Hyaluronic acid is the most desirable ingredient in cosmetics, from which we expect a strong moisturizing effect. It's strong rejuvenating and smoothing properties will be appreciated by anyone who dreams of elastic and smooth skin. How to choose a good hyaluronic acid?

What's up with those markings on hyaluronic acid? This is a common question we hear about during trade fairs. Companies offer hyaluronic acid in various varieties and in quite wide price ranges. So what should you pay attention to when choosing an acid? Below are the three most important criteria - above all, they will ensure effectiveness and safety - and thus beautiful, moisturized and satisfied skin.

Three criteria when choosing hyaluronic acid:

• Particle size
• Concentration (%) – the amount of acid in the acid
• Preservatives

Hyaluronic acid particle size

Commercially available hyaluronic acids are in the form of a water gel in which particles are suspended. The acid comes in three particle sizes and each has a different effect on the skin.

• Large HMW particles form a film on the skin surface that protects against moisture loss.
• Small LMW particles improve firmness and increase the penetration of active substances.
• The smallest (ultra-small) particles of ULMW have the ability to penetrate deep into the skin and bind water there, thus improving the degree of deep hydration for a long time. Only particles of this size are small enough to overcome the skin barrier - the rest work only superficially. Therefore, it can be assumed that they are the most effective in their moisturizing effect and they are mainly responsible for the effect of lasting hydration that persists in the skin for a long time after application.

Let's move on to the price differences: simply put - the smaller the molecules, the more expensive - so a high molecular weight acid will be much cheaper than a small molecule equivalent.

So, if the packaging says "high molecular weight" or there is no information about the size of the particles - it means that the acid does not contain the smallest particles. If they are in the composition, the manufacturer will always boast about it. Information "trimolecular" or "triple" - means that the composition includes all three particle sizes - both those penetrating the skin and those that act superficially. The three sizes complement each other and give the effect of comprehensive, strong, and - most importantly - permanent (maintaining even after the application is stopped) skin hydration and improvement of its elasticity.

Percentage of hyaluronic acid

This is a more transparent parameter. Concentrations from 1 to 5% are available on the market, most often 1% or 1.5%.

Acid particles are suspended in water - so 1% means that we have 1% pure hyaluronic acid and 99% water in the preparation. 3% - respectively 3% acid and 97% water.

Confusion can be introduced by the convergence of the 3% concentration with the term "trimolecular" or "triple". Just such a convergence also occurs in our acid ... So 3% means that there is 3% of the acid in the pure substance preparation and the trimolecular acid - that it consists of three particle sizes - 1% each. So although the three are present in both terms, they refer to something completely different.

Again, we come to price differences - obviously, the higher the concentration, the more expensive the preparation is because it contains more active substances.

Avoid the "bad" preservatives in hyaluronic acid

Natural cosmetics can be preserved with various preservative systems. Some companies that attach great importance to the composition of their cosmetics (and BIOUP is one of them) try to avoid in their recipes substances and preservatives that are problematic from the point of view of their general effect on the human body. Such a preservative we dislike is Phenoxyethanol - therefore it is not present in our acid. So if you really pay attention to the composition, it is worth checking if it is not at the end of the composition of the cosmetic you want to reach for.

To sum up – concentration and particle size are two parameters that together determine the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid. The rate of absorption is something that you have to check on yourself - you won't read it from the label. We can only confirm that our 3% Trimolecular Hyaluronic Acid absorbs wonderfully. And its quite high concentration and three particle sizes work really effectively.

Hyaluronic acid is a great gift idea for women of all ages. You can read about how to use it in the next article on our blog “How to use hyaluronic acid?”. If you want to complement its ultra-moisturizing powers with extraordinary smoothness and elasticity, it is worth taking a look at the Biocompatible Set. Hyaluronic acid with sugar cane squalane is just power!

We also used 3% hyaluronic acid in the light Revitalizing Elixir and the EYE LATTE Eye Cream, thanks to which they gained strong moisturizing properties, complemented by smoothing and nourishing the skin.