53 Q&A By Tzvia Hermann
Tzvia Hermann, entrepreneur and founder of the Beautique Group, shares the ins and outs of hyaluronic acid, and why it’s one of her favourite ingredients.
Glamour: Hyaluronic acid (HA) sounds like part of a chemical equation, but what is it really?
Tzvia Hermann: To the less savvy, HA may sound like something you wouldn’t want to put anywhere near your face, when in actual fact it naturally occurs in the human body. This magical substance works as a magnet for moisture, helping our cells retain as much water as possible so that our skin feels and appears hydrated, plump and healthy.
Glamour: What benets does HA have for our skin?
TH: It holds the key to youthful, smooth and hydrated skin. A single gram of HA has the ability to hold up to 6L of water. And it has a super smart ability to regulate that moisture within the cells, so as not to drown them out. Glamour: At which age should you start using HA?
TH: You can start as early as your 20s. As we age, the amount of HA our skin cells produce begin to lessen and our cell turnover becomes sluggish. This is when lines, wrinkles and rough texture is likely to make an appearance. Our skin’s moisture tends to drop signicantly as we age, making the skin lose elasticity.
Glamour: What’s the difference between non-crossed-linked and cross-linked HA?
TH: Cross-linked HA is found in injectables and is one of the main ingredients found in llers. Fillers are injected to plump up and smooth wrinkles that lead to prolonged efcacy.
HA llers are predominantly injected into the subcutaneous adipose tissue. The effect of crosslinked hyaluronic acid may last for six months or longer. Skin improvements can be seen even after full biodegradation of the ller, however, these volume effects will diminish and can leave ones skin looking loose.
Non-crossed-linked HA is found in topical creams and serums. For topical HA treatments, like CooLifting, the non-crossed-linked HA results can last up to 72 hours after your treatment or application. The benet of opting for a solution that only lasts three days over injectables means that the attraction of naturally occurring hyaluronic in your skin’s natural moisture factor increases. Essentially, this trains your skin to produce and retain its own HA.
Glamour: What are your favourite benets of HA?
TH: If your skin is sufciently hydrated, it feels softer, plumper and looks a lot more radiant.
Hydrated skin means your lines and wrinkles (even the deeper ones) appear diminished, so it’s a great ingredient for anyone wanting to cling onto their youthful perkiness.
HA works wonders on any skin type, even sensitive or breakoutprone skin.
Recent research suggests that HA has antioxidant properties, which means it can act like a shield against free radicals such as pollution and other aggressors which are out of your control.