In the pursuit of beauty and skin health, we often see some familiar and unfamiliar names in the ingredients list of skin care products: hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate. They frequently appear in a variety of serums, creams, masks, known as the skin moisturizing, anti-aging secret weapon. But what is the difference between the three? Is it a marketing gimmick, or is it really different? Today, let’s uncover their mystery and explore the unique features of these three ingredients.
Hyaluronic acid: the elder statesman of moisturizing
Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronic acid, is a linear macromolecular acid mucopolysaccharide that occurs naturally in human and animal tissues. Its chemical structure is unique. D-glucuronic acid and n-acetylglucosamine are interlinked to form disaccharide units through specific glucoside bonds. Numerous disaccharide units are interlinked to form the molecular chain of hyaluronic acid, making it show a unique column-shaped spiral structure in space. It is this special structure that gives hyaluronic acid its powerful moisturizing ability. Its molecules can carry hundreds of times their own weight of water, which can absorb and lock in a large amount of water, forming a layer of hydrating protective film on the surface of the skin, preventing water loss and keeping the skin hydrated and full at all times.
In the world of skin care, hyaluronic acid is a star ingredient. Whether it is an affordable moisturizing lotion, or a high-end essence cream, you can often see it.
Sodium hyaluronate: The Transformation of hyaluronic acid
Sodium hyaluronate is actually a salt derivative of hyaluronic acid formed by combining with sodium ions. In terms of chemical structure, it introduces sodium ions on the basis of hyaluronic acid, and this small change makes a huge difference. The existence of sodium ion enhances the stability of hyaluronic acid, so that it can maintain a relatively stable state in various environments and is not easy to decompose. At the same time, the solubility of sodium hyaluronate has also been greatly improved, and it can quickly dissolve in water, which makes it easier to be added and mixed in the production process of skin care products and cosmetics, greatly broadening its application range.
In practical application, the advantage of sodium hyaluronate is very obvious. In the field of skin care products, its moisturizing ability is also excellent, can penetrate into the bottom of the skin, firmly lock in moisture, so that the skin always keep hydrated. Moreover, due to its good stability and solubility, sodium hyaluronate can be added to a variety of dosage forms of products, such as lotions, creams, serums, masks, and even some makeup products, it can be found. Sodium hyaluronate moisturizing cream, light and delicate texture, applied on the skin quickly absorbed, skin immediately feel hydrated and nourished. Long-term use can not only improve the dryness of the skin, but also enhance the barrier function of the skin and reduce the damage of the external environment to the skin. In addition to skin care products, sodium hyaluronate has a wide range of applications in the medical field, such as eye surgery, it is often used as eye moisturizer to maintain the moist environment of the surgical site; In joint treatment, it can be used for joint fluid replacement to relieve the pain of arthritis patients.
Hydrolysis of sodium hyaluronate: High energy of small molecules
Hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate is a product obtained by hydrolysis of high molecular weight sodium hyaluronate. In the hydrolysis process, the large molecular chain of sodium hyaluronate is cut off and decomposed into smaller molecular weight fragments to form hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate. This small molecule property gives it a unique advantage, making it play an important role in skin care products.
Due to the smaller molecules, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate has better permeability, can easily penetrate the cuticle of the skin, deep into the bottom of the skin, and directly transport water to the dermis of the skin to achieve deep moisturizing in the true sense. Moreover, it also has a good transdermal absorption and promotion effect, which can help the skin better absorb other nutrients and improve the efficacy of skin care products. In addition to moisturizing, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate also has certain anti-inflammatory, repairing and antioxidant properties. It can inhibit the production of inflammatory factors, reduce the skin inflammatory response, for sensitive skin and acne skin has a good soothing and repairing effect; At the same time, it can also remove free radicals, reduce oxidative damage, and delay skin aging.
In many skin care products, the figure of hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate is also common. With the addition of hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate moisturizing serum, the skin can feel refreshed and hydrated quickly after use, and with the increase of use time, the dry and rough skin problem has been significantly improved, becoming more delicate and smooth.
To visualize the differences between hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate, we use the following table to summarize the comparison:
Name | Hyaluronsäure | Sodium hyaluronate | Hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate |
Chemical structure | The linear macromolecular acid mucopolysaccharides formed from D-glucuronic acid and n-acetylglucosamine alternately linked by specific glycosidic bonds have a columnar spiral structure | Salts formed on the basis of hyaluronic acid combined with sodium ions have basically unchanged molecular structure and enhanced stability | It is obtained by hydrolysis of high molecular weight sodium hyaluronate. The molecular chain is cut off and the molecular weight becomes smaller |
Molekulare Gewicht | Usually between 500,000 and 2 million daltons | According to different production processes and uses, the molecular weight range is wide, from low molecular weight to high molecular weight | It’s usually under 10,000 daltons |
Moisture retention | It can carry hundreds of times its own weight in water, forming a moisturizing film on the surface of the skin | Similar to hyaluronic acid, it has strong moisturizing ability and can penetrate deep into the skin to lock in water | It can penetrate into the bottom of the skin, transport water to the dermis, and has a significant deep moisturizing effect |
Permeability | Macromolecular structure, difficult to penetrate the skin stratum corneum, mainly acting on the skin surface | Small molecular structure, with a certain permeability, can enter the deep skin | Small molecule properties, strong permeability, can easily penetrate the stratum corneum, deep dermis |
Efficacy | Moisturize, improve rough skin condition, make skin fine and smooth | Moisturize, enhance skin barrier function, reduce external damage, and can also be used in the medical field | Deep moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, repair damaged skin, anti-oxidation, improve skin sensitivity |
Anwendung | Skin care products, cosmetics, such as moisturizing lotions, serums, creams, etc | Skin care products, cosmetics (various dosage forms), medical field (eye surgery, joint treatment, etc.) | Skin care products, often used in high-end moisturizing and repairing products |
Although hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate are closely related to moisturizing and skin beauty, they have obvious differences in chemical structure, molecular weight, moisturizing ability, permeability and efficacy, and each plays a unique role in skin care products and other fields. In the pursuit of beauty on the road, we should look at these ingredients rationally, according to their skin type and needs, scientifically choose their own skin care products. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the quality and safety of the product, and avoid being misled by some exaggerated propaganda. I hope everyone can find their own beauty code through scientific skin care, and make the skin glow healthy and charming.