Can I use hyaluronic acid on my lips?
As the chill of winter slowly sets in, you may find yourself constantly reaching for your lip balm. Chapped and dry lips are a problem for many of us, and even with our tried-and-true lip balms, it never seems to go away completely.
This certainly explains why we often see the question “Can I use hyaluronic acid on my lips?” in our inboxes. So today we’re going to talk about how this clever and popular moisturizer works and how you can use it on your lips. Before we get started, let’s quickly review what this acid does to the skin. Of course, if you’re a skincare pro, you can skip the next section.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (also known as HA) is a naturally occurring sugar in the body that can also be extracted from sugar cane for use in skincare formulas. Known as a humectant, it can bind thousands of times its weight in water. When applied topically to the skin, it absorbs moisture from the air around the face and other skincare formulas and traps it in the layers below. This keeps the complexion plump and hydrated while protecting the skin barrier from free radicals, such as UV rays, pollution, and other environmental aggressors, all of which can cause skin damage. This damage can include hyperpigmentation, premature signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, and sagging skin. You’ll find that hyaluronic acid helps with the latter, too, as it penetrates the lower layers of the skin to boost collagen and elastin production, giving you a plump, youthful, vibrant complexion.
If you want to learn more about hyaluronic acid, read our dedicated blog post on all its benefits and effects on the skin.
What happens if you put hyaluronic acid on your lips?
Just like the rest of our face, our lips lose moisture throughout the day. By applying some hyaluronic acid to your lips, you can ensure that this clever ingredient attracts and locks in moisture to your lips. The result is lips that are softer, smoother, and more hydrated, with all signs of dryness, cracking, and irritation significantly reduced. You may also notice that your lips feel and look slightly plumper, thanks to the collagen-boosting effects of hyaluronic acid. This may explain why injectable treatments such as fillers are performed with hyaluronic acid. Of course, topical hyaluronic acid won’t produce the same effect if you want bigger lips, but it’s a great option if you don’t want to go for injections.
Is hyaluronic acid good for lip lines?
Whatever! Hyaluronic acid is an important ingredient in the fight against lip wrinkles. By applying hyaluronic acid to the lips and area around the mouth, it can add moisture, which can smooth out wrinkles and give your face an overall smoother, wrinkle-free look. If wrinkles are noticeably deeper and become static, so they are visible even when your mouth is relaxed, a more potent anti-aging treatment or product formula may be necessary. Before trying anything new, consult a doctor, medical professional, or trained therapist to find the best treatment or product for you.
How to use hyaluronic acid to get fuller lips?
Imagine your skin and lips are like a deflated balloon. They appear smaller, have lost their firmness, and appear wrinkled. This is exactly what your skin looks like when it lacks the moisture it needs. You can plump up your lips with a serum or specially formulated lip product that is enriched with hyaluronic acid. Applying hyaluronic acid to your lips fills each skin cell with essential moisture, making them appear plumper, naturally plumper, and significantly improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and cracks.
Luckily for all of us, the crude lip plumping formulas of years past have been dethroned. Instead, you’ll find a plethora of formulas containing hyaluronic acid that are proven to moisturize and plump lips without causing discomfort or trauma to the lips.
Can hyaluronic acid lighten lips?
Yes, if you’re concerned about pigmentation around your mouth and lips, hyaluronic acid can combat this and brighten the complexion. It does this by working on the lower layers of the skin, ensuring that the protective skin barrier is strengthened and working properly, meaning it fights the free radicals that cause dark spots and hyperpigmentation. By counteracting this damage and moisturizing the skin, over time you’ll notice that pigmented areas become lighter and brighter, while dark spots become less noticeable to the naked eye.
Does hyaluronic acid make your lips bigger?
Yes, it does! As I mentioned before, hyaluronic acid is an ingredient in injectable lip fillers, which are used to make lips appear larger and fuller. This can also be achieved by applying hyaluronic acid topically to the lips, although the results are not quite as good. If you choose to use a lip product enriched with hyaluronic acid on a daily basis, you will notice that your lips look smoother, softer and that fine lines are visibly reduced. They will fade every evening and will need to be reapplied every morning. If you want a more dramatic look, I recommend that you seek out the most experienced and qualified aesthetician on your own to guide you on the next steps.
Can I use a facial serum on my lips?
Yes, you can. Serums are formulated to penetrate the epidermis better than moisturizers and balms. Many people find that it gives impressive results and is ideal for combating chapped lips, especially in the winter. If you don’t want to use a facial serum on your lips, there are many lip care formulas that contain popular moisturizers.
Now you know more about whether you can use hyaluronic acid on your lips. Don’t forget that you can ask us questions on Procoal’s Instagram. Follow us!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
