The protective breathable barrier on the skin locks in moisture which gives the skin a youthful appearance.  The cuticular layer of the skin normally contains 10-20% water, however as we age it can drop to below 10%.  Hyaluronic acid comes to the rescue with its unique ability to hold more than 1000 ml of water per gram of hyaluronic acid, which is a key factor in allowing the skin to retain more water.  Amazingly, hyaluronic acid adjusts its moisture absorption based on the relative humidity in the air.  It is the ideal ingredient in skin care products as it adjusts to the skin’s need for a moisturizing effect depending on the relative humidity of seasons and climate of an area.  Hyaluronic acid also protects the epidermis by scavenging reactive oxygen species generated by ultra violet light which would normally cause sunspots.  Hyaluronic Acid is one of the most exciting ingredients on the market today.  It was discovered by Karl Meyer in 1934 and has been successfully used in personal care and wound healing ever since. 

Until the 1990’s the only method of producing hyaluronic acid was extracting it from rooster combs.  Currently there are two forms of hyaluronic acid on the market; one derived from rooster comb and the other derived by the fermentation of yeast.