There are many active ingredients that are popular for their hydration properties. Let’s look at four actives below that can help you boost and maintain your skin’s plumpness and hydration.

1. Hyaluronic acid (HA)

Hyaluronic acid is one of the most well-known active ingredients for boosting hydration. What makes it so good at this? A gentle hydrator, hyaluronic acid is able to absorb 1000-times its weight in water.

According to Papakonstantinou et al. (2012, p. 254), hyaluronic acid maintains moisture in the skin by acting as a barrier. This property is partially due to lamellar bodies (a type of skin cell) which are thought to contain hydrolytic enzymes. Due to the fusion process with other membranes in the skin, the movement of water inwards, into the fatty layer, is blocked. This results in increased skin hydration.

Other functions of HA in the body include:

  • Joint lubrication
  • Space filling
  • Component of membrane through which cells move

2. Saccharide isomerate

Saccharide isomerate is a natural plant-derived emollient (moisturising treatment) that not only hydrates the skin but also protects it from dehydration and sensitivity. Unlike HA, it can not be washed away. Other benefits include:

  • Boosting your skin’s natural hydration.
  • Instant and long-lasting (up to 72 hours) hydration.
  • Improved and stronger skin barrier, protecting it from environmental factors such as pollution, cold weather and excessive heat.
  • It can relieve itchy and sensitive skin.
  • Gives soft and smooth feel.

So how does it work?

  • Saccharide isomerate mimics your body’s hydration process. This helps your skin retain moisture better.
  • It is much smaller than other hydrating actives, meaning it can penetrate deeper.
  • Its unique structure lets it bind to the outer layers of our skin which gives it instantaneous and long-lasting hydration.
  • It can only be removed through the natural shedding of your dead skin cells i.e. it can not be washed away, meaning long-lasting benefits.

3. Tamarind seed extract

Common in many South Asian countries as an ingredient for cooking, tamarind seed actually holds many other benefits to our skin.

These benefits include being:

  • Boosting and maintaining skin hydration
  • High in antioxidants. (Natukunda et al., 2015, p. 496)
  • Enhanced wound healing. (Bin Mohamad et al., 2011, p. 83)
  • Skin brightening through reduced melanin production (Phetdee et al., 2012, p. 241).
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References

Bagul, M (2015). Tamarind seeds: chemistry, technology, applications and health benefits: a review. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277494506_Tamarind_seeds_chemistry_technology_applications_and_health_benefits_a_review

Bin Mohamad, M. Y., Akram, H. B., Bero, D. N., & Rahman, M. T. (2011). Tamarind Seed Extract Enhances Epidermal Wound Healing. International Journal of Biology, 4(1), 81–88. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijb.v4n1p81

Natukunda, S., Muyonga, J. H., & Mukisa, I. M. (2015). Effect of tamarind ( Tamarindus indica L.) seed on antioxidant activity, phytocompounds, physicochemical characteristics, and sensory acceptability of enriched cookies and mango juice. Food Science & Nutrition, 4(4), 494–507. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.311

Papakonstantinou, E., Roth, M., & Karakiulakis, G. (2012). Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermato-endocrinology, 4(3), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.21923

Phetdee, K., Rattanaman, K., Teaktong, T., & Viyoch, J. (2012). Tamarind Seed Coat Extract Reduces Melanin Production via Tyrosinase in Melanocyte. Journal of Biological Sciences, 12(4), 239–245. https://doi.org/10.3923/jbs.2012.239.245