Hyaluronic acid isn’t exactly the easiest ingredient to say, but it is easy on the skin. Sometimes referred to as HA for short, it’s one of the most hydrating compounds you can introduce into your beauty routine for a few reasons. First and foremost, it can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water, acting like a magnet and drawing H20 deep down into the lower layers of skin where moisture retention is the most beneficial.
But what is it really? And why are we only just learning of the amazing benefits of hyaluronic acid? We tapped Gretchen Frieling, M.D., a triple board-certified dermatopathologist, to answer all of our pressing questions. Let’s start with the basics.