You’ll often find a major disconnect between what the cosmetic industry says is true, and what actual scientists say is true.
And one such bone of contention is Hyaluronic Acid. A recent rage, it is said to be effective on many people. But research believes that while the benefit is temporary, the associated risk is far greater.
Hyaluronic Acid is a skin-care ingredient commonly found in your favourite serums, sheet masks, and moisturizers. It may also be an important part of your daily skin-care regimen. It is lightweight, watery and carries the ability to lock in moisture from the environment.
Let’s know more about Hyaluronic Acid:
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a clear, gooey, gel-like substance that is naturally produced by the body. Present in the tissues of the joints, skin, and eyes, it plays a role in skin health, wound healing, bone strength, and much more.
Why are skin-care products full of Hyaluronic Acid?
It is widely believed that Hyaluronic Acid aids cosmetic functions.
Many renowned brands infuse their products with Hyaluronic Acid to keep the skin young and add a powerful punch of hydration. It is used as a humectant — a substance that helps the skin hold on to water and thus is highly popular in moisturising skincare products.
A key anti-ageing agent, it also keeps the skin dewy and plump, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, ensuring a youthful-looking you.
Since it also plays a vital role in tissue regeneration, it is significant in repairing skin and helps with scarring, inflammation, burns, lesions, and other wounds.
It is also known for treating sun-damaged skin, and acne and improving the overall texture, tone and complexion.
Why should Hyaluronic Acid be avoided?
While there is no denying that Hyaluronic Acid can maintain the skin’s barrier function, it comes with its own set of major downsides that can’t be overlooked:
Toxic Ingredients:
Often, products with Hyaluronic Acid also contain other harmful ingredients to make the combination more effective, these include parabens, preservatives, PEGs, silicones, hormone disruptors, and more.
Chronic Dehydration:
It’s important to remember that Hyaluronic Acid can also have a potentially dehydrating effect, especially when applied to a very dry face. Because of its higher molecular weight, it needs water and starts to pull the same from the skin, leading to transdermal water loss and skin that is highly dehydrated, tight, uncomfortable and damaged.
Tricky Application:
A lot of important dos and don’ts often accompany the application of Hyaluronic Acid. Since it is impossible to expect consumers to follow religiously, it can often do more harm than good.
Side Effects:
Not only is the effect of Hyaluronic Acid products temporary, but it also leads to several skin issues with prolonged usage. This includes dry skin, pain, redness, itching, swelling and bruising. This is because when you use Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid, it sends signals to the body that something is wrong, making the body react.
Therefore, we at Shruum make a conscious effort to not use Hyaluronic Acid in any of our products.
While we have kept it out of our formulations, we have also gone one step further and replaced it with a safe and superior algae extract.
This path-breaking ingredient stimulates the synthesis of the skin’s hyaluronic acid, ceramides and barrier. When combined with the power of mushrooms, it uses the beta-glucans factor to bring a radical difference in the skin’s hydration level, without any of the harmful side effects of Hyaluronic Acid.
This is why we call Shruum a brand that cares!