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum which improves volume loss, visibly reduces wrinkles and brightens the skin.

Does hyaluronic acid dry out skin?

There’s no question that hyaluronic acid is an overachiever when it comes to hydrating the skin, but there’s a very important caveat to this. Hyaluronic acid can add water to the top layer of skin, but if the skin is already dehydrated, it can end up drawing moisture from the skin rather than attracting more moisture, which can leave the skin even drier.

If you’re going to use hyaluronic acid for dry skin, you need to remember a few things first, to ensure you maximise its benefits:

Hyaluronic acid requires moisture on the skin to be really effective, so ensure that you use it in tandem with a moisturiser.
Avoid applying hyaluronic acid to dry skin. Instead, apply it to damp, freshly cleansed skin to ensure there is already moisture present and hyaluronic acid can help lock in this moisture.
To trap the extra hydration that hyaluronic acid provides, layer it with an occlusive moisturiser or night cream to really keep the moisture in.

When it comes to beauty routines, introducing hyaluronic acid into your daily regimen can really help to change its appearance and texture. It’s a simple step, but a powerful one indeed.

They’re both lauded for their skincare benefits, so check out our guide to vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to find out how to introduce both into your routine and reap the rewards.