Skin Care: Know Your Ingredients - Hyaluronic Acid

by KayDel Shelton

Skin care is more than just putting a product on your face. We strive to know more about the things we’re putting in our bodies, but what about what we’re putting on our skin? Most women do not think about the ingredients in their skin care products. In the 16 years I have made The Myrtle Leaf products, I have attempted to empower women to make healthy decisions about skin care so that, A) they can enjoy healthy radiant skin as they age and B) they do not waste their money on ineffective and possibly harmful skin care products. This blog begins the first of a series in which I will cover a variety of commonly used skin care ingredients, starting with Hyaluronic Acid. But first…

Hype vs Health

In today’s beauty industry, there is tremendous hype powered by huge companies with massive marketing budgets. Women are prime targets and are continuously inundated with so-called “facts” about how to make their skin look younger! Some ads even give a time frame (i.e. in only 10 days your skin will appear firmer!). These ads are so masterfully created that they have become the “norm” for sharing knowledge about skin care. Going against this “norm” can be challenging but many women today are beginning to enjoy taking on this challenge and asking intelligent questions about skin care ingredients and effectiveness. This growing population of inquisitive women is encouraging for companies like mine that take great pride in every ingredient in our products! I want women to ask “why” and “how” a particular product will help their skin. After all, if I could not answer these questions, I would not make the Myrtle Leaf products!

Just like you think about the food that goes in your body, you need to be aware of how you care for your skin...

Know Your Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid

Quite common in today’s Anti-Aging products, Hyaluronic Acid is an important ingredient for maintaining a hydrated and supple complexion. Hyaluronic Acid is a natural polysaccharide (large sugar molecule) that occurs in various living tissues (skin, synovial fluids of joints, connective tissues). The form that is used in skin care products is biotechnologically produced from glucose, soy peptone and yeast extract.

Hyaluronic Acid is responsible for tissue hydration and stability. It holds 500 times its own weight of water so it serves as a water reservoir for the skin cells. As we age, the skin loses Hyaluronic Acid and the ability to hold sufficient water so feeding new Hyaluronic Acid to the skin helps to hydrate its intercellular reservoir, raising its moisture level and smoothing age lines.

Should you choose to use a product with Hyaluronic Acid, it is extremely important to have confidence in the integrity of the Formulator of your skin care products. To make a difference in the health and vitality of your skin, you need assurance that there are adequate amounts of Hyaluronic Acid and that the accompanying ingredients are natural, plant-derived oils, butters and/or gels to ensure complete penetration into the cellular structure of the skin.

Using all natural products with sufficient amounts of Hyaluronic Acid will help preserve the characteristics of youthful and healthy skin: suppleness, elasticity and tone.

Myrtle Leaf products with Hyaluronic Acid:

Restored Radiance Day Serum
Perfect Finish Oxygenating Facial Lotion
Act of Kindness Antioxidant Serum
On-The-Go Hydrating Lotion

About the Author…KayDel Shelton has been formulating all natural skin care products for over 15 years here in Montana. She started her company to meet her own skin care needs after exhausting her options in the market place. Eight years ago, she and her family moved from Kalispell to Billings where she now lives with her husband of 25 years, Randy. After nearly 16 years building a successful business, KayDel continues to make each and every product herself with the freshest ingredients at maximum potency to ensure her customers and herself safe, effective skin care products. KayDel continuously scrutinizes beauty industry making her an excellent source of information regarding skin care ingredients, formulations and applications. She can be reached by emailing info@myrtleleaf.com or by calling 406-839-0166.