Hyaluronic acid and rosacea

When you look into ingredients on a skincare label, you might get nervous when you see certain words on there. One of them being acid. I wanted to take a few minutes to shed some light on this little ingredient. While it may sound a bit intimidating, it’s actually one of my all time favourites. First of all, don’t get scared off because of the name. While “acid” can often indicate a chemical product, hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring within the body. So you can rest easy knowing there’s no issue applying it to your skin, even if you have sensitivity or skin conditions.

Where does hyaluronic acid come from? 

Hyaluronic acid is something that occurs naturally in our bodies. Most of it is found in the skin, with the highest levels around the eyes and joints. You’re probably wondering: if it’s already in my body why do I need it in my skincare? Well, the truth is that we produce it in very small amounts. And that decreases with age. So to keep your HA levels up as you get older, the best thing to do is to apply it regularly in your skin care routine. 
If Hyaluronic Acid is already in our body, how is it extracted into skin care? There are two main sources used here: plant origins and animal origins. Don’t worry animal lovers, when it comes to skin care the plant version is the one used most often. This happens through a process called microbial fermentation. Not only is this the more cost effective route, but it’s also more eco friendly. So this is the method that the majority of manufacturers go for. If you’re vegan or worried about the ethics of Hyaluronic Acid, double-check with the producer of the product.
You might also see it referred to as Hyluron or Sodium Hyaluronate.

What does hyaluronic acid do? 

The key benefit when you’re talking about Hyaluronic Acid is it’s hydrating effects. It retains moisture unbelievably well. If you’ve ever suffered with dry skin then you’ll know why this is so important. Dry skin isn’t just an appearance issue, it can actually be really dangerous. Dry skin can affect the skin barrier's ability to fight off bacterias and infections according to this study. If your skin barrier isn’t intact, this can play a part in many skin conditions like dermatitis, rosacea and acne. This is what gives Hyaluronic Acid its appeal. Hydrated skin in general looks more plump, healthy and young. Loss of moisture is one of things which causes skin to age quickly, so something with the ability to reverse that is going to be in demand. 
Hyaluronic Acid can (and should) be used year round. But you want to pay special attention in the winter in particular. This is when skin tends to be at its driest. You can start to make use of this gem of an ingredient from any age, because you are never too young for a good skincare routine!

The benefits of hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid has a whole host of benefits for the skin. From moisturising to protecting, to strengthening to defend against ageing. Here’s a quick list of the top 7 benefits for the skin:

• It attracts and retains moisture
• It helps to prevent breakouts
• It’s ability to heal and repair wounds
• It defends against free radicals 
• It enhances the skin's natural barrier
• It promotes anti-aging against fine lines and wrinkles
• It evens out skin tone and reduces pigmentation

Hyaluronic acid and rosacea

I first found hyaluronic acid when searching for a way to reduce the dryness and redness of my skin. I fell in love with it then and was amazed at how much it helped. It was one of the only natural ingredients which directly hit some of my most annoying symptoms. And that was without the unwanted side-effects of other things I’d tried. The hydration effect of HA is second to none. It’s able to lock in the moisture your skin needs like few other natural ingredients. It acts like a water magnet keeping your skin cells hydrated, helping you achieve a healthier, more even appearance. Hyaluronic acid is said to be able to store 6 litres of water in 1 gram!
Hyaluronic acid is also a great anti-inflammatory. This makes it really good for tackling redness head-on. As well as that, it contributes to healthy skin by being a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants help the skin in so many different ways. They help it repair itself, reduce the signs of ageing and even help to prevent sunburn.

What products have hyaluronic acid? 

You’ll find Hyaluronic Acid in skincare products across the board. It can be bought by itself, found in moisturisers, make-ups, cleansers and serums. You’ll find it most often in moisturisers and serums. It’s also used in injections to help reduce wrinkles and add volume to the skin.
If you're looking for the hydrating benefits, it's best to choose a moisturiser or serum. These products are a great way to deliver hyaluronic acid to the skin, hydrate, help your skin feel better, and help the skin look more plump and youthful. You want to make sure there’s at least 1% of hyaluronic acid in the product, or that it’s fairly high on the ingredients list. That will have a better likelihood of giving you the benefits. Most of these products will be used twice daily - morning and night. 
It’s best to apply hyaluronic serums after cleansing and toning. Moisturisers go over the top of the serums. And during the day, your SPF should be your last skincare step.

Finca Skin Organics and hyaluronic acid

For people with sensitive skin, it’s important that you use products that contain hyaluronic acid alongside ingredients that won’t aggravate your skin. Keeping the number of chemicals in your cosmetics to a minimum is key.
This is why I created the Calming Serum 1 for my own subtype 1 rosacea. It is made with just 10 ingredients in total, all of which are non-chemical. These ingredients complement the unique effects brought to the table by hyaluronic acid. They include:

• Organic rosehip
• Jojoba oil
• Argan oil
• Macadamia oil
• A certified eco-preservative

You’ll also find a good dose of Hyaluronic Acid in our Moisturising Balm. I created this to be used on all skin types and it can be used in combination with our serums. It soothes and hydrates the skin and includes natural UV protection. When used with one of the calming serums, the balm helps to lock in the serum and reduce TWL (transepidermal water loss) across the skin and improve the skin barrier function.

If you have any queries regarding your rosacea or how to use our products get in contact with us, we'd love to hear from you.

The entire Finca Skin Organics range has been specifically formulated for sensitive skin including rosacea. After using our products, 87% felt the appearance of their skin improved significantly after using our products and 100% said their skin felt more comfortable*. We only use minimal, plant-based ingredients to avoid any further irritation to your skin. 

View the range of Finca skin organics products here or find out what rosacea subtype your skin is.

With love from Ireland, 
Finola

*Clinical evaluation by Harley St. dermatologists on 23 subjects after 8 weeks of use.