IF you haven’t heard about hyaluronic acid by now, then it may be time to move out from under the rock you’ve no doubt been residing under. The hero skincare ingredient has well and truly taken the beauty world by storm in recent years, popping up in more beauty products than can be counted.
One of the most successful on the market is the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. It’s so popular that since its launch in the US, it has gone on to become the number-one-selling serum with one sold every minute, a pretty stellar achievement in the world’s toughest and most over-crowded anti-ageing market.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
So what makes hyaluronic acid such an in-demand ingredient? First off, hyaluronic acid is actually something that we naturally produce in our bodies. A polysaccharide, it helps to cushion and lubricate the joints, nerves, hair, skin and eyes. The reason it’s so beneficial for skin is that HA helps keep it supple, plump and hydrated, in turn making it appear more youthful. As we age, our production of HA naturally decreases and in turn, our skin can appear older.
Whilst you can replace lost volume with hyaluronic acid fillers administered by an injector, there’s a far easier and less invasive way to restore some of this lost HA, albeit superficially. Applied topically, it can plump and hydrate the surface of the skin, temporarily reducing the appearance of fine lines and giving skin a more supple, bouncy appearance.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum dropper
Hyaluronic acid has the unique ability to attract up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it an excellent hydrator. This can be an amazing thing for your skin. However, if misused, it can also be damaging. Because hyaluronic acid draws moisture into itself from the area surrounding it, you have to make sure to apply it either to damp skin or in a very humid environment, such as the bathroom after a hot shower. The reason for this is that HA will draw in moisture from wherever it’s available. If it’s not available in the surrounding environment, it can draw the existing moisture out of your skin, dehydrating your skin in the process. Just like that, this super-hydrator can work against you.
Another way to ensure you make the most of HA’s miraculous properties is by quickly sealing in that new hydration with an occlusive moisturiser immediately on top. Because I tend to do some form of leave-on exfoliation as the first step of my skincare routine and I don’t want to wash that off, I usually mist my skin with some French thermal water before I apply the serum. This ensures a nice base of moisture for the HA to draw from. After that, I finish by layering on a moisturiser.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Unlike a lot of hyaluronic acid serums, L’Oréal’s works by combining two different types of HA for maximum efficacy. Macro and micro acids work in unison to penetrate on deeper levels. The concentration of 1.5% is actually a little lower than most formulations, which tend to come in around the 2% mark. I don’t find this to be an issue, and as some people can be sensitive to HA, this 1.5% strength could potentially be less irritating for some users.
It can be difficult to judge a hyaluronic acid serum as generally, they’re all very similar. With this one, I immediately found myself taking a liking to it. Unlike some other HA serum’s I’ve tried it absorbs in a way that leaves no tacky residue on the skin, and it doesn’t interact with any of the multiple other products I’ve tried using alongside it. I like to apply mine in the evening and wake up to softer, plumper skin by morning. I particularly notice a difference in winter when I get especially dry on my cheeks. Unlike others I’ve tried, the Revitalift Filler serum helps to bring down the redness on my cheeks, aggravated by harsh winds and cold temperatures, within moments.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Tissue Mask
For an extra treat once in a while, I’ll use the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Tissue Mask. Again, tissue masks tend to be one and the same. The marked difference I found with this one is just how much of the product the tissue mask actually manages to soak up. Whilst most tissue mask end up holding the majority of the formula in the bottom of the package, this one was thoroughly drenched in product. After 15 minutes, I was pleasantly surprised to peel off and reveal fresher, brighter and more hydrated skin with a clear reduction in redness.
The L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum now holds a significant place in my bathroom cabinet. It’s an effective and elegantly packaged serum at an accessible price point, and the tissue mask is the perfect accompaniment for those evenings in when the need for a little extra pampering comes calling.
by Thomas Marrington
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £24.99 for 30ml at Boots
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Tissue Mask, £4.99 at Boots