Is Hyaluronic Acid Good Under Makeup? Here’s the Simple Answer

Hey, gorgeous! 

Are you ready to get into the nitty-gritty of flaunting your fabulous face? 

Let's talk hyaluronic acid, honey. 

And specifically, whether it can really tango with your makeup.

Can you put hyaluronic acid on before makeup?

Absolutely! Hyaluronic acid is great under makeup. 

And allow me to pop the confetti because not only can you put hyaluronic acid (HA) serum before makeup, but you should definitely be doing it. 

You may be skeptical, but trust me; this could be the holy grail you've been hunting, to up your makeup game instantly. 

The whole logic behind this pre-makeup move is pretty straightforward and science-backed. 

Ladies and gentlemen, HA has this superpower to retain more than a thousand times its weight in water. This means that it's a big-time hydration hero and can create a smooth and plump skin surface. 

Doesn't that sound amazing? 

It doesn't stop there. A well-hydrated skin is more than just a pretty canvas for makeup application. It helps makeup to blend easily and sit better, leading to a natural finish. 

In other words, hyaluronic acid aids in reducing the look of cakey makeup and could help you achieve the popular 'no-makeup' makeup. 

But wait, there's science to it as well. 

According to the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, hydrated skin reduces the appearances of lines and visible pores, which in turn makes the makeup have a subtle and smooth effect. 

So, you're not merely hydrating for the sake of it, scientific studies back that it has a distinguished visual pay-off too!

Impressive, right? 

Before you get this hydration magic on your skin, remember - the order you apply skincare products does matter. 

Serums, like our hero HA, should be applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. This is because serums have smaller molecules, created to penetrate deeply into your skin to deliver a very high concentration of active ingredients. 

So here's your game plan: cleanse, apply HA serum, moisturize, then makeup, in that order.

Remember to wait a few minutes after applying the HA serum to let it fully absorb into your skin before moving on to moisturizing, or your foundation might mix with the serum, which could lead to streaking.

Now, to throw a bit of a curve ball into the mix, there is one exception.

If you’re using a hyaluronic acid cream rather than a serum, hyaluronic acid fills moisturizer’s place in your skincare routine. Rule of thumb? It’s all about layering from thinnest to thickest. 

Also, bear in mind the importance of not overdoing it. 

Yes, HA is a hydration heavyweight, but it can also work in reverse if you're heavy-handed. If you apply too much, it can pull moisture out of your skin instead of pulling it in, leaving you with a dry look. So, balance is the key, ladies and gents. 

And don't worry! Hyaluronic acid isn't an intimidating, scary, skin-stripping acid (no Game of Thrones dragon lady vibes). It's a naturally occurring carbohydrate molecule in our skin that decreases with age and sun damage, so you're simply replenishing your skin's ingredients. 

Adding HA to your pre-makeup routine is a game-changer. It not only hydrates and plumps, but it also primes your skin for makeup, and enables it to sit more flawlessly on your skin. 

So, reach for that bottle of hyaluronic acid and apply it with confidence before your makeup. It’s benefits - tried, tested, and backed by science!

Can you put hyaluronic acid on before makeup? A resounding yes!

How do I prepare my face for hyaluronic acid?

Oh, the bliss of nourishing your skin with hyaluronic acid! 

But have you ever wondered if there's a certain way your face should be prepped for this magical skincare elixir? 

Well, a sneaky peek into nature, a smidgen of science and a sprinkle of good reasoning will reveal a fantastic facial formula.

So let's dive in!

First things first, cleanse, cleanse, cleanse. Even though we love the city life, pollutants, oils, and dirt are real party crashers. A gentle facial cleanser will show them the exit, while leaving your skin's natural oils still waltzing on your face. 

Remember, always pat dry, don't scrub. Scrubbing is so last season, and patting is the brand-new ballet!

Now that we've got a clean slate, let's add a little heat. No, not a romantic candlelight dinner kind of heat, we're talkin' warm water! Just a splash is enough to open up your pores. 

This is essential because hyaluronic acid is a diva, it needs an entryway to the layer below the skin’s surface to do its best work. Science tells us that this ingredient retains water like a sponge making your skin plump and glowy. 

So, warm water it is!

Next, bring on the exfoliation. Pick a gentle facial scrub; remember, this is not a clean your bathroom tiles mission, it's your face we're pampering. An exfoliating scrub removes dead skin cells paving the way for hyaluronic acid to penetrate deeper, unopposed and unobstructed!

After exfoliation, and here's the secret twist, apply a toner. This tightens the skin and restores pH balance. 

Also, toners help remove any leftover dirt or makeup the cleanser may have missed, sort of like the cool nerdy kid who always double checks answers before submitting the test.

Post-toning, your face should be like a sponge, ready to soak up hyaluronic acid's hydrating love. 

But here's the thing, hydration is fundamental here, folks! Remember, hyaluronic acid works by absorbing water or, to get all sciency, forming a water gradient on the skin. Apply it on a skin that's slightly damp, not dripping, but just perfect, and let it drink up that hydration.

Pat the hyaluronic acid gently into your skin, and while you're at it why not throw in a little face massage? Nothing too elaborate, just some circular motions for better absorption and stimulation of blood flow. 

Hello, radiant skin!

Now, the million-dollar question – when to apply? Is it morning, noon, night, tea-time? 

Generally, you can put hyaluronic acid on your face twice a day, but it works best in your nighttime skincare routine. 

This is when your skin does a lot of its repair work, and hyaluronic acid is there to bring on the hydration night party.

In essence, dear reader, the secret to a killer skincare routine is an ideal blend of gentle cleansing, light exfoliation, toning, and finally, the pièce de résistance – applying the hyaluronic acid on slightly damp skin. 

Think of it as a skincare waltz, one step leading to the next in a grand dance of beauty.

So, voila! Face prepped, check! Let the hyaluronic magic happen.

Do you put moisturizer over hyaluronic acid?

Yes, siree! You bet your bottom dollar you do. 

When it comes to writing the script of skincare, moisturizer after hyaluronic acid is as classic as Romeo and Juliet - minus the tragedy, of course. Think of moisturizer as the protective big brother to hyaluronic acid. 

Got that picture painted in your mind? Good! Read on. 

First things first - why do we even need to apply anything over our trusty hyaluronic acid? It's all down to science, beloved reader. Hyaluronic acid, although a superstar in the hydration game, is a humectant. 

Bit of a fancy word, right? It means it draws moisture from its surroundings to hydrate the skin.

Now, here's the catch - if your skin is already dry, or if the air around you is drier than a desert, our friendly hyaluronic acid may inadvertently draw moisture from the deeper layers of your skin. 

Eek! Not exactly what we had in mind for dewy, plump skin, right?

This is where your moisturizer rides in, ready to save the day. Its job? To lay a protective barrier over the hyaluronic acid, preventing the moisture from escaping. It's the perfect bodyguard, keeping your skin's hydration safely locked in.

And we touched on this earlier, but a moisturizer that’s really worth its salt may well include hyaluronic acid, doubling up on that nourishing shot of hydration.

"But how do I do it?" - we hear you ask.

The rule often espoused by skin-care mavens is to apply products in the order of their consistency, from thinnest to thickest.

First, cleanse your face and pat it dry. Then, while your skin is still a bit damp, apply your hyaluronic acid. We're talking a pea-sized amount, no need to go overboard. 

Give it a few moments - let's say, the time to sing a verse of your favorite shower song. Once you see that it's completely absorbed, slather on your moisturizer. Again, no more than a dime-sized dollop should do. This way, you'll truly make sure you're sealing all that hydration goodness in. 

In the end, the cardinal rule in skincare is that everyone's skin is unique. Listen to your skin; it often speaks in whispers. If it loves what you're doing, it'll tell you.

What should you not layer with hyaluronic acid?

Ah! The plot thickens in the skincare saga. 

Every hero has a nemesis, and in the epic of hyaluronic acid, the villains are high-strength acids and retinols. 

Let's delve a little deeper, shall we? 

So, why exactly are these ingredients the bad guys? 

Okay, ‘bad guys’ isn’t entirely fair. They’re skincare powerhouses in their own right, but they might add up to a little skin overload when mixed with hyaluronic acid.

See, high-strength acids, think glycolic, lactic, or salicylic acids, can be pretty abrasive. They're the bad boys of skincare; great in small doses, but too much and you're asking for trouble. 

Mixing them with hyaluronic acid can disrupt your skin's pH balance, causing irritation, redness, and, the bane of our life, breakouts. Again, it’s not a hard no if you’re careful — you just need to make sure you’re layering them correctly.

And then, there's the retinols. 

These guys are a bit like the antagonist who starts off good, but ends up getting corrupted by power. On their own, retinols are star ingredients for anti-aging skincare, fighting wrinkles like nobody's business. 

But mix them with hyaluronic acid, and it can be a bit like putting two super strong personalities in a locked room - chaos ensues. 

It can be done, but the results if you aren’t careful with your concentrations? Dryness and peeling. Queue the sad, dramatic music.

We all want our skincare tale to be a fairy-tale, not a horror story. So, the golden rule? Avoid high strength acids and retinoids when using hyaluronic acid. 

A powerful cocktail

Now, enough of the villain chat. Let's mix in a little intrigue, shall we? 

Behold the clandestine 'Hyaluronic Acid Cocktail', a covert beauty technique only known to avant-garde aesthetes. 

This is no ordinary concoction, but a bespoke blend of your hyaluronic acid serum with your favorite foundation. 

The outcome? A soft-focus, airbrushed finish that will leave others wondering about your beauty secrets.

Maintain your facade and guard this secret closely. Like a spy with a classified dossier, discretion is key here. 

With these insights, your skincare knowledge should now be as resplendent as your dewy complexion. 

So forth and use hyaluronic acid wisely. Remember, your face is a masterpiece waiting to be unveiled, prepped, painted, and admired!