Hyaluronic acid, retinol, and collagen - what are the benefits?

With so many creams, moisturisers, serums and supplements out there now, all claiming to give you gorgeously youthful skin, how do you know what really works? 


A New You are here to help you find out what ingredients are best suited to you. 

Hyaluronic acid, retinol and collagen are some of the main ingredients that everyone is going crazy about at the moment, so let’s explore what they do, how they work, and the benefits you could experience. 


Hyaluronic acid 


What does it do? 


Our bodies naturally produce hyaluronic acid, half of which is present in our skin to help it maintain moisture. The gel-like substance is a ‘humectant’, meaning it binds to water molecules to help our skin absorb moisture. Unfortunately, our skin produces less hyaluronic acid as we get older, meaning our skin starts to become dry and loses its elasticity, which in turn causes wrinkles. 


Where do I find it? 


Once we start producing less of the chemical, it’s important we make up for it in other ways. Hyaluronic acid is found in many moisturisers and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin and for those who suffer from acne. 


One of the ways to choose a moisturiser is to look for those that also contain occlusives such as shea butter’s and natural oils; these will stop the moisture leaving your skin, which is a great combination with hyaluronic acid. 


Retinol 


What is it and how does it work? 


Retinol is a Vitamin A derivative that can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The molecules penetrate deep into the skin to the middle layer (the dermis) and boosts your body’s production of elastin and collagen, which creates a plumping effect on your skin and reduces the sign of wrinkles. It also exfoliates the outer layer of your skin to tone and smoothes. 


Retinol can also help prevent acne by creating comedolytic agents to keep your pores unclogged. Those with particularly oily skin have also found it helpful in balancing skin hydration levels. 


Retinol is found in almost all anti-ageing products, so there are many options for different skin types and budgets! 



Collagen 


What is it?


Collagen is a protein that your body naturally creates. Like hyaluronic acid, as you age your body produces less of the protein. As collagen plays a role in strengthening skin and increasing elasticity and hydration, wrinkles develop when your body starts producing less. 


Where can I find it? 


In recent years, people have started taking collagen supplements as they help to replace what your body is missing and stimulate the body to produce more naturally. Collagen supplements come in capsules or powder form, so there are plenty of options and brands depending on what works best for you.


What next?

This can sound a bit overwhelming at first; however there is no need to stress. As we are offering free skin consultations worth £50. This means one of our Practitioners will scan your face and be able to recommend the best products for you and your skin type  



If you have any questions about what’s been discussed, or if you wish to find out more about the treatments we offer, please get in touch at [email protected] or call us on 01273 604444.


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