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Hyaluronic acid falls into the class of humectants, which are skin care ingredients that attract or draw moisture to the skin to prep and keep the skin hydrated. Due to its soothing and hydrating potential, it helps plump-up the skin, keeping it looking supple, thus increasing elasticity which addresses wrinkles and fine lines, which helps with premature aging signs. It also possesses the attribute to heal wounds, all thanks to its anti-inflammatory benefits.
This wonderful skincare ingredient has been in the skincare world for decades, won the heart of many skincare-lovers and has amassed so much love in the world of skincare.
If you’re seeking for the best hyaluronic acid alternatives that can closely rival hyaluronic acid and deliver the same skin benefits to your skin, then you’ve come to the right page.
This page holds in detail the closest hyaluronic acid alternatives that can draw moisture to the skin, intensely hydrate and plump-up the skin.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Alternatives.
1. Glycerin.
Glycerin is sourced from both plants and animals, but mostly extracted from plants, that’s why it’s commonly called “vegetable glycerin“.
This powerful humectant-based ingredient pulls moisture from the air within the environment to hydrate the skin and minimize water loss.
This effect plumps-up the skin, which promotes skin elasticity, thus minimizing fine lines, rejuvenates dry and flaky skin, which keeps it in the class of hyaluronic acid alternatives.
All you have to do is, ensure your skin is moist or damp, then apply few drops of glycerin on your skin, (careful not to apply too much) to avoid causing a sticky sensation, a little goes a long way, then gently massage till it’s fully absorbed, then watch your skin plump-up instantly and staying hydrated and happy.
Talking about glycerin, Now Solutions brand has a product that contains 100% pure and unadulterated vegetable glycerin. Click here to shop. Or here.
2. Aloe Vera Gel Extract.
Extracted from the aloe vera plant, this gel-like slimy substance has cooling properties and is anti-inflammatory, which offers anti-inflammatory effect to the skin, while also serving humectant-like attributes by pulling moisture from the air to the skin, thus encouraging skin hydration and moisture retention, which makes aloe vera gel a worthy ingredient amongst hyaluronic acid alternatives.
Not only does aloe vera gel keep skin intensely hydrated and happy, but also helps soothe the skin of redness and irritation while also stimulating skin healing process.
Seven Minerals Organic Aloe Vera Gel contains 100% freshly cut pure aloe vera gel extract. Click here to shop. Or here.
3. Snail Mucin.
Extracted from snails (also known as snail secretion), and acts as a mega multi-tasker, with the ability to do everything from moisturizing to boosting skin hydration and promoting collagen production, healing and regeneration.
Snail mucin is a complex mix of proteins, enzymes, hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, antimicrobial peptides, iron, zinc, and proteoglycans. The combination of these components makes snail mucin a powerful humectant-based skincare ingredient that attracts moisture to the skin and also encourages moisture retention which promotes healthier and younger-looking skin.
Due to the presence of hyaluronic acid in snail mucin alongside other skin hydrating ingredients contained in it, makes it a good choice of substitute for hyaluronic acid.
Cosrx Mucin Power Essence is a good choice of snail mucin-contained product, infused with 96% snail mucin (snail secretion) alongside other skin hydrating and moisture retaining ingredients like, sodium hyaluronate, arginine and panthenol to deliver a heavy-dose of hydration to the skin, thus keeping skin hydrated, supple and happy. Click here to shop. Or here.
4. Propolis.
Propolis is a sticky glue-like substance made by worker bees. This substance is used as an everyday tool for bees and it’s a mix of beeswax, saliva, and resin.
Propolis exhibits the same skin benefits as hyaluronic acid, as it delivers intense-hit of hydration to the skin, feeding the skin cells and tissues with moisture, which creates a conducive and healing environment for the skin to heal itself, stay hydrated and moisturized, – all thanks to propolis’s anti-inflammatory, hydrating and skin nourishing potentials.
Its hydrating, soothing, anti-inflammatory and healing benefits makes propolis a great hyaluronic acid substitute.
Due to its intense skin hydrating potentials, it helps revitalize dull skin, smoothens the skin, which positively impacts the appearance of wrinkles, and also improves overall skin complexion and texture. Click here to shop for propolis serums.
5. Polyglutamic Acid.
Talking about the closest hyaluronic acid alternatives, Polyglutamic deserves to make the list.
Polyglutamic is a byproduct of the soybean fermentation process. This skin hydrating ingredient draws moisture from the atmosphere and locks it in for an instant smooth and plump skin effect.
When applied on the skin, this powerful-hydrator can hold 4x more moisture than hyaluronic acid, locking in moisture and helping the skin appear instantly smoother, plumper and supple.
This helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, stimulate the healing process of micro skin wounds, rejuvenate dehydrated skin cells, and creates a perfect makeup canvas, all thanks to its skin hydrating potentials and its lightweight silky texture which creates a moisture-binding film on the skin’s surface.
The Inkey List brand has a decent polyglutamic acid serum, capped at 3%, and comes in a 30ml pump-container for easy usage. Click here to Shop. Or here.
In Conclusion.
Humectant-based skincare ingredients are important in every skincare routine, which makes it the second skincare-step to take after cleansing your skin to ensure the skin enjoys good and quality hydration for a healthier and younger looking skin and aside hyaluronic acid which is well known for its skin hydrating and soothing potential, there are other close substitutes (as aforementioned) which can as well exhibit the same hyaluronic acid attributes and these aforementioned hyaluronic acid alternatives are all natural and completely safe for the skin.
Possible Questions & Answers.
Q: How do I apply humectant ingredients?
A: The best way to apply humectant-based skincare ingredients like the ones mentioned above is to ensure you apply them on a moist or damp skin (not dripping wet skin), this is because when humectant-based ingredients come in contact with water, they bind with it, thus offering optimum hydration performance.
Therefore, ensure your skin is slightly moist or damp (not dripping wet) before applying any humectant-based ingredient and the easiest way to achieve this is to gently pat your face with your clean towel after cleansing and not rubbing. This way, you will achieve a moist or damp skin which will enable your humectant-based ingredients to work better.
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