Can I mix hyaluronic acid with my moisturizer? (2024)

FAQs

Can I mix hyaluronic acid serum with moisturizer? ›

And then, with slightly damp skin or even slightly wet skin, apply the hyaluronic acid serum to your face followed by a moisturizer and sunscreen (during the day). As long as you have the serum sandwiched between slightly damp skin and a moisturizer, you're good to go.

“Hyaluronic acid plays well with most ingredients, while caution must be taken when using retinol in combination with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, and some types of vitamin C.” Linkner echoes the tip about avoiding vitamin C.

Add hyaluronic acid to your existing moisturizer.

If you have a moisturizer that works for your skin already, simply add hyaluronic acid to this to utilize its benefits. Research the ingredients in your product to ensure you'll achieve the correct concentration of hyaluronic acid.

"It's important to apply HA before your other serums because it helps to seal in the moisturizer you'll be putting on top," confirms board-certified dermatologist Shari Sperling, DO. She adds that it works great as a moisturizer because of how well it binds to water, plumping and hydrating your face.

Using a moisturizer is an essential step after applying hyaluronic acid. The moisturizer will help seal hydration into the skin and help hyaluronic acid absorb correctly if the air around you is dry.

Is it good to use hyaluronic acid every day? Yup! "Hyaluronic acid is safe and beneficial to use everyday for maintaining skin hydration," says Dr. Russak.

Can hyaluronic acid cause acne? Anecdotal reports suggest some people experience breakouts after using serums, face creams, and other skin care products containing hyaluronic acid.

Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry out the skin and cause further irritation if your skincare routine already includes retinol. As for benzoyl peroxide and retinol, they cancel each other out.

Yes, it is, hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in the eyes meaning it is perfectly safe to use on your eyes. You'll find that many eye drop formulas often contain 0.2-0.4% of hyaluronic acid making it an effective treatment for those who suffer from dry eyes as it will help them retain moisture.

Hyaluronic acid can dry out the skin as it draws moisture from its surroundings and leaves skin exposed if the moisture is not sealed in. The background: The moisture that hyaluronic acid products attract comes from our external environment.

Do you rub in hyaluronic acid? ›

If you're using a hyaluronic acid serum, use it after you wash your face with cleanser and/or toner. Don't dry your face after cleansing or toning. Apply a couple of drops of hyaluronic acid serum to your damp face and rub in. Wait a moment for it to absorb, and then continue with the rest of your skincare regimen.

According to the experts, the hero ingredient actually needs to be applied to damp skin in order to work. In fact, applying it to a dry face can have the opposite effect of what is intended, and actually leave skin more dehydrated. "Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet," says Allies of Skin founder Nicolas Travis.

Another small study found that hyaluronic acid may improve skin elasticity and reduce skin roughness in as little as 2–8 weeks .

But when a hyaluronic acid serum is a well-balanced concentration, it uses the water molecules from the serum, holding them in place so that your skin is hydrated — and you look amazing. The percentage of hyaluronic acid to look for in a serum is just over 2%.

Hyaluronic acid helps skin stretch and flex and reduces skin wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid is also proven to help wounds heal faster and can reduce scarring.

Can You Overuse Hyaluronic Acid? No, it is advised not to overuse HA. It is a humectant (draws moisture from the environment); excess HA in skincare can cause retention of more hydration than needed. Research suggested that overuse of HA can cause redness and inflammation.

Hyaluronic acid is best if they're looking to moisturize dry skin, while retinol works better by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production. They have several benefits that can work in tandem for better results, though patients need to be careful with the exact formulations they use.

Not only can you use vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together, but when you do, they can help create a more effective skincare routine. Each one has skincare benefits, some of which we mentioned, but when combined, they can form a more potent formula that offers increased results.

Bottom Line: With few exceptions, you can feel free to mix your serum and moisturizer (and most other skin care products) together and apply without concern. The exception is your daytime moisturizer with SPF, as mixing other skin care products with your sunscreen will dilute your UV protection.

What moisturizer goes with hyaluronic acid? ›

As for what moisturizer to pair with your favorite hyaluronic acid serum? Dr. Shah suggests one with ceramides or niacinamide. “Ceramides hydrate the skin, and both ceramides and niacinamide help strengthen the skin barrier, which allows the skin to hold on to moisture and stay more hydrated,” she says.

Serum and Moisturizer: 1 minute

Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.

Hyaluronic acid gets along fine with most other ingredients and can be layered with other serums, creams, peels or acids but… …do not use HA with acids that have low pH levels like glycolic acid (for those AHA users). This may make the HA ineffective.

In most cases, it makes sense to apply serum before moisturizer. This is because serum is usually more lightweight, whereas moisturizer tends to be thicker. Applying serum first can also give the skin more opportunity to absorb the active ingredients. In many skin care routines, moisturizer is the last step.

As a rule, serums should be the first products that touch your skin after cleansing and exfoliating in order to get the best results. Never apply them after your moisturizer as thicker creams and oils create a protective layer over your skin and hinder absorption.

Yes, it is, hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in the eyes meaning it is perfectly safe to use on your eyes. You'll find that many eye drop formulas often contain 0.2-0.4% of hyaluronic acid making it an effective treatment for those who suffer from dry eyes as it will help them retain moisture.

Hyaluronic acid can dry out the skin as it draws moisture from its surroundings and leaves skin exposed if the moisture is not sealed in. The background: The moisture that hyaluronic acid products attract comes from our external environment.

"Hyaluronic acid is safe and beneficial to use everyday for maintaining skin hydration," says Dr. Russak. You just need to make sure you're applying it correctly. As a rule, you want to apply your hyaluronic acid product to clean, damp skin, and the lock it in with a moisturizer and face oil.

When to Rub vs. When to Pat: Almost your entire skincare regimen — toners, essences, serums, moisturizers, and eye creams included — should be patted into the skin, since liquids, creams, lotions, and gel-based offerings absorb best with this technique.

How many drops of serum should I use? ›

As a general rule of the thumb, about 2 pumps or a pea-sized amount of the face serum is sufficient. If your serum comes with a dropper, even better! With a dropper, you can control the number of drops of serum you use, and can always add a drop or two more if needed.

If you're using a hyaluronic acid serum, use it after you wash your face with cleanser and/or toner. Don't dry your face after cleansing or toning. Apply a couple of drops of hyaluronic acid serum to your damp face and rub in. Wait a moment for it to absorb, and then continue with the rest of your skincare regimen.

Can You Overuse Hyaluronic Acid? No, it is advised not to overuse HA. It is a humectant (draws moisture from the environment); excess HA in skincare can cause retention of more hydration than needed. Research suggested that overuse of HA can cause redness and inflammation.

Is It Safe To Layer Hyaluronic Acid Skin Care And Makeup? The answer is yes. Since hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule — not actually an acid as its name may imply — that already exists in our skin it's safe to use hyaluronic acid skin care and makeup together.