Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in our skin that retains moisture and helps keep the skin plump and hydrated.

With age, the amount of hyaluronic acid our skin produces diminishes, leading to dryness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Benefits for Your Skin

• Intense Hydration: Hyaluronic acid is a hydration hero, capable of holding up to 1000 times its weight in water. It draws moisture into the skin, keeping it hydrated, plump, and supple. For those who experience dryness, either due to environmental factors or aging, hyaluronic acid can provide a significant boost in skin moisture levels.
• Reduces the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Well-hydrated skin appears more youthful. By filling the skin with moisture, hyaluronic acid plumps it up, which can help reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Supports Skin Elasticity: Adequate hydration is key to maintaining the skin's elasticity. Hyaluronic acid contributes to this by ensuring the skin is sufficiently moisturized, making it appear firmer and more resilient.
• Promotes Skin Cell Regeneration: By providing an optimal environment for skin cells, hyaluronic acid supports the skin's natural repair and regeneration processes, leading to healthier, more vibrant skin over time.
• Antioxidant Defense: Some forms of hyaluronic acid also contain antioxidant properties, protecting the skin from free radicals, pollution, and other environmental aggressors that can lead to premature skin aging.
• Non-Comedogenic: Unlike some skincare ingredients that can clog pores, hyaluronic acid is non-comedogenic, meaning it hydrates without causing breakouts, making it suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.
• Soothes Redness and Dermatitis: Its anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce redness and soothe skin conditions such as dermatitis, offering relief and improvement in skin appearance.

How It Works

Hyaluronic acid works by acting as a humectant, a substance that attracts water from the environment and the deeper layers of the skin, bringing it to the surface (epidermis) to enhance skin's hydration level.

Ideal Concentrations and Forms

For topical skincare, hyaluronic acid is available in various forms and concentrations. Products with a concentration of 1% to 2% are highly effective, providing optimal hydration without adverse effects. It's available in serums, creams, and injectable fillers, catering to different preferences and skincare needs.

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a vital antioxidant that helps in the synthesis of collagen, protection against sun damage, and improving the skin's overall healing process.

Benefits for Your Skin

• Antioxidant Protection: Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals caused by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental factors, reducing the risk of premature skin aging.
• Boosts Collagen Production: It is essential for the biosynthesis of collagen, a protein that helps keep the skin firm and plump. By stimulating collagen production, vitamin C can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Brightens Complexion: Vitamin C inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, reducing melanin production which can lead to a reduction in dark spots and hyperpigmentation, resulting in a more even skin tone.
• Enhances Sun Protection: While not a substitute for sunscreen, vitamin C provides added protection against sun damage when used in conjunction with SPF, helping to prevent photoaging.
• Skin Repair: It speeds up the skin's natural healing processes, helping to repair damaged skin cells and reduce redness and inflammation.
• Hydrates the Skin: Vitamin C can also help retain water in the skin, preventing it from becoming too dry or oily and keeping the skin looking hydrated and balanced.

Forms of Vitamin C in Skincare

Vitamin C is available in various forms, including L-ascorbic acid (the most potent form), magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and ascorbyl palmitate, among others. L-ascorbic acid is highly effective but can be unstable and irritating for sensitive skin. Derivatives like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate offer a gentler alternative, providing similar benefits without the potential for irritation.

Combining Vitamin C with Other Skincare Ingredients

Understanding how to pair vitamin C with other skincare ingredients can maximize its benefits and transform your skincare routine into a powerful regime tailored to achieving glowing, healthy skin.

Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid

• Synergistic Hydration and Brightening: Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are a match made in skincare heaven. While vitamin C works to brighten and even out skin tone, hyaluronic acid provides deep hydration by drawing moisture into the skin. Together, they leave the skin looking radiant and plump, with enhanced texture and hydration.

Vitamin C and SPF

• Enhanced Sun Protection: Vitamin C provides antioxidant protection against free radical damage caused by UV exposure. When used with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, the combination offers a double defense mechanism against photoaging and sun damage, significantly protecting the skin from premature aging.

Vitamin C and Retinol

• Night and Day Duo for Anti-Aging: Traditionally, vitamin C is applied during the daytime for its antioxidant properties, while retinol is used at night to benefit from its cell renewal and anti-aging properties. When used in rotation, they can significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots without overwhelming the skin.

Vitamin C and Niacinamide

• Brightening and Barrier Repair: Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, works well with vitamin C to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of pores, and strengthen the skin barrier. Initially, it was thought that these two could not be combined due to potential pH incompatibility. However, recent formulations have made it possible for them to be used together, offering combined benefits of brightening, improved skin texture, and enhanced barrier function.

Vitamin C and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

• Exfoliation and Glow: Combining vitamin C with AHAs, such as glycolic or lactic acid, can enhance the skin's glow by providing exfoliation along with antioxidant protection. AHAs help remove dead skin cells, improving skin texture and allowing vitamin C to penetrate deeper, thus maximizing its brightening and firming effects.

Precautions and Best Practices

While combining these ingredients can offer enhanced benefits, it's important to be mindful of potential irritation, especially for sensitive skin types. Introduce new combinations gradually and pay attention to your skin's response. Using vitamin C in the morning and acids or retinol at night can help minimize sensitivity. Always follow up with SPF in the morning when using vitamin C, as it can make your skin more susceptible to UV damage.

When combined, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C can significantly boost skin hydration and radiance. This section explains why they are a perfect match and how to correctly incorporate them into your skincare regimen.

Vitamin C: The Brightening Antioxidant

Vitamin C, known for its antioxidant properties, plays a crucial role in collagen synthesis and helps protect the skin from photodamage caused by UV rays. It’s celebrated for its ability to brighten the skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and even out skin tone. However, vitamin C is inherently unstable and can be quickly degraded by exposure to air and light.

Hyaluronic Acid: The Hydration Magnet

Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, is a humectant that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. It’s renowned for its ability to draw moisture from the environment into the skin, providing unparalleled hydration. This intense moisturizing effect helps plump the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and making the skin appear smooth and supple.

• Enhanced Skin Penetration: The application of vitamin C can be made more effective when the skin is well-hydrated. Hyaluronic acid increases skin’s hydration levels, making it more permeable and prepared to absorb vitamin C efficiently, allowing for deeper penetration and increased efficacy of the vitamin C.
• Complementary Actions: While vitamin C works to protect and brighten the skin from the outside, hyaluronic acid ensures that the skin’s surface is optimally hydrated. This hydration is crucial for the skin's health and aids in the effectiveness of vitamin C, creating a conducive environment for the antioxidant to work its magic.
• Amplified Anti-Aging Benefits: Both ingredients are stars in anti-aging skincare. Vitamin C’s ability to stimulate collagen production works in tandem with hyaluronic acid’s capacity to retain moisture, significantly improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
• Synergistic Protective Effects: Vitamin C offers potent antioxidant protection against environmental aggressors like UV rays and pollution. When used with hyaluronic acid, which strengthens the skin barrier by promoting hydration, they provide a double defense mechanism against external elements that can lead to premature aging.
• Balanced Skin Tone and Texture: The duo not only works to improve the skin's overall health but also enhances its appearance. The brightening effects of vitamin C combined with the hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid leave the skin glowing, with a more even tone and texture.

• Baumann L. Antiaging Ingredients in Ch. 37 of Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed 3. (McGraw Hill 2022)
• Baumann, L. Cosmeceuticals and cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
• Baumann L. Can I use Retinol, Hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin C together? Skin Type Solutions. January 6, 2023. https://skintypesolutions.com/blogs/skincare/can-i-use-retinol-hyaluronic-acid-vitamin-c-and-niacinamide-together
• Wong M. Ultimate Vitamin C Skincare Guide Part 1: Ascorbic Acid. Lab Muffin Beauty Science. October 14, 2021. Accessed April 7, 2024. https://labmuffin.com/ultimate-guide-to-vitamin-c-skincare-part-1-ascorbic-acid-with-video/