Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Fatty Acids
Superpowers: Hydrating and Soothing
On The Job: HA is a mighty humectant, or moisture magnet, that keeps skin quenched. Fatty acids—listed on labels as linoleic, alpha-linoleic, or gamma-linoleic acid—â€are an integral part of our skin’s barrier,†says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, New York; they shut out irritants and seal in moisture. When skin gets too dry, its natural exfoliating enzymes actually stop working, leaving us craggy and dull, says Jeannette Graf, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.
Starter Potion: An HA serum is a must for dry skin. Try L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Concentrated Serum, $25, at drugstores. Barrier-rebuilding fatty-acid creams are soothing panaceas for everything from windburn to acid overdoses. Try Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture, $65, murad.com.
Extra Credit: If you have normal skin, combine HA with retinol. Try RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Filler, $22, at drugstores. Not only does HA help retinol penetrate and offset dryness, but “it offers immediate plumping,†says Graf.
Pro Tip: For the most supple effects, douse yourself in both HA and fatty acids. And if your skin is super-sensitive, use fatty acids proactively—alternating with p.m. line-fighters, before an outing in brisk weather, or if you’re getting a pro peel that would typically turn you red and raw.
